PUTTING IT ON PAPER.....

His name is Kaliq Omar; is artistic moniker, hesreallythabusiness™. He is a talented young artist from Columbus, Ohio who has taken an interest in translating my photos in to amazing pencil sketches......

twice @ boss models nyc

marcus lloyd @ red models nyc

you can see more of this young talent's work on his modelmayhem page @ http://www.modelmayhem.com/hesreallythabusiness
and his myspace page @ www.myspace.com/hesreallythabusiness

if you want him to draw you don't think you can sucker him into drawing for free...he charges and he's worth. :)

tarrice and brandon check out the "Birth of Cool"

Brandon Parker invited me to The Studio Museum in Harlem to check out the Birth of Cool exhibit. This was my first chance to start doing somethings that are fun . I useta go to museums with my boy Arick Elion at home all the time.



The Birth of Cool exhibit was a retrospective of the paintings of Barkley L. Hendricks. He is best know for his life-sized paintings of black folks in the 60's and 70's and his self-portraits. He also included Jamaican landscape paintings and a set of painted shoes. This exhibit made me feel like i was looking thru my family photo album and 70's fashion magazines. It was very inspiring. Me and Brandon both agreed that every stylist should see this exhibit.


this was my favorite painting intitled "Sweet Thang"



I was getting flashbacks of Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jefferson and What's Happening. Most of all I was taken back to episodes of the popular sitcom Julia starring Diahann Carroll. I had to go home and watch her and James Earl Jones in "Claudine"


Afterwards we took our hungry asses to Sylvia's, a popular soul food restaurant in Harlem. I had eaten there once before and hated it, but I decided to give it a second chance especially since Brandon loves that shit. Well I was disappointed once again. New York hype at its finest. My BBQ ribs were salty and the sauce tasted like cheap hotsauce poured over my ribs. The mac and cheese was dry and my garlic potatoes were light on the garlic....very light ( i made my mind think i tasted the garlic). The worse part is that our food was waaay over priced. I hate ny hype....it just keeps leaving me missing home. As long as I get to experience Brandon's momma's mac and cheese when she comes up for a visit- it more than makes up for the wack food in NYC.

NEW YEAR.....NEW BEGINNING...ITS MY TIME!!!

I haven't posted in a while. The holidays kinda had me feeling kinda down. Another holiday season in New York City without my family or my closest friends. With it being Fedex's busiest time of the year, I had to work at fed on the days before and following the holidays and I couldn't take off work. I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with Brandon Parker, his momma - Felicia, Brandon's friend Perryn who is a fashion design student at the prestigious Parson's School of Design, and my favorite makeup artist, Crystal Clark. It was nice being with new friends, eating great food prepared by "momma Parker" and chillin with them, but nothing compares to my Granny and her sisters arguing about who has gained the most weight, my momma acting all antisocial and crazy, and my uncle Junebug staggering all over everybody and talking shit. I miss my friends coming thru to rescue me from my ghetto family antics and us going to see dumb movies and eating at Rafferty's. (boy am I feening for that potato soup and croissants with that honey butter, mmmmm)

I spent New Year's eve alone at home in my 12x12 room lying on my floor missing my family reflecting on being in NY and feeling alone for another year. Thinking about all the people I have extended myself beyond what I had to do to help them get to a better place for their goals and careers.
My Grandmother raised me to be generous and helping. She always say help as many people you can as long as it doesn't put you out. So I do and will continue to, but what started to bother me was that I felt like no one was reaching out their hand to help me. I have never felt more alone then what I feel here in NYC. So for the New Year I ask God to surround me with people who will have my back like I have got theirs. Most of the people in NYC are in my life no because they genuinely like me and want to be around me but because of what I can do for them and what they can get from me. I have decided to look out more for myself because I can do more for others if I am in a better place for myself. I have made the decision to do the kind of work I want to do regardless of what agents want from me, models want from me, stylist, makeup artist want from me......its 2009 and it's time for me to take mines....especially since noone is trying to give it to me.
No more free rides in 2009 pimpin. You wanna ride, then give me somethin on the gas, lol.

