FRESH NEW FACES....

When I work with industry insiders such as models, agents, stylist, makeup artist, casting directors, and other photographers, i sit down with them and ask lots of questions. Within the five years i have lived in new york, I have learned ALOT! Every year I have shared my knowledge and talents to help a few aspiring models move toward successful career. I work with these guys without my hand out and no expectation of payment - Some people think I am foolish for not becoming a mother agent or manager and cash-in on their modeling success. Sometimes I feel I am foolish for not doing so.  I have helped many people because I am able to...because I can. I just wanna see people excel in life and if my work can contribute to their lives in a positive way.... that's payment enough for me. I'm just happy to know that my images help make a difference in other people's lives. :)

these are the fellas i worked with recently signed with top agencies....

SHANNON WALLACE @ Wilhelmina NYC

I have worked with Shannon since 2009 when he was a pimple-faced  "regular" guy in red basket-ball shorts. I watched him transform into one of the most dynamic dudes to step in front of my lens. He developed style, cleared the skin up, and tighten up that 6'3 frame of his. He was a basketball player now he's a actor and model. Before he signed with Wilhemina, he worked with many amazing photographers, booked fashion shows during fashion week, and done countless magazine editorials including being a regular model featured in Cosmopolitan magazine. Shannon has also snagged a few campaigns that have appeared on the side of buses.....all this without agency representation. On the acting side Shannon has been the  man-hoe in a few music videos and  starred in a few independant films. check out one of his acting skits below and follow his youtube channel (he's funny as shit)...

TYHEEM CHRISTOPHER LITTLE @ Re:Quest Model Mgmt.

Tyheem's cousin, choreographer/ actor Anthony Burrell, introduced me to him. As soon as I opened my front door  and saw his big eyes, lanky frame, and infectious smile, i knew he had potential to be a working model. I spent a year and half working with him and prepping him for the fashion industry. I watched him develop his body and modeling performance in front of the camera while teaching him how to book modeling jobs without agency representation. Last fashion week, Tyheem booked 5 fashion shows without agency representation as well as landing options for major campaigns like Converse. He also appeared in a 16 page spread in FLAUNT magazine.  I encorage all the guys to be independant and do things for themselves and its exciting to watch someone like Tyheem do things on his own.

BRANDON WILLIAMS @ Major Model Mgmt.

After becoming one of the 5 finalist in the Sean John Model Search, Brandon reached out to me. Being a fellow southerner  (from Virgina) who is finishing up a degree at Morehouse College,  we instantly bonded. After his failed attempts at getting agency representation  through a few mother agencies, Brandon followed my advice and managed to attract the attention of Major Model Mgmt. I was really excited for him when  modeling agent Tom Winslow contacted me to do a test shoot for this "amazing new boy" they just signed and it was Brandon. 

BRENDAN WASHINGTON @ Q Models NYC

I met Brendan when he first moved to NYC after he finished college at Clark Atlanta. He was a very nice guy that I was drawn to because of his odd looks. I was also very impressed with his hustle.... he was booking fashion shows, networking with really good photographers, and he even snagged a 16 page editorial in FLAUNT magazine without agency representation. You gotta respect real grind like his. He's worked very hard and I'm excited to see where Q models take his career. check out his entertainment blog - www.thastarvingartists.com.

PAST GUYS TAKEN UNDER MY WINGS.....

 

BRANDON PARKER @ FORD - ANDRE DOUGLAS  @ WILHEMINA NYC - CHRIS CLARK CATES @ VNY - BRIAN PETERS @ FORD

DURAN BUNCH @ WILHEMINA NYC - LAURENCE MCCRAE @ NEXT NYC - RUMANDO KELLY @ CESD - GENE GRADY @ MAJOR NYC

CHECK OUT PREVIOUS  BLOG  POST TO READ ABOUT OTHER MODELS I HAVE WORKED WITH WHO HAVE MOVED ON TOWARD SUCCESSFUL MODELING CAREERS -

I am just happy that my images and advice have helped steer their modeling careers in the direction they want to go. I will continue to help those who i believe in their "look" and  I see potential in having success in this industry. In the coming weeks I will do individual blog post on the guys and elaborate on how they made it without representation and the things they had to do when preparing to get representation. I will also feature more developing new talent who are unsigned and seeking agency representation, so look out for more new faces coming your way...soon.

