The Close-up

Bending the Cosmos Fashion Shoot

Folks this was my most challenging shoot to date. Not because of the acutal shooting, but what happened behind the scenes leading up to it. We titled it, "Bending the Cosmos", A shoot that should really have been titled, the stars are STRUUUUUUUUUUGGGLIN to align. Let me tell you what happened. The team and I had agreed on a model to use for an uber creative fashion story. The date was set, and we had the extreme benefit of partnering up with THE SO SO TALENTED Celebrity/Make-up stylist Victor Price and BANGING BOUTIQUE OWNER, shannon from Junction of 1510 u street.

Anywho....back to the story:

Everything was set for sunday at 11am to bang this one out of the park. We were going to do 6 complete looks---shoes, clothes, accessories...you know THE WORKS!. Being the social guy that I am, i went out the night before...and prob had a lil TOO much to drink. I blame that on my friends/wedding clients for celebrating a lil too hard at District and getting mr. poteat a lil loose on the goose :) After an enjoyable "classy"--[snicker snicker] evening, I stroll in my house at say...3am, get an EMAIL from the model of the shoot we're suppose to have in 8 hours.

"I'm so sorry but I'm sick so much and i can't stand up from my bed, I feel bad myself so much(((("

This is a direct quote ya'll. The girl is russian, so please excuse the grammar. LIVID, i was! How you gonna cancel on a shoot scheduled at 11am at 3am via email! A mess, and in the words of some famous fashion person, "she'll never work in this town again...lol, i kid. i kid. But i do hope she has a very challenging time finding additional work. THANNNKFULLY, i remembered SMART agency. i had worked with them on a magazine ad shoot in atlanta, ga. I contact them, plead my heart out of being out of a model, and potentially at risk of utter embarrassment. THEY SAVED THE DAY...at 4am on sunday. i had a new model ready to go at 4:30am..and it was business as usual. I swear, mr. poteat does not do drama well...but am happy to know that I have a wonderful team and a host of new friends/clients that help put out them fires when they do start smoking.

FEATURE: HORIZON MAGAZINE "Black Coffee"

I know what you're saying............where has the fashion been on this blog??? Well, i think that's what you're saying. Truth is, I've been shooting nooooooon stop, with some amazing talented folks. But the hold-up in showing all you guys, is placement for these mags. There is a bit of wait time before it can be released, or else it loses its pull and authenticity from being showcased. Here is a shoot I did back in October 2010, which has been recently released in HORIZION Magazine:

http://www.thehorizonmag.com/blackcoffee

.... oh and there's a video too...

FEATURE: BRIDES Magazine

It's a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig treat and honor to have any photo selected and showcased in BRIDES Magazine. Special thanks goes out to the lovely-------and oh so amazing couple Faith and Al, for allowing me to document their day...and have it turn up in the pages of BRIDES. BOOOSTED!

Miesha & Jon (St. Marteen Wedding)

At the end of 2010, I was granted with the opportunity to shoot one of my former classmates/friends Jon Suber and his lovely bride to be--Miesha. They were to be wed on December 4, 2010 on the beautiful island of St. Marteen. Now, a couple things i need to mention; it was dead of winter, it was my last wedding of the year, and most importantly :) your boy mr. poteat was not hitting the gym in prep for beach lounging!! So outside of shooting an amazing event, i was a lil scurred about floating in my trunks in the blue lagoon.....lol. Silly me. Moving on...*while eating a fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookie.

Jon and Miesha's wedding had to be hands down one of the best wedding experiences for me. Simply because, it was a 80+ attended destination wedding, and all the people who were on dock were hella-amazing! I damn near forgot i was working, because it just seemed like i was shooting and hanging with family and my friends the entire time. The weather was gorgeous, the scenery was breathtaking, and....i know i said it before, the experience WAS one of the best. Cheers to the happy couple for such a memorable weekend.