I am in what's supose to be the greatest city in the world and I haven't really experienced it. I spent so much time shooting and retouching and sitting in front of this crappy computer in this 12x12 room ----I have let what I love to do become some kind of prison punishment. I have allowed people to pressure me about what they want and what they need from me to keep me in this hole........ no more. I have made a personal promise to myself to go to events, art museums, fashion stuff, and take advantage of what being here in New York City has to offer. These people and what they want from me can wait or get someone else to do it. Its time for me to get crunk up in this bitch....lol and have some fun.

BRIAN PETERS AND BO-BO the teddybear

This is Brian Peters @ Ford models talking about castings and how important Bo-bo is to him booking jobs...LOL

THE WATERMARK.....

Recent postings of my work contain "the watermark" as my attempt to protect myself, the models, and everyone involved from the misuse of the work. At first I didn't want to do "the watermark" but over the years I have seen more and more of my work and my fellow photography friends work slattered on websites and other paraphanalia that misrepresents myself and the models. As the use and misuse of the internet becomes more popular, I felt some effort of protection on my part is necessary.

I came up with a watermark that looks more like magazine credits to not take away from the work as art.

Today I saw a series of images I shot of a particular model who opt'd against using "the watermark" images on his facebook, myspace, modelmayhem and other internet pages. As I was resizing a set of images and adding the watermark I explained to him the importance of using "the watermark" versions. He totally disregarded my request and use larger non-watermark versions ...telling me that he was about the art and felt it was more artistic without "the watermark". He felt like my watermarking the images made them look like advertising and he want the shots to look like art. As my mom would say " he must think my name sammy sausage-head." i gave him the non-watermark versions so he could print them. His art belongs on his walls not on myspace and facebook. Who goes to myspace and facebook to look at art?

True enough if someone wants to steal the images bad enough they can remove the watermark off the images but if someone wants to steal your car or break into your house bad enough, they can pick the lock. What's the point of locking your door? Its always good to take some measure of precaution.

Allura Pulliam - one of the original girls I worked with in Memphis...

One of the models I shot told me he wished I had done "the watermarks" sooner because he saw images of himself plastered on gay event flyers during his last trip to Atlanta. I know I have seen images of other models on club flyers on the street here in New York.

This situation with this model and the experience has made me implement a series of new practices when working with people in reference posting images I have shot on the internet. Understand that I do see my work as art and value it as such but I definitely don't like being out and about and see my photographs on club flyers or surfing thru other people's blogs and websites and see my work in a misrepresentative manner.

Despite this one model's blatant disregard and lack of respect, I hope that the rest of the models I have worked with and work with in the future respect and adhere to posting "the watermark" versions on the internet....

Because this model has put myself and my work in a vulnerable state, I will never work with him again. He gets the middle finger from me.

pictorial #2 - BOHEMIAN GLAMLUXE:things don't always turn out like you want them to...

The day I was suppose to shoot Vianna and Angelica of Next Models in Miami it seemed like everything that could go wrong went wrong. It rained the day of the shoot and I had to reschedule for the next day because i instisted on shooting outside. The last minute schedule change left me without a stylist. Everyone was late and that affected the lighting conditions terribly. Then the weather took a turn for the bitter cold and high winds. after i redesigned the plan for the shoot Angelica came at me with this whole "i'm a conservative model and i prefer to be modestly dress shit." Not only had i planned for the outfits to be sexy and provocative, Brandon was suppose to be nude for one of the shots and the girls were gonna be fighting over him (some Dolce and Gabanna type of shit)...all that got tossed out the window. I really wanted some more girls in my portfolio so instead of arguing with her and disrupting the mood, I kept modifying my concept until she was comfortable. (if you could see my face right now while i'm typing...) I started thinking about the rumors that i was difficult and had a bad attitude. I didn't want these girls to go back to Miami thinking I was an asshole.

I made the girls outfits out of oversized t-shirts. I was inspired by the deconstruction designers of the nineties and old Gucci by Tom Ford. Once we got the girls dressed and Brandon in his Prada suit, we went up on the roof. the wind was blowing like crazy and it was super cold. It was so cold I couldn't even think straight. I shot Angelica first and I told her i wanted fashion posing ...i wish i coulda concentrate better so i could been clear about what i wanted. She kept crunching her body and shortening herself.....all wrong for the long lines i needed to accentuate her outfit.