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.

I JUST HAD TO POST THIS ON MY BLOG!

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY (a tribute to the ideas of change)

When I was a little kid in Memphis, TN, every year on the birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr , my granny would take me and my little brother to the Lorraine Motel where he was assassinated as her way of paying respects to a man who made great sacrifices so that my generation could live as we do today. She wanted us to appreciate and respect the sacrifices people have made for us.

As I reflect on this day, I think about the sacrifices people have made so we can do the things we are doing today. To show my appreciation I use art to pay it forward.

I AM CHAD WHITE @ Soul Artist Mgmt.

One day I was chatting with my best friend on the phone and she was going on and on about  the universe and if I want something I should put it out into the universe and I will get it. so I decided to compile a list of people i want to work with one day and i did so on facebook (see dream list). I also tagged the people and their agents to the list. After that Jason Kanner from Soul Artist management saw the list and offered to send as many of their models on the list. The first person he sent was supermodel Chad White.

I was so nervous. What do you do with a model who has photographed with all the greats? 

so i decided to customize something just for him. I googled him and I saw a runway image of him in the D-Squared show dressed in a white motorcycle jumper and ran out and got the closest thing I could afford which was a white painter's jumper from Home Depot. The whole time I was planning his shoot I was thinking "wow, i caint believe i'm finna shoot Chad White."

many of you may recognize his face from major campaigns like Dolce & Gabbana and Hugo Boss and magazine covers and editorials shot by amazing photographers like Steven Klein, Steven Miesel, and Francois Rousseau

When he arrived, he was on time ( 2pm on the dot) and he was gracious and polite. He whipped out his phone and turned it off and put it in his bag. It was the first time I noticed a model doing that. I am accustom to models walking thru the door texting and twittering and facebooking but he showed respect by putting his phone away. I know for me, I never  use my phone during a shoot so I can give the person in front of my camera  my full attention. 

We sat and chatted about modeling, his numerous photoshoot experiences with the Stevens (Miesel and Klein), our families, his dogs and motor bikes, and food (we both looooove food). In front of the camera I told him to  give me some of that "Chad White shit" - and he  just started moving like he could read my mind. I really had fun working with him and I can't wait to work with him again. Next time imma make sure to get some full length shot because  he has the best legs ever.

Special thanks to Jason Kanner for sending him to me ...... thanks!!!

ps. Chad, you left your baseball cap.... i'll hold on to it for you ;)

...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)

introducing: CAESAR STOVALL @ Red Citizen NYC

I met  former Army paramedic turned model Caesar Stovall at the beginning of the  year on modelmayhem. We would chat on skype about our ambitions and our planned photo session. He came to shoot with me from a small town in Virgina. In person he was more than another one of those light skinned, pretty, mixed-raced boy that towered over me like a tree.... Caesar had that "it" factor..

I really didn't like the pictures from this session because i hated his hair so we reschedule a second shoot with a better hair cut. On the day of our re-shoot, he signed to Red Citizen NYC and booked an exclusive with Givenchy fashion show. His booker  had other plans for him that didn't include shooting with me - so the shoot was cancelled. He took me to lunch instead to show his thanks and appreciation for me taking the time and special interest in working with him and being his friend. He told me that it was the pics I took of him that caught the eye  of his booker at Red.

Caesar Stovall's walking the Givenchy runway show last season created a lot of buzz for him to work with leading photographers and designers  in NY. He's even had a write up in the New York Times. I am excited for him and happy that all his hard work and sacrifices are starting to pay off. I expect bigger things  for Caesar and I wish him continued success.

LIVE YOUR DREAMS

I came to New York City 5 years ago with the hopes to become a influential fashion and fine arts photographer. I have no real family or friends here .... just a few artist friends whom i developed friendships through social networks like black planet, myspace , and eventually facebook. Within the last 5 years I have worked with some amazing artist and models. Aligned myself with people I never  thought i'd have  the opportunity to meet and work with. I am living my dream.

That would have never happened had I not took a leap of faith and stepped outside the comfort zone of my hometown of Memphis, Tn.

I just want to say thank you to all the people who help make living my dream in nyc a little bit easier.