introducing BLAINE COOK @ soul artist mgmt.

model: BLAINE COOK @ Soul Artist Mgmt.

ph. Tarrice Love

styling:  Tarrice Love

I got an email from Andrew @ Soul Artist Management saying that top model Blaine Cook was in town and would like for me to photograph him. I was so excited because I have followed his career from the beginning and loved the body of work he's done.

He's worked with some of the most amazing photographers in the world like Steven Miesel for Calvin Klein and Vogue Italia. He's also appeared in some of my favorite magazines like GQ Style, V Man and Arena Homme +. I was a little nervous and intimidated. What could I possibly add to his portfolio that he didn't have already?

ph. Steven Miesel for  Vogue Italia

ph. Steven Miesel for  Calvin Klein

When Blaine arrived, we sat down and chatted a bit about his career and what he felt he needed from me. We decided to go with images that we classic and clean that would showcase a maturer side of Blaine. That was right up my alley.....classic and clean is what i'm know for.

model: BLAINE COOK @ Soul Artist Mgmt.

ph. Tarrice Love

styling:  Tarrice Love

CUTTING OFF THE BANDS feat. AARON SPADY

model: AARON SPADY

ph. Tarrice Love

styling: Tarrice Love 

Somebody asked me why did i cut the underwear bands off?

here's why. 

I get underwear companies hitting me up all the time offering me "free" underwear to use in my photography. After I thought about it, i realize that they'd be getting me and the model to promote their product for free. They have no reason to ever pay me to photograph their brand if i'm already doing it for free. I'd be cancelling myself and the model out of possible earnings. 

When my work (with their brands) appears on my internet outlets i am also introducing their products to all of my followers and viewers (who are also potential customers). They are making money because my images are helping sell their brand and they didn't pay me or the models who appear in the images. I decided to follow the same politics that editor of American Vogue Anna Wintour uses.... She does not use clothing in editorials from designers (or their corporate backers) who don't pay for ad space. Its also the same reason many of these online magazines can't get advertising support. They feature countless designer brands on their online pages and pages for free. Why would a design company pay you for one or 2 pages of ad space if you are already doing it for nothing?

Unless its a designer or brand i am supporting (weather i'm paid to photograph it or i am doing so for personal reasons), I find creative ways to hide it. Like my Granny useta say "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"

...IN MY DAYDREAMS feat. JEREMY ROSADO @ Boss NYC

model: Jeremy Rosado @ Boss Models NYC

(photography and styling: Tarrice Love)

I met Jeremy Rosado during an editorial shoot I did for AMMO magazine. I really enjoyed working with all of the guys that day but he was the only one that never had a one on one session with me. We exchanged contacts and proceeded to set something up.  At the time my relationship with  booker was "strained" so we set the shoot up directly with each other.

Jeremy has beautiful face and an amazing body.  I wanted to do images that show'd his sensual side that compliments his physical strengths. So i decided to shoot him in with a natural light theme using my favorite magazines with black models as a way to pay homage to their black beauty. Jeremy's character is obsessed with black women so much so  that he has daydreams about them. He was completely open to the concept  and took direction well. He fell into character so convincingly that he fell asleep on the floor during the shoot. The results turned out beautiful and I hope y'all like them.

model: Jeremy Rosado @ Boss Models NYC

(photography and styling: Tarrice Love)

fashion editorial: LOST WEEKEND featured in AMMO MAG

check out my editorial featured in AMMO MAG styled by Javon Drake. I worked with Javon before with model, Pierre Woods and fashion blogger Jinna Boo and we got along great. This time we teamed together  for an online magazine called AMMO MAG.  -

below are some of the outtakes as well as a few shots from the editorial. CLICK HERE to view the full editorial

photography: Tarrice Love
Fashion Editor: Javon Drake
Art Direction: John Woodland Jr.

location: ALOFT Hotel/ Harlem
Fashion Assistant: Thandie Gweshe
Models: Jeremy Rosado (Boss Models), Evander Holyfield Jr. (Ford), 

Chris (Q Models), Shamik (Idenities), Marcell Harris (Major)

 

the editorial was shot at the Aloft Hotel in Harlem. the rooms and hallway space weren't large enough to utilize the lighting I had anticipated so I had to rely on the lighting available .... which was difficult. This was my chance to show people that I could do something besides shoot in "controlled" lighting circumstances. I untilized the colored filters in photoshop to experiment and give a different mood to the pics. I hope people like the editorial...I know I am very happy with the way this turned out.