I kept seeing Brandon out of the corner of my eye laughing. The wind was furiously banging against my head and I started getting a headache. Vianna got in front of the camera and turned it out. she was a real trooper induring the cold and wind like a pro. I could tell she was the more experienced of the two. She put on what ever i told her and never complained....she made me feel like she want the shot as much as I did, maybe even more.



The shoot was long and exhausting and we took our asses to IHOP to experience the worst waitress ever ( the one in Brooklyn and her name was Wendy). During the shoot I tried to make the most it but i wasn't happy because I wasn't getting nothing like what I wanted for this shoot. The girls were really nice people and I totally enjoyed them. I especially liked Vianna and I would definitely work with her again. She was tha bizness. Brandon is always a trooper.



Crystal did her thing with the makeup and I love working with her. It was another situation where i serendered my vision to please other people. The last time that will happen.... I learn't to never compromise my vision and allow other peoples limites and restrictions become my own. The pics turned out okay....but it wasn't what i wanted.

CONFESSIONS OF A RED BULL JUNKIE....

me on the corner of 41st and park ave....a redbull junkie on the street having my fix...lol

Yes I will be the first to admit my addiction to the energy drink Redbull. I drink one every morning before I start my route at work. Nothing like a little taurine, caffeine, glucose and B12 to get the juices flowing. If I don't drink one I instantly start suffering from some weird withdrawl where I start feeling sluggish and tired. I have tried going cold turkey a few times but when i'm walking up and down midtown manhattan, I constantly pass street vendors selling them..... the urge for that tangy taste kicks in and I haveta have one.
Starting today imma quit....well i'mma try....

ONE TO WATCH: Kyle Saunders @ Ford Models NYC

I was sitting at home bored surfing on the internet when Sean Bennett of Specimen models popped up on the instant messenger. I was telling him how bored I was and he asked me to test one of the guys he had placed with Ford. The model was leaving to go home for the holidays and that he wouldn't be back in New York until feburary for fashion week. I really didn't feel like shooting but I reluctantly said okay. We quickly discovered the guy was staying with people directly around the corner from me. Literally 5 minutes later my doorbell was buzzing and it was ..... lankly framed Kyle Saunders with lip piercing in the bottom right corner of his mouth. He was naturally gorgeous and i felt the best way to display his beautiful face was to just do these clean, high quality images....

Kyle was very easy to work with and unlike most male models, he is very aware of his strengths and with each pose he exemplified them with confidence.I was glad I had the chance to create these amazing images with such a character.


what do you guys think? ......Kyle Saunders of Ford Models NYC is definitely a star in the making.

introducing DURAN BUNCH @ Wilhemina Models NYC

One of the girls i useta take pics of back in Memphis actually introduced me to Duran Bunch. He was a guy from Nashville detailing bikes who was trying to break into modeling. She was in a fashion show with him and thought he needed my touch to help, so she gave him my contact info and called me insisting I work with him. I said ok after she emailed me photos of him backstage at the fashion show.

Duran would drive from Nashville to Memphis regularly to work with me. I totally believed in his look and definitely though he'd do well in this business. He has. With the help of my images, Duran is currently signed with Wilhemina. Duran has stomped the runways of damn near all the top European designers , appeared in a solo spread in L'official Hommes, Vman, Nurmero and recently appeared in a controversial spread in Vmagazine shot by Steven Miesel. I am so proud of Duran and I cain't wait to see what he does next.

Next time we are in Memphis together we need to hit the Cheesecake Corner again and indulge in their amazing turkey and dressing quiche...that shit was off the chain. lol!

pictorial #1- HOMME MADE KNITS.....

I wanted to shoot Brandon Parker in a really great set of sweaters. My bills are kickin my ass right now so i didn't have the money to splurge on sweaters for a photoshoot nor do I have stylist at my disposal with whom I could have got the sweaters from so I applied my creative energy into making them.

