Obvious Magazine hosted a Cover model contest where 6 finalist were chose to grace the cover and have a featured editorial depicting individual style and artistry portrayed in the magazine. Jerris Madison, owner and creative director, hit me up about shooting one of the covers....Calvin Martin. Based off the work Calvin and I had done before, Jerris wanted clean and sharp images with a fashion sensibility. He coupled me with fashion stylist Douglas Hickman Jr. to get the job done.
Before I moved to NYC I didn't have access to really cool fashion nor were there any available stylist in my hometown of Memphis, Tn. I was forced to channel my design skills and create clothing and accessories based off the types of clothing I wanted to photograph.
I moved to New York City because I wanted to work with fashion people and have access to designer clothes. The politics of the industry has made these things as inaccessible as they were in Memphis. I'm still forced to use my artistic skills into creating things from scratch or random things around the house. Sometimes I feel like i'm on Project Runway or something, lol. The models love that I customize things for their shoots....they call me MacGuyver, lol.
When top modeling agent Deiwght Peters at Saints International in Jamaica contacted me asking me to work with newcomer Venecia Bennett I had no idea what I wanted to do. I don't have a reliable team of makeup artist and stylist to work with so I headed to Bargain Hunters ( a store that sells damn near everything for cheap) on Fulton Ave. in Brooklyn. I saw this little handbag for $2 so I bought four of them. I really liked the textures and figured I could do something cool with them.
beaded bobo handbag by xhilaration (i paid $2)
The end results was me cutting the handbag open and removing the lining from the inside to convert it into a bustier top with the handle as a matching choker. I loved how it turned out. The only bad thing about this was that the beads were falling all over the place. :)
Venecia bennett @ Saints International
styling and photography by Tarrice Love
My best friend suggested since online and print magazines aren't interested in images that don't have "relevant" showroom clothing that consumers can buy on recognizable models that I should post the images on my blog and spotlight my creative process more. So I've decided to do blog postings called "I MADE THAT..." to emphasize my artistry and creativity.
I had a wonderful opportunity to shoot identical twin brothers Jordan and Travis Smit represented by Soul Artist Management. When they arrived to my studio space, I just wanted to do images that were clean and simple. I wanted to create images that captured how beautiful their faces are in person so i created the head-turbans to give drama around their faces.
Last summer I went home to visit my family in Memphis, TN and on my way back to New York I got stuck with a long lay-over in Atlanta. I called my photographer friend, James K. Holder and asked if I could crash at his place. I got a chance to see his studio (it is amazing) and he cooked me dinner.
Since I was there, he asked if he could shoot my portrait. I was feeling tired and fat (i gained 11lbs during my family visit) but I didnt feel it was fair to say no since he let me shoot his portrait when he was in NY....so I said yes and we shot each other.
James has always comfortable with his body so I shot him nude (of course). I saw this pile of white fabric in the corner of his studio and decide to have him drape it over himself with his giant fan blowing.
HE SHOT ME....
me - Tarrice Love photographed by James K Holder
Sitting in front of someone else's camera was very hard for me. I never like being photographed.... I don't even have graduation pictures from high school. This was my first time having my portrait taken with a professional photographer. I am very happy with the results..... James did an excellent job.
When I work with industry insiders such as models, agents, stylist, makeup artist, casting directors, and other photographers, i sit down with them and ask lots of questions. Within the five years i have lived in new york, I have learned ALOT! Every year I have shared my knowledge and talents to help a few aspiring models move toward successful career. I work with these guys without my hand out and no expectation of payment - Some people think I am foolish for not becoming a mother agent or manager and cash-in on their modeling success. Sometimes I feel I am foolish for not doing so. I have helped many people because I am able to...because I can. I just wanna see people excel in life and if my work can contribute to their lives in a positive way.... that's payment enough for me. I'm just happy to know that my images help make a difference in other people's lives. :)
these are the fellas i worked with recently signed with top agencies....