OMG! THAT FACE: MATTHEW COATSWORTH @ Soul Artist Mgmt.

When I opened the door I was blown away at how gorgeous Matthew Coatsworth was. Thanks Jason and Andrew @ Soul Artist Mgmt.  for sending him to me. :)

ACTOR/ MODEL/ RESTAURANTEUR THIERRY PEPIN @ Major Model Mgmt.

I remember Thierry Pepin when he was the guy in the ads for the Ralph Lauren fragrance Romance. I tore the ad out of a magazine and added the image to my wall collage at home in Memphis. I would have never thought I would have the opportunity to work with him....now I have.

Canadian model and actor, Thierry Pepin, use to own a popular restaurant in NY called “T-Poutine”, which served Canada’s national dish — poutine. Poutine - a mixture of French fries, cheese curds and hot gravy - is making it onto menus alongside typical American fare like cheeseburgers and chili dogs.

check Thierry out in the recent  Body Heat commercial....

He cut his hair to give himself a new look and the agency hit me up to photograph it. 

HER MAJESTY.....re-introducing ISAMAR GONZALEZ

Isamar Gonzalez (photography: Tarrice Love)

styling: McGuyver

headdress by Me/ McGuyver

all accessories designed by Isamar Designs

The first time I saw Isamar Gonzalez was 12 years ago in  Heavy d's Nuttin' But Luv music video and again in Sweet Honey by Born Jamericans. It was  my first time seeing "real" models in videos and I thought she was goooorgeous. She was the black girl with "the big hair." I never thought in a million years I would have had the opportunity to meet and work with her.

music video - Sweet Honey by Born Jamericans/ Delicious Vinyl

photographed by Thierry LeGoues

D'Angelo - Cruisin'

Uploaded by EMI_Music. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

She sought me out thru the networking site Facebook to assist me on a few of my photoshoots. I was so nervous that i wouldn't respond. One day I came home from work and got on Facebook and she hit me on the chat asking me when was I gonna call her...... I honestly didn't know how to pronounce her name and I didn't want to butcher it plus I was kinda afraid to meet someone I actually use to draw when I was in college. She told me to "call now!" and try....so I did. We instantly hit it off and set up a session.

Isamar Gonzalez (photography: Tarrice Love)

styling: McGuyver

dress made out a t-shirt by Me/ McGuyver

all accessories designed by  Isamar Designs

I was a little nervous and intimidated to shoot her in my cramped little space. Supermodel Isamar has worked with some of the most amazing photographers and fashion icons in the world. I was hoping that experience of working with me would equal her expectations. She made me comfortable and feel just as relevant and special as those photographers i grew up admiring. Being in NYC and not having access to space, clothes and connections has heightened my insecurity and has made me lose confidence in my work and abilites, but working with Isamar made me feel so inspiring and proud. I love the images we created and look forward to working with her on more projects.

Isamar Gonzalez (photography: Tarrice Love)

styling: McGuyver

all accessories designed by  Isamar Designs

She looks as amazing as she did when she first started modeling at 17 and was wonderful to work with and I think I captured her energy and spirit perfectly......

introducing MARCUS HILL

Marcus Hill @ Soul Artist Mgmt.

Marcus Hill stepped off the football field and into the world of fashion with avengence. He is confident and possesses an energy that is contagious. 

 

tarrice love - photographer feat. marcus hill @ soul artis mgmt. from tarrice love on Vimeo.

Marcus has a body like chiseled brick... perfection and he is completely comfortable showing it off. He had a lot of the typical commercial/ catalog-type images in his portfolio and I didn't want to do a repeat of the images in his book. A lot of times I find black guys tend to have boring forgettable books that focus on commercial. I wanted to use my time with him to shoot him in a super sexy and masculine way like i see many of the white male models. I wanted to also create images that were also artistic and lasting.

  

the thank you card he sent me....

One of the coolest things about my experience working with Marcus was the apperciation and thanks he showed by sending me a actual thank you card in the mail. It was one of the first time a model made me feel like the work we did was something they - themselves valued and treasured. 

THANK YOU MARCUS, FOR MAKING ME FEEL OFFICIAL...