Show Em’
Kendrick Lamar has a notable line that states, “sometimes you gotta pop out and show niggas” in his now-famous song “Not Like Us,” and that powerful lyric couldn’t be more true than it is at this very moment for both myself and my talented friend, Deanna. I genuinely feel that sometimes we have to pop out and show them what we’re truly about, with "them" referring to the world at large, including both critics and fans alike. There isn’t any hate derived from that statement; rather, there is a noticeable sense of a lack of respect or, perhaps, a lack of acknowledgement of our efforts.
Deanna, whom I affectionately call Deedee, and I have been diligently working hard over the course of the past year, both together and separately, striving to make some significant waves in the ever-evolving modeling and photography world, continually creating content, some of which I take a great deal of pride in. However, getting that work seen by the masses in this saturated world of content creation can easily lead to it being overlooked or, quite frankly, not seen at all—which is certainly to be expected given my past experiences. How we can effectively change that on our end, well, I honestly don’t have all the answers to that question, and I find myself at peace with it for now. That is precisely why I write!
On this particular session, I truly feel that our motivation stemmed from a desire to create something exceptionally strong that boldly communicates that we’re going to “Pop Out & Show Em” exactly what we’re all about and just how serious we are regarding our craft, and it’s as simple as that! Deedee and I have collaborated to create some truly amazing work together, but I must say, this session was by far one of my absolute favorites, if not my top pick. I absolutely loved the authenticity of the images, all stemming from such a straightforward concept, showcasing her donning the jeans with an open jacket against a clean, white wall. Sometimes, indeed, simple truly is better!
Here, her in the open flannel look positioned gracefully next to the large window, combined with the gentle and soft use of natural light, provokes an incredibly captivating mood that, to me, is truly fascinating and inspirational. Deedee’s serene expression conveys an undeniable sense of relaxation and confidence, and her beautiful, expressive eyes really captivate the viewer in these stunning and evocative shots.
It’s safe to say that sometimes you have to unveil the humbleness in your attitude and, quite unavoidably, act with more aggression in order to effectively get your point across to others. Nothing overly dramatic or extravagant was done here, but a clear intention towards adopting a more serious and focused approach was definitely taken, so just know that moving forward. More exciting updates and creative endeavors are to come from Deanna and I, so stay tuned and keep an eye out!
