shades model management
Shades Model Management was a modeling company that specialized in people of color. It was a concept that no one was doing and the founder/creator/leader, Dreya was ahead of our time. She would personally select people, train them how to work in front of the camera as well as in front of clients. She gave them everything they needed to succeed in a world that was difficult to make it in, but I felt like she really was on to something. My job as photographer was to not only get each model a fresh set of photos for comp cards and portfolios, but also teach them how to work with photographers and learn how to take advantage of photo sessions to get looks the clients are after and also get comfortable in front of the camera. We spent a lot of time doing workshops as well as doing everything we could to make sure they stood out. I went through some seriously challenging times during my time there, but I am grateful for it all....even the Thanksgiving morning where we were freezing to death at Civic Center shooting for a clothing line...or that small moment in my life where I met my wife, who was a makeup artist at the time.