This here wedding party WAS DOING IT. I leaned on my fashion shooting side, and just told everyone to pose, pose, pose....make love to the camera....give me FACE...give me DRAMA....give me LOOOOOOOOOOVE... (okay, i didnt really say all those things, but in my head...i did)

Drinking was allowed at the wedding......a lot. Nuff said.

This is one of my favorite photos of the couples first dance......just look at it. Eyes closed, mouth beaming from side to side.....and totally in a state of bliss being held by her man. *tear

There is just something about a mother/son ------------father/daughter dance that gets me everytime. I mean literally, IT GETS ME. Tears be all in my lens cap....knees be feeling all weak and stuff. Sigh, feels like i am on the lifetime channel..........i blame oprah.

Thank you Miesha and Jon.......for choosing me... as your wedding photographer and friend :)

Oh, and you KNOW THERES A VIDEO....

Jennifer and Jeffrey Fall Engagement Shoot

My dearest friend [of 14+ years] in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, Jennifer Lucy Schumpert is getting married ya'll! So it was certainly a pleasure for me to be asked (cough *told* cough) to take some simply amazing photos of her and her fiance---Mr. Jeffrey Tyler. Now, me and Jeff aren't strangers to one another, a year prior to this shoot, Jennifer bought him a photography pacakge from me----and there was our introduction to one-another. And folks if you've seen Jennifers's face a few times on my blog, website, e-alerts, facebook thread........then yea, U KNOW SHE'S not shy when it comes to pictures--or working with me. I love her so, because she is a true friend and one my faithful supporters.......(feeling a sappy emotional moment coming on [turns off this darn luther vandross playing in the background]. Woooo, that was close. Back to the post folks, your boy Mr. Poteat almost had a weak moment thinking about how wonderful and truely happy he is for Jennifer and Jeff......I mean, thru the years, the transformations, the transitions, the drama.....(damn,....its hitting me again).

[Pull it together leonard, you got people watching you...and you aint no punk---pounds chest]. RIGHT!

(pause) I.am.happy.for.her.

As for the groom-to-be...Mr. Jeffrey! He is a burst of summer camp energy, which IMO is a GREAT balance to Jennifers...........ummmmm "not summer campy energy" ?? In Jeff's courtship with Jennifer, he has proven to me...(and I am sure to a lot of others), what patience, determination, and a virtuous spirit can lead you to....(being shot by me twice!) i kid, i kid. No, in all seriousness, Jeff is a great partner to my friend, and i am thankful to be a part of their journey. PLUS!! The two of them together makes a helluva post...i mean c'mon...DON'T THESE TWO LOOK GOOOOD together! ........

oh oh oh...I can't go on without mentioning the wonderful styling for this shoot by Ms. Alyson Pitman --cuz you know Jennifer was going to go all out for these :)...hence why we friendzzzzzzzzzzz

Please enjoy

Dynamic Duo Audrey and Kierr

This shoot here..... This shoot, was the shoot that got my behind out of bed at 5 a.m. on a saturday....AFTER A LONG WEEK.....................(dramatic pause). A VERY LONG WEEK YA'LL (another dramatic pause)....................... Ok. Now, that I got that off my chest, I will say that this couple HERE...were definetly worth it. Both Audrey and Kierr were such a burst of energy, i forgot how tired i was. Naw, thats a lie. How about they MORE than made up for it, for being soooo much fun! I am really looking forward to their special wedding day. From what I am told, its going to be like the Obama Inagauration up in that joint!!! family n friends from south kakalaki...north kakalaki.....west kakalaki.....(i kid i kid). So Mr. Poteat better load up on my 5 hour energy drinks before. But folks, in all honestly, it was a good time on this engagement shoot. We shot at the National Harbor! I've previously shot there in the past, but never to the lenghts of this shoot..... laying in grass, laying on wet concrete, laying on a pier with bird crap all over it........................(another dramatic pause). AND YOU KNOW WHY I DID IT.............CUZ I LOVE WHAT I DO :) and nothing completes me more, than doing it for a glowing, absolutely fabulous couple !