I took a cable knit skull cap I paid $5 bucks and cut the top out and used it as a turtleneck and glued pieces of a broken mirror to it. I think the results turned out pretty good.....I am very pleased

NEVER NEEDED YOUR VALIDATION.....

for as long as I can remember i have scouted modeling talent on my own for my own projects. When i was in memphis , i would hit my college campus and the mall and anywhere on the streets for interesting faces that inspired me. Since working with the top agencies in nyc, I have decided to not limit myself to the selection of models agencies have to offer. Most of the agencies tend to offer the same type of models and that has gotten a bit boring. All the white models tend to blur together and look the same....they look like brothers and sisters. All the black guys and girls tend to look like they just just stepped off the boat from the motherland - and black people are way too diverse to be limited to a selection of 3 or 4 models on an agency board.

The New York city streets are full of interesting people who are inspiring. Walking thru midtown Manhattan, Harlem, or Brooklyn makes my toes tingle with the amazing selection of beautiful and interesting people to chose from to create amazing images.

I also OVER the self-important attitudes many agency bookers tend to give a newcomer like myself. I feel like i'm in a "Mean Girls" movie sequel with mean fashion people. I don't haveta deal with none of that when I hit the streets.

I don't need the validation of the agencies, other photographers, or industry insiders when chosing people to shoot for my projects.

Brian Peters wasn't with Ford when I started working with him 4 years ago. He was a fellow co-worker at fedex in their hub headquaters in memphis. I spotted him in the parking lot, gave him my card. I worked with him every saturday for almost 4 years - which has led to a long term working relationship and friendship. When I moved to new york i introduced him to his former mother agent, sean bennett @ specimen who placed get him with Ford NYC.


















Andre Douglas wasn't with any agency when i started working with him. He was basketball player in Lawrenceville, Alabama who max'd out his credit card on a plane ticket to new york city. He stay'd with me when I was living in the Bronx because he had no money for a hotel or no where to stay. He arrived with a broken foot that was swollen like he had elephantitis but we worked around it. I also introduced him to his former mother agent, sean bennett @ specimen and helped him put a package together that helped get him placed with Wilhelmina NYC.

















Duran Bunch detailed motorcycles in Nashville, Tn and would ride his bike to Memphis to shoot with me. He wasn't signed to anyone. I saw his potential and help'd him delevope his book so he could have a competing chance in this business. He's currently represented by Wilhelmina NYC




















Tiffany Fairfield I met in college while painting the set for a fashion show she was modeling in. I worked with her for years as we both developed and grew. It was my images that got her placed with Ford in LA and Arizona where she currently lives.





















Philip Gadsens was my first discovery from myspace. He was going to school in Alabama and I saw him in a fraternity group pic and he eventually came up and stay'd with me for the weekend to create amazing images that got him placed with Ford.






















Chris Clark Cates was waiting tables at Chili's up the street from the university of Memphis in Memphis, TN. We worked closely every weekend for months until he got enough strong images that got him placed with VNY in new york.





















I remember when Tyson Beckford first appeared on the scene in the First Down outerwear ads in Source magazine and his look wasn't that of a male model. People thought he didn't have the standard looks of a model. They thought he  looked more like a nigga off the block and now he's the most famous male model in the world and his look is the stardard template for black males modeling. Someone was inspired by his look enough to to shoot him and work with him and thats how I work.
I choose people who inspire my ideas and I believe in their potential. It is cool to work with agencies but that has never been the driving force behind my model selection. I am proud of the work I have done with a lot of aspiring models and i am happy to know that it was my belief in them and the work that we have done together that helped the industry see the potential i saw. I understand my work and the vision i see helps these agencies and models get paid..... now i'd like to see to $$$ on this end. :)

I'm not trying to take full credit for these and other people's success in this industry. I am just acknowledging my contribution. Some of theses people's success in this industry would have happened totally differently if my involvement wasn't there. I have extended myself beyond what most photographers because i wanted to help them. My grandma always told me to be helpful - especially if it doesn't put me in a bind. I helped those models and others because I am able....not with the expectations of anything in return. I was raised by good people to be a good person and to have a good heart....NYC and the people in the fashion world makes it real tough to be that....