Me & Darrell Walden Jr on 26th st.

I wanted to shoot an editorial submission with model Darrell Walden Jr @ (time of posting) Fusion Models NYC. Every stylist I called or emailed passed on the opportunity. Despite the fact that Darrell was fresh off the runways of Paris, Milan, and NYC for Armani, Louis Vuitton, and DKNY, stylist were straight up with me when they said they didn't need to work with a black guy right now. I was so frustrated that I emailed my assistant to cancel the shoot. Then I said "fuck it, imma gone knock this out myself." I went to my closet and started pulling things together. When Darrell arrived prompt and ready....I made him try on the looks to make sure the looks worked. After that We hopped on the A train and headed to 26th street.

me and darrell eatting at BBQ's

...Darrell is currently represented by Next Model Mgmt nyc

It was cold as hell. I made him change on the street. lol . Darrell started tearing up but he was a trooper not really complaining. I had a great time....After working up a serious appetite, I decided to take his skinny ass to BBQ's. We ate enough to get niggaitis on the train back to the house. Then I did a underwear story with natural light in the empty room in my apartment.

I am proud of the images we shot... the work is very different from my usual stuff and i am very happy to experiment with techniques and styling. I hope the pics help spruce up his book.

darrell walden jr @ next model mgmt. nyc

introducing Deric Mickens @ Silver Models

I found Deric Mickens on modelmayhem a few months ago. When he flew into NYC from some small town in Ohio with his little duffle bag and a dream of making this modeling happen. lol Almost instantly he started booking little jobs that that paid him enough to make NYC his new home. As fast as he got here he was snatched up by Adam @ Silver Models.

Deric Mickens @ Silver Models photographed and styled by Me

Deric is a great guy to work with. I love his energy and his confidence. he has an great face that appeals to everyone and a body thats top notch. He is one of those guys that seem to catch on really fast to how to give to the camera. Most just stand in front of it not doing anything. I look forward to seeing big things continue to happen for Deric.

introducing writer Lamar Ariel

http://readytomale.com/index.html

author Lamar Ariel

I was recently commisioned to shoot the photos for writer Lamar Ariel. His latest book , Ready To Male, is a collection of letters that explore male sexuality. Lamar was very nice to work with... he created an atmosphere that was comfortable and relaxing. I felt comfortable and relaxed so thats how i shot him. I shot him in his apartment. I used mostly natural light to give this soft relaxed feeling . I wanted the viewer ofthe images to feel as comfortable as I felt.

I'll tell you one thing tho...that cab ride from bedstuy to 168th wasn't playing no games on my wallet. I almost passed out when dude told me " that'll be $41 dollars". from now on imma include transportation in my rate. lol

Shooting Pierre Woods@ New York Models for UPTOWN Magazine

all images are un-retouched.....

Me and my my boy Pierre Woods of New York Models served it hard ...this time for Uptown Magazine. The luxury lifestyle magazine is working on a feature story about Pierre Woods and Pierre chose me as the photographer to capture him and the style team of Kelly Browning,who is manager advertising stylist for Polo Ralph Lauren and her assistant Randal Jacobs. Model Brandon Parker was the style prepper. Crystal Clark was the groomer who made Pierre look flawless. Photographer/ publisher of Suavv Magazine Mike Letterlough was my assistant for this project.

We shot part of the shoot in Brooklyn near my neighborhood and the rest in the amazing loft of vintage collector Ali. When I walked in and saw the Italian version movie poster of Gordon Park's The Learning Tree, I thought I was in heaven. That was the first movie i saw on cable tv when i was a kid, lol.


advertising stylist manager for Polo Ralph Lauren Kelly Browning assisted by Randal Jacobs

The set of images were to capture the lifestyle of a Brooklyn gentleman with education and heritage. Kelly and Randal did an outstanding job of coming up with looks that mirrored a succesful black man who loved clothes. They were able to take looks from the Ralph Lauren brand and marry them with vintage pieces. Everything looked amazing. Crystal made retouching unnecessary with her ability to make Pierre more perfect than he already is. He style of doing make matches my style of shooting. Its simple and light...she don't make men look like dragqueens.
I am very honored to have met Kelly and Randal and having the opportunity to work with them was a cool learning experience. I learned a lot about styling and the importance to detail.... these are some of the best images i have taken since i been in nyc...I am soooo proud of them