SHANNON WALLACE @ Wilhelmina NYC
I have worked with Shannon since 2009 when he was a pimple-faced "regular" guy in red basket-ball shorts. I watched him transform into one of the most dynamic dudes to step in front of my lens. He developed style, cleared the skin up, and tighten up that 6'3 frame of his. He was a basketball player now he's a actor and model. Before he signed with Wilhemina, he worked with many amazing photographers, booked fashion shows during fashion week, and done countless magazine editorials including being a regular model featured in Cosmopolitan magazine. Shannon has also snagged a few campaigns that have appeared on the side of buses.....all this without agency representation. On the acting side Shannon has been the man-hoe in a few music videos and starred in a few independant films. check out one of his acting skits below and follow his youtube channel (he's funny as shit)...
TYHEEM CHRISTOPHER LITTLE @ Re:Quest Model Mgmt.
Tyheem's cousin, choreographer/ actor Anthony Burrell, introduced me to him. As soon as I opened my front door and saw his big eyes, lanky frame, and infectious smile, i knew he had potential to be a working model. I spent a year and half working with him and prepping him for the fashion industry. I watched him develop his body and modeling performance in front of the camera while teaching him how to book modeling jobs without agency representation. Last fashion week, Tyheem booked 5 fashion shows without agency representation as well as landing options for major campaigns like Converse. He also appeared in a 16 page spread in FLAUNT magazine. I encorage all the guys to be independant and do things for themselves and its exciting to watch someone like Tyheem do things on his own.
BRANDON WILLIAMS @ Major Model Mgmt.
After becoming one of the 5 finalist in the Sean John Model Search, Brandon reached out to me. Being a fellow southerner (from Virgina) who is finishing up a degree at Morehouse College, we instantly bonded. After his failed attempts at getting agency representation through a few mother agencies, Brandon followed my advice and managed to attract the attention of Major Model Mgmt. I was really excited for him when modeling agent Tom Winslow contacted me to do a test shoot for this "amazing new boy" they just signed and it was Brandon.
BRENDAN WASHINGTON @ Q Models NYC
I met Brendan when he first moved to NYC after he finished college at Clark Atlanta. He was a very nice guy that I was drawn to because of his odd looks. I was also very impressed with his hustle.... he was booking fashion shows, networking with really good photographers, and he even snagged a 16 page editorial in FLAUNT magazine without agency representation. You gotta respect real grind like his. He's worked very hard and I'm excited to see where Q models take his career. check out his entertainment blog - www.thastarvingartists.com.
PAST GUYS TAKEN UNDER MY WINGS.....
BRANDON PARKER @ FORD - ANDRE DOUGLAS @ WILHEMINA NYC - CHRIS CLARK CATES @ VNY - BRIAN PETERS @ FORD
DURAN BUNCH @ WILHEMINA NYC - LAURENCE MCCRAE @ NEXT NYC - RUMANDO KELLY @ CESD - GENE GRADY @ MAJOR NYC
CHECK OUT PREVIOUS BLOG POST TO READ ABOUT OTHER MODELS I HAVE WORKED WITH WHO HAVE MOVED ON TOWARD SUCCESSFUL MODELING CAREERS -
I am just happy that my images and advice have helped steer their modeling careers in the direction they want to go. I will continue to help those who i believe in their "look" and I see potential in having success in this industry. In the coming weeks I will do individual blog post on the guys and elaborate on how they made it without representation and the things they had to do when preparing to get representation. I will also feature more developing new talent who are unsigned and seeking agency representation, so look out for more new faces coming your way...soon.
i have been very busy working on a special project that will debut in early March. I have manage to squeeze in a slew of new faces into my tight schedule. today i've decide to introduce 16 year old Omari Gordon from Glendale, Arizona. I set up the session true photographer and magazine editor Jerris Madison and his mom, Jeanelle Lanham.
Usually I don't work with a lot of minors, but I was really inspired by his look. With the images, I kept in mind his age and made sure the finish work was polished and edgy but age-appropriate. Omari has a great look, wonderful attitude, and exhibited professionalism beyond his years. I wish more models where like him. The best part was that his mom wasn't a stage mom-type. She was as cool as he was to be around.
I enjoyed working with Omari and I look forward to working with him again and seeing his progression in the industry.
When I was a little kid in Memphis, TN, every year on the birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr , my granny would take me and my little brother to the Lorraine Motel where he was assassinated as her way of paying respects to a man who made great sacrifices so that my generation could live as we do today. She wanted us to appreciate and respect the sacrifices people have made for us.
As I reflect on this day, I think about the sacrifices people have made so we can do the things we are doing today. To show my appreciation I use art to pay it forward.
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