...MY SHIRT AND TIE SH*T! feat. Nate Gill @SoulArtist Mgmt.

model: NATE GILL (city models/ soul artist mgmt nyc)

ph. Tarrice Love

styling: Tarrice Love

 The  moment he stepped into my studio I understood  why so many clients hire him. Not only is he flawlessly good-looking, but Nate Gill has an energy that lights up a room. He was one of the nicest models I have had the pleasure of working with from Soul Artist Mgmt.

He's done campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, Y3, DKNY, and most recently Dsquared2.

He's walked the runway for Dolce & Gabanna, Etro, Versace, Givenchy, Vivienne Westwood and Calvin Klein.

I was  a little  intimidated to work with a  model that had been  photographed  by so many of my favorite photographers, but Nate's personality put me at ease. It was my first time working with him, but it felt like I was working with an old friend.

photographer Tarrice Love feat. nate gill @ soul artist mgmt. from tarrice love on Vimeo.

model: NATE GILL (city models/ soul artist mgmt nyc)

ph. Tarrice Love

styling: Tarrice Love

For my 1st shoot with Nate Gill I decided to play it safe and shoot some  classic, clean, and simple style images. I was nervous and I didn't want him to think I was a weirdo. Looking back, I wish I hadn't gotten in my own way and done something artistic and crazy. He has the personality and look to pull off almost anything. We definitely haveta make something awesome happen next time he's in town. 

The thing that surprised me the most about  working with Nate was him telling me that in his 5 years of modeling that our shoot was his first time in front of the lens of a black photographer. I was complimented and  disappointed at the same time. It really made me realize how much more work me and other black photographers have to do to break into the circle of photographers that models like Nate Gill normally work with. I am thankful to have the support of Soul Artist Mgmt. and  models  like  Nate Gill to help make my journey towards success a little bit easier.

Nate Gill appears on season 2 of Revenge and  you can check him out on netflix.com 

WET DREAMS feat. ANDRE DOUGLAS @ wilhelmina models nyc

model: ANDRE DOUGLAS (wilhelmina models nyc)

ph. Tarrice Love

styling: Tarrice Love

 

andre douglas @ wilhelmina models nyc from tarrice love on Vimeo.

It is always great to be apart of a model's success (especially a African American model). Andre Douglas started as a college basketball player in Laurenceville, Georgia who maxed out his credit cards to come to New York and shoot with me. He crashed on my couch in the Bronx with a broken foot and immediately signed with a top agency. His classic All-American looks landed major campaigns with Abercrombie and Finch, Levis, D-Squared and Tommy Hilfiger. He has stomped the runways with major American and European designers all over the world.

Andre hit me up to be apart of a project i'm working and create images that would help transition him into a "grown man" image. this wet concept is an easy go to when the temperatures are reaching the 100 degree marks. Pouring water on someone's head while maintaining a straight face isn't as easy as you'd think it would be but Andre handled the situation like a master pro. It was an awesome experience working with Andre and we have more hot images to show y'all soon.

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?"

on my radar: SHANNON WALLACE @ wilhelmina ny/ elite miami

model: Shannon Wallace @ Wilhemina Models NY/ Elite Miami

ph: Tarrice Love

headdress by Tarrice Love

styling: Tarrice Love

I have been working with Shannon Wallace since late summer 2009. I saw alot of potential in this tall , lanky guy  despite the red basketball shorts, black socks, and flip-flop sandals he was wearing  when he came over to meet with me for the first time. He refined his look, got his skin and  body together, and  developed himself into a working  model.  His drive  and  determination  helped attract  representation interest from Wilhelmina.   Before he signed with Wilhelmina  he was booking  fashion editorials, catalogue and lookbook jobs, runway shows  during fashion week, and a billboard alongside NYC buses.

 

model: Shannon Wallace @ Wilhelmina Models NY/ Elite Miami

ph: Tarrice Love

headdress by Tarrice Love

styling: Tarrice Love

I SHOT HIM, HE SHOT ME

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.

I SHOT HIM.....

photographer James K Holder

check out his work - http://www.jkh2.com/

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.

INSIGHT INTO ME pt.1: MEMPHIS, TN ...Represent to the Fullest!!!

Recently I took a much deserved break  from  the hustle/bustle of NYC and went back home to get dose of southern love from my family and friends. Its also a time for me  to refresh myself and remember why I left home to conquer the dog eat dog world of the fashion industry.

me :)

this is the house I grew up in -  in South Memphis

Being back home allowed me a chance to  be around my family and friends and submerge myself in love from people who genuinely care about me. I got to go back to the house i grew up in and eat some real home cookin' and get alot of granny hugs.

this is a portrait of my grandparents (my grandpa died on Father's Day a few years ago) Grandpa bought me my first camera ...a Pentax K1000 35mm camera

Being  back in Memphis forced me to slow down and take a little break. One of the plus factors to coming back home is  returning to my old studio space. It was my bedroom at my grandparents house. They helping me clear out my bed and furniture and convert it into  my studio. I spent most of  the time re-absorbing  the things that inspired  me  before I made the move. 

 this is my studio...where all my magic took place

I also looked thru  old journals  I kept and  artworks i did during my college days.

 sketches and notes that were in my  notebooks and journals.... 

 

 paintings and drawings i did before my move to nyc

I sat in the middle of the floor of my old studio/bedroom I spent most of my life looking thru my massive archive of magazines like HONEY, SUEDE, TRACE, CODE, V MAGAZINE, INTERVIEW, AMERICA, as well as Vogue, GQ, and Elle.

People who I useta photograph stopped by and we'd reminisce about our college days, fashion shows, and past photo shoots

 ONLY PPL IN THE SOUTH KNOW ABOUT "FREEZE-CUPS" (frozen kool-aid in Styrofoam cups) 

One of the things that tripped me out  was  that alot of businesses and homes were  forclosed or just completely gone. Living in NYC has made me completely blind to the effects the economy has had on this entire nation.

there use to be a house  in that empty lot next to my Granny's house - and you can see one of many foreclosed homes that litter my old neighborhood. 

I was surprised  to see the old poetry spot Precious Cargo boarded up...

After about 3 days of eating, eating, hanging out, and more eating, ....I came to the realization of how much I NEED to do art and I could never do it at the level I want to in Memphis. I became restless and longed to get back behind my lens.

During the last few days of my "vacation", I contacted Brian Peters who wasn't available for shooting ( he was in the middle of dealing with his brother's wedding). I then reached out to Tanieka Carter and Mercedes Stafford, wonderful models whom I collaborated on some amazing images together ( and they still had their "model" bodies). I also linked up with Najee Strickland, a model/ designer who has a line of t-shirts  called Heartless. I will do a separate post about their shoots and you'll see the results of those images soon.

photographer Darius Williams

Aquarius Creative Studios

www.createwithaquarius.com

Photographer Darius Williams of Aquarius Studios  gave  me free reign  of his studio during my  time at home. I met him during my return trip last year at photographer S Julian's birthday party. He let me use his studio space when I shot model, Ty Parker. During this trip, I got to spend some chill time with Darius and get to know him a little bit better.He's a very nice guy and very talented. His work with Najee was what made me interested in working with him too.

photograph by: Darius Williams - behind the scenes photographing model Najee Strickland and assisted by Mercedes Stadford

All the food I ate, the parties I went to, and the time with old and new friends and loved ones was priceless and contributed  to one of the best times I had at home.