 


groomer Crystal Clark photo assistant by Mike Letterlough
thank you mike - i couldn't have pulled this off without your help....

yep, thats me with my babygurl, Canon Rebel xti- I named her Veronica after my favorite supermodel, y'all can call her Miss Webb, lol

I am so happy that Pierre went to bat for me to have this opportunity, thank you soooooo much.. His agency had the opportunity to chose a more known photographer to shoot this and Pierre made sure my name was thrown into the hat. It is great to know that some of the people I work with value my friendship and hold my photographic contributions with the same respect that they give some of my more famous counterparts.
As soon as it comes out you guys will be the first to see the final images......

ps.
Gotta give Pieerre his props for being able to slide them size 12 feet into size 8 shoes... with no complaints...bravo, pimpin, bravo!!! LMAO

DON'T LET YOUR VOICE GO UP IN SMOKE TOO....VOTE

HURRY UP AND REGISTAR TO VOTE

www.declareyourself.com

.....WHEN FASHION WAS FUN...

I decided to include a few videos i found on youtube that shaped and inspired me to want to be apart of fashion....



behind the scenes of George Michaels/ Thierry Mugler "Too Funky"



hype williams videos....looking at a Hype Williams video is like looking a fashion magazine come to life ...with a hot music soundtrack....


i loved Todd Oldham - he was an american designer who seemed to really enjoy his work. I the model seemed to enjoy wearing his clothes and being apart of his shows...


i am a huge Richard Avedon....I only hope to have this kind of influence in the industry, he was the shit!!!!!

I Shot ISAAC KEYS of the Arizona Cardinals....

i honestly know hardly nothing about sports especially football, but last week i had the oppportunity to work with a pro athlete, Isaac Keys of the Arizona Cardinals. He's from St. Louis ( one of my stompin grounds when i was a teenager) and attend Morehouse. He was cool as hell and the team was fantastic and very cool.

It was my first time working on a photoshoot with other people and they made me feel like i was an important part of the project. usually i'm made to feel like some random nwc - nigga with camera ( yes i used the n word and meant it).... I was allowed to bring some of my artistic vision to the photoshoot. I think we got some really good shots.... that captured Isaac in a really good light and i cain't wait to work with him again....next time on my turf....(HEHEHEE - my evil laugh)

the shoot took place at a beautiful victorian townhouse in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn called The Bourne Townhouse (www.TheBourneTownhouse.com). When me and the makeup artist toured the house, we almost creamed on ourselves...its amazingly beautiful.






me and Isaac finna fuck up that Thai food they bought us to eat....I don't know what i ate but that shit was good...LOL

THE OCTOPUS PIC - introducing Art Stroman @ Red Models NYC

Art Stroman@ Red Models NYC

Alot of people didn't understand the premise behind the "octopus" picture with Art Stroman @ red models. For me this picture represents the reason i came to New York in the first place....to creat images that are timeless, classic, and spark conversation. This pic did all of that for me . Most importantly - it allowed me to be an artist and flex my artistic muscles and have fun. It also so show'd me how much people trusted me as an artistic being.....that shit made me feel danm'd good, lol.

  

Art Stroman@ Red Models NYC

Art was in town for fashion week and stopped by to talk about that day with me...check it out.

NY FASHION WEEK - Spring/ Summer 2009 highlights

Lately I haven't been very excited about NYC Fashion Week. Its proven itself to to be very lack luster in its clothing, visual presentation, and the model choices. Each season I anticipate a return to the artistic creativity that made me give up the comforts of southern living to move to NYC to be apart of the fashion world - only to be disappointed. European runways seem to be the only place where designers get to flex their artistic muscles and take risk while American designers do repeats of safe boring clothes you can get at H&M, Target, or The Gap. I remember being glued to the tv watching American designers like Todd Oldham, Isaac Mitzrahi, Anna Sui, Betsy Johnson, Byron Lars, John Bartlett, Sean John and Marc Jacobs really show'd their asses and took fashion risks that were all about being artistic, creative and fun. The models strutting down the runways reflected the diversity of the world. Each model was chosen to bring the designers artistic creations to life. When i was studying fashion i drew my designs on the model i wanted to see wearing it in the show.






