I INSPIRE YOU....YOU INSPIRE ME

I get emails all the time from aspiring models, photographers and other artist who applaud my efforts to be a relevant influence in an industry that often times make me feel like my pursuits are a waste of time. One particular email I received back in 2007 has stayed with me to remind me that the work I do is a true inspiration to people in ways I never could have imaged. I thought I would share it with y'all ......

THIS MESSAGE WAS SENT TO ME 8.21.2007 - 10:23AM via MYSPACE
Please don't pass this up cause it really means alot to me.
I was just thinking about you the other day. So I decided to go to your site and I saw that a lot has changed and you also have myspace.
I would definitely like to thank you for all that you have done for me through you work and your words...
It started probably about four years ago when I stumbled across the Ice web site. I was completely over taken by all the brothas and sistas that you had on your site. And the sense of strength, pride and beauty that poured from each and every photo.
Back then I thought that I wanted to be an artist. But I could barely draw a damn stick figure!!! So ever day after school and work I would teach myself to draw by studying your work... Year later I was paid to drawing people's senior pictures, their children and so on.
Later in life, after going through some family problems dropping out in the 10th grade. I was still admiring your work and continued to draw sit in front of the computer screen for hours drawing. Then one day I realized that nothing freezes time like a photo and it also takes less time then drawing (I am kind of impatient) in other words drawing started working my damn nerves.
So I decided I would go back to school in which I did.
I got my high school diploma and I am about to start college to study fine-arts and photography.
I am currently saving up for my first Canon digital SLR and studio lighting so that I can get serious and really pour these thoughts out of my mind.
Right now just for practice all the pictures that I have on my myspace page are shot with a cheap digital point and shoot camera. I am teaching myself the whole photoshop gig. I have come a long way and I still have so far to go.
But I would just say thank you cause GOD placed you in my line of sight at just the right time. All of this can be rooted back to you and your work and Two simple pictures that where drawn of your models (They are on a slide show on my page).
Please, Please keep in touch it would surely mean a lot to me.
p.s. ... In my opinion we as a people could go so much farther and we should be much farther into every angle of life then what we are. We just don't support each other well enough.
All I can do is my part though and I got ya back fo sho!
J-Fitz

After I recieved the email, I was so touched by this young man's genuine words, I called him. I wanted to thank him personally. We are now friends and talk on the phone regularly.

Right now, Photog J ( the name he goes by) is currently attending Ohio State University, one of the country's most prestigious state universities - pursing a degree in Psychology with a focus in Art History. His photography is impressively amazing and equally inspiring. His work has been included in art exhibitions throughout Ohio. He has also worked with fresh new modeling talent as well as superstars who have stomped runways for iconic legends like Calvin Klien. check out his work here

Growing up my Grandmother use to tell me and my brother that our life's blessings come from helping people and that we should always use what God has given us to leave a positive stamp on the world. I am so proud that my work has left an impact on my hometown - Memphis, models working in NYC, Photog J and many others like him. Until this particular email, I never really thought about how me taking pictures of models would impact someone's life on this level and I am soooo thankful that what I do is an inspiration.

Always strive to be your best you .... you never know who is watching