Men

A Perfect Day – Part 1

Sunshine, warm light, warm air, and not a cloud in the sky.  Only a slight chill in a breeze that blew infrequently.  A typical Ohio day in November... Confused?  So were model AJ Kessler and myself as we drove to a remote, vacant, and run down barn in the Ohio country side.  We had planned for the worst when we discussed doing a photo shoot with a lot of skin... outdoors... in November.  But we were very pleasantly surprised when we were blessed with such a perfect day. AJ was the farthest thing from shy that there could possibly be.  More than comfortable in his own skin, he had no problem...

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Craig – Portfolio Shoot

I recently did a shoot with Craig and his wife Alyssa, which I dubbed The Category of Sexy. I'm pretty sure it goes without saying that these two make for a smokin' couple.  This photo shoot, however, was all about Craig. Craig definitely personifies "man,"  scruffy face and all.  He has a very masculine and commanding presence in front of the camera and it definitely seems as though he is at home there.  He looks great with out a shirt, but also fills out a designer suit perfectly.  Just see below for proof!  Enjoy!  -JM

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Levi – Portfolio

I can honestly say I have yet to come across a model as adventurous as Levi Martin (no relation to Patrick from my previous post).  He was open to my creative direction in every way, even when it involved baring some skin in the middle of a field.  I can only assume Levi's confidence in his own body must come from the work he obviously puts into it.  As a photographer, it's a refreshing joy to work with a model who is open minded and daring enough to jump in and try anything. From a field to a factory, we really had fun with this photo shoot.  Our day involved climbing over barbed wire,...

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New Face – Patrick

Model Patrick Martin has a naturally stunning and unique look.  Although he is young and completely new to modeling, he seemed very comfortable in front of the lens.  His fiercely sharp physical features are contrasted by a very calm, shy vulnerability that adds a compelling  depth to his images.  The combination of all these attributes gives Patrick a versatility that will definitely serve him well in what has potential to be an amazing modeling career. During our photo shoot, and as we were racing the sun to the finish for the day, we lucked into some perfect light.  With the warmth of an evening...

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Doug – Portfolio Shoot

Model Doug Summers is as laid back as he is tall.  That made for a very laid back and easy day behind the camera. His boyishly clean features and shocking blue eyes were completely natural in front of the camera for this, his very first photoshoot.  If I hadn't have known better, I would never have guessed Doug was a rookie. Braving the bitter wind of a brisk fall day in Michigan, Doug didn't let out a single complaint as he laid his bare back against the cold steel of our shoot location.  While myself and my assistants were bundled up against the elements, he was jumping around in nothing...

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The Category of Sexy

While they have never graced the cover of British tabloids like the photo shoot's inspiration David and Victoria Beckham (W Magazine), Craig and Alyssa definitely held their own in the category of sexy.  There was no doubt when we arrived to our set (a single bedroom apartment dressed to look like a seedy hotel) that this shoot was definitely going to get hot. While I have shot many photo series that I would categorize as sexy, and worked with many models in that category as well, the natural chemistry between these two married models literally made me sweat.  There was no hesitation, no awkward...

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Poster Boy!

I have always felt my images would look pretty stellar on any wall.  Now, thanks to Plan B bar in Madison, Wisconsin and designer Todd Wendrick, it has come to pass.  Todd and I became friends years ago before both of our lives and careers lead us out of Michigan and in different directions.  It was a feature of my photography on a blog that actually brought us back together. I have been very flattered by Todd's constant compliments of my work, and am so excited he chose to feature one of my images in a poster for this upcoming event.  Todd and I have also been tossing around ideas for a collaborative...

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Anthony VonBargen

INDUSTRIAL WONDERLAND.  There are rundown abandoned factories, and then there is the Powder Factory in a small town outside Cincinnati, Ohio.  Climb through a window or crawl in over a crumbling wall and you're transported to a fantasy world.  Vines, trees, and moss grow freely inside its dilapidated walls;  nature reclaiming the territory industry once tried to steal from it. As I shot this series of photographs, I couldn't help but imagine model Anthony VonBargen as ruler of these ruins.  Even in this amazing setting, Anthony demanded the attention of the camera.  His body lines and shapes...

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All About Me! – Self Portait

So... I thought maybe a little me time was in order.  I was recently interviewed for a blog and was asked for pictures of myself.  I realized that I spend so much time behind the camera, that I hardly have any!  So, my Sunday afternoon was spent with my equipment, my camera, myself (and the camera timer of course), partying like a supermodel in the basement! Being a fashion photographer I couldn't resist changing my outfit a few times.  From there it was just about having a little fun!  I've been so busy lately trying to start my photography business and The Matthew Agency here in Grand...

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Tied Up & Chained Down

Do you prefer to be tied up, or chained down?   Today I bring you both in a combination of two series shot with model Wesley Lunsford.  Among my first attempts at editorial photography, here are two stories, both shot in a different city and months apart.  It is truly a coincidence that they... um, tie together so well. In Tied Up, the photo shoot took us to multiple locations around Memphis, Tennessee.  I wanted to show the versatility of ties, that they are not just for formal occasions.  A tie can make any outfit just that much classier, even when you're not wearing much at all... you'll...

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