...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 

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

PORTRAIT: B.SCOTT

B.Scott is an androgenous internet personality who gained exposure with his popular videos on YouTube and his personal website, lovebscott.com. B. Scott's internet presence has contributed to his ability to interview celebrities such as Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Chaka Khan, Eva Marcielle,  Aubrey O'Day, Marcus Patrick and Ashanti. 

Following his Internet-based success, B. Scott writes a monthly column for Ebony magazine and  has begun to appear in mainstream media, making appearances on The Tyra Banks Show, Housewives of Atlanta, Dr. Drew, and Oxygen (TV channel). he also made a cameo appearance in the new Patrik-Ian Polk film, The Skinny.

It was B.Scott's work on the internet that inspired me to start doing videos for my blog.  When he contacted  me to photograph him for his upcoming appearance on Bravo's Roble` and Co. I was very excited. He wanted large blown up images  of him looking looking classic and beautiful and he felt my style of work was perfect. 

 me and b.scott after our shoot.

actor/dancer JOE SLAUGHTER @ Soul Artist Mgmt.

I am a big fan of dance movies so it was a real treat  to work with actor/ dancer/ model Joe Slaughter who is currently represented by Soul Artist Mgmt. in New York City. he first caught my attention when he joined the cast of the third movie in the Step Up dance movie franchise, Step Up 3D, playing the role of Julien (the villian).

the final dance battle from the movie Step Up 3D

With his gorgeous blue eyes and curly blonde hair, Joe Slaughter is probably one of the most beautiful faces I have yet to capture in front of my lens. His energy and spirit was also great to be around. The images we created were simple and quick but stunningly beautiful. I can't stop staring at them.

 I really enjoyed working with him and I can't wait to work with him again.

introducing OMARI GORDON

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.

introducing model/ actor EVANDER HOLYFIELD JR.

I recently had the pleasure to work with model/ actor Evander Holyfield Jr. (the son of boxing great Evander Holyfield) I met him a few years ago via Internet. We kept in touch. He recently moved to New York for an internship and to further pursue his modeling and acting career and we finally got him up in here to shoot w/ me.

Evander Holyfield Jr. (Photography: Tarrice Love)

Evander Holyfield Jr. (Photography: Tarrice Love)

After the shoot we looked through the images, the biggest smile came over his face... he was so happy and that made me feel good. Shooting him made me realize the power imagery has in making people feel good about themselves. I make people beautiful..... that makes me feel good about what I am doing.

...say it loud, I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!!!!

I was born in the 70's and was a child in the 80's and throughout my developmental years blackness was celebrated. We had Gordon Parks shooting for Vogue and Life magazine (still waiting for the day when a black photographer shoots the cover of the American Vogue). He opened the flood gates capturing black life on the silver screen with gems like The Learning Tree and Shaft. Other films followed like Oscar nominated Lady Sings the Blues and Claudine which introduced the world to the beauty of Diana Ross and Diahann Carroll. Every little girl in my neighborhood wanted to be Tracy Chambers aka Mahogany and all the lil dudes wanted to be Superfly.

 

Every black family I knew had stacks of Ebony, Jet, and Essence magazines on their living room tables. All my friends had tearsheets  from Vibe and Source ( and lets not forget the jet beauty of the week, lol) covering our bedroom walls.

On curtain  weeknights our entire house was on lock down for Good Times, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, The Cosby Show and A Different World - I smile when I think of the days when BET did us proud with Donnie Simpson and Video Soul, Teen Summit on Saturdays, and Cita the cyber-host.

Every Saturday night  me and my brother glued ourselves to the tv to watch ....SOUL TRAIN. It had the coolest fashion, the best music, and  everyone seemed to be having a good time. They made being black cool ( like the Gwendolyn Brooks poet WE REAL COOL)

above: model Pierre Woods @ NY Models sitting in front of the italian version of the movie poster for Gordon Park's film  A Learning tree

One a fashion standpoint, we had Willie Wear/ Willie Smith who was the first black designer to win a bunch of awards before his death. We also had Patrick Kelly who was both the first American and the first person of color to be admitted as a member of the Chambre Syndicale in Paris. He was an exciting designer who continues to influence fashion today.

I grew up in the middle of the supermodel craze - and a few black ones emerged - Naomi, Veronica, Beverly Peele, Tyra.  Tyson Beckford totally redefined what a black male model is suppose to look like to the point where most of the black male models today look like they could be his little brothers. Their presence made me feel like the fashion world was open to someone like me.

Today I think black people have lost that sense of pride and dignity they had back in those days. I grew up feeling really good about being black and felt happy about my life. I embraced the music, art, culture, fashion and food  that made my life different from the  "white life" I saw on television.

I think imagery is powerful. When you don't see a representation of yourself reflected in a positive way, It send a very powerful message.  It was powerful enough for me to want to use art as a tool to celebrate  the beauty I see in everyone who steps in front of my lens.

I merge all the elements that influenced me  from my life growing up as a young, southern, black man and present them in the images I create. The generation I grew up in inspired me to want to see blackness as beautiful. It is disappointing that Today's generation is mostly about fitting in, making money, and being apart of the system and expressing its point of view instead of using your resources to express and celebrate your own point of view.

I SAY IT LOUD..... I'M BLACK, AND I AM PROUD!