here is one of my fashion drawings - the asymmetric swing basketball jersey dress with platform air jordans and basketball handbags worn by (left to right) Georgianna Robertson, Veronica Webb, Naomi Campbell, and Tyra Banks

The way the top models "worked" the clothing really did help sell the vision to us. They fullfilled the fastastical aspects of the fashion world. The models, as diverse in race as well as personalities, inspired us - served us fantasy. Women wanted to be them while men wanted to fuck them - and viceversa. Its not like that anymore - the models are blank clones of each other ...skinnier... and make the clothes look boring. As a matter of fact, they walk the runways like the hate the shit they are wearing. .....
I am feening to be inspired by fashion again....waiting for the "art" to return.
LET US PRAY>>

I am excited to see more of my model friends strut the runways.....








Shylow Wilkinson, Lamar James, and Goldie -all @ identities NYC


look at Darrell Walden @ Fusion strutting his stuff at the DKNY 20th anniversary show....one of fashion weeks highlight presentations
.

Frank @ Identities NY

Russell Simmons Argyle Collection was the only show during fashion week i actually went to and it was hella exciting to see (above)Frank @ Identities NY . So many celebrities were there - Bow-bow, the Simmons sisters, Danity Kane, Laurie-anne from Making the Band, and Kadeem and his mom Bethann Hardison. I was kinda intemidated by all these people i held in high regard like models Will LeMay and Isa Rahman. Everything that came out of my mouth sounded like Charlie Brown mush. LOL I saw supermodel Stacy Mackinzie and just stared at her because i was too afraid to say anything to her.

I SHOT CULLEN JONES styled by MEN'S VOGUE.....

Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones

Wednesday evening I got a random phone call wanting to book me to shoot Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones styled by Men's Vogue.....and it will be filmed for entertainment news show, Inside Edition. Of course I said yes! Cullen Jones helped the U.S. Olympic men's freestyle swimming team secure a nail-biting victory in Bejing, in what has been hailed as one of the most exciting races in the games' history.

Photographed by Mark Zibert

He and teammates Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak and Garrett Weber-Gale set a world record in the 400-meter freestyle relay

Jones, 24, made history in another way: He became the second African-American swimmer to win a gold medal, following Anthony Ervin in 2000.


behind the scenes of the photoshoot filmed by Inside Edition styled by Men's Vogue...check out the legs on correspondant April Woodard.... she is sooooo HOT!!!!

Not only did i get to shoot publicity shots styled by the team at Men's Vogue of a Olympic gold medalist, but It was filmed by Inside Edition and expected to air Monday. lol imma be on TV y'alll. lol!!!!

lol NEW YORKERS TRYIN' TO BBQ LIKE WE DO DOWN SOUTH...LOL

the host and hostess Lamar James & Ally
check out their blog site- http://SuperSwagger.blogspot.com

What a great way to end the summer than with some good ass BBQ. Lamar invited me to his Labor day BBQ on his rooftop and I had a real good time.
It was a very cool and laidback vibe. I was my first time attending something a model invited me. I wasn't gonna go at first b/c i am backed up with tons of retouching work to do and i thought i wasn't gonna know anyone. I knew the host Lamar and the current face of Coogi Rumando Kelly and his roomate Izra who is a dancer, but to my surprise I was surrounded by the familiar faces of models, actors, singers, dancers, stylist, photographers, and socialites.




The site of male models hovered over a partially assembled BBQ pit had me worried. After I called my uncle Junebug in Memphis, Tn and put him on speaker phone to guide us step by step on how to get the fire started in the grill things came together.



The music was pumpin, the food was great, and the company was "2-thumbs-up!" For the record, I do haveta side with Ally ( lamar's girlfriend) that TI is a better rapper than Jay-Z..... gotta go with my nigga from the south. ;)