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 Rapids… that I’ve been stressed, to say the least.  It was nice to just cut loose and be a nerd for a few hours.

With out further ado, I give you… ME!  Enjoy!  -JM

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 see what I mean below.

Chained Down was photographed on the rooftop pool deck of a building in Nashville, Tennessee.  Shooting at night, the city got lost, but with the focus on the model and his chains, who would have been looking at boring buildings anyway.  I wouldn’t dare to say that chains are nearly as important an accessory as a tie is, but they sure are sexy.

As I continue to grow in my career and shoot new and amazing images, I hope to still periodically bring you flashes from my photographic past.  These two series are just some of the archives I plan to share, so keep checking back!

Oh! And, by the way, which do you prefer?  To be Tied Up?  Or Chained Down?  Leave a comment below and let me know! Or at least which of the two series you liked more!  Enjoy!  -JM

Tied Up

Chained Down

The Color of Andy

It all started with a little yellow dress; a lucky find.  This dress, bright, unapologetic canary yellow, inspired the theme for this series of images.  Model Andrea Caitlyn steps through three decades of color with the amazing efforts of make-up artist and hair stylist Hanna Wagner.

Hanna brought a modern take to three distinct decades of style.  First, 60′s mod with clean lines and clean face.  Next, 70′s Hippie chic with flowing hair, a bright open face, and beads, lots of beads.  Ending with what I call 80′s Big: big hair, big make-up, big accessories, and bigger statements.

It was nearly impossible to narrow down the best images.  Picking one from each look was simply not an option.  I am so excited to present this series, please enjoy!  -JM

It’s an Abercrombie Life

It very well may have been the Abercrombie and Fitch Quarterly that first sparked my interest in photography. I remember wondering how one small magazine could cause so much controversy, especially when the images inside were so beautiful! A&F Quarterly did exactly everything right. Beautiful people in beautiful locations; it was everything everyone wanted to be.

Abercrombie and Fitch became known for more than clothes, it was now a way of life.  The clothes insinuated (often very wrongly) that those wearing them lived the lifestyle pictured in the Quarterly. According to the images, an Abercrombie Life was a coed fantasy existence lived on islands, in cornfields, and wearing very few actual clothes.

Yet for me, there is still a viceral attraction to the fantasy of an Abercrombie Life.  Gorgeous bodies with no need to cover up.  Casual, comfortable, and effortless.  Models Jacob Wolfe and Jeff Richards are perfect examples of the type of men you would see living this life.  As fit models for A&F, every piece of medium and large size men’s clothing is approved on their body before it goes to production.  They brought the casual and the effortless to this shoot, it couldn’t have been more of a pleasure working with them.

We shot this in the countryside outside Columbus, Ohio.  Gorgeous country locations and these two perfect all-American men really made the series what it is.  Oh, and what’s a series about Abercrombie without a little unnecessary rear nudity?!  Enjoy! -JM

This post contains images some viewers may find inappropriate.

Sweat It!

Speedo.  Say the word and, for most people, an image comes to mind of an overweight European with a hairy back walking down the beach, his gut swinging like rubber over the top of his banana-hammock.  Thank God for some amazing fashion designers who have brought a LOT of sexy back to men’s swimwear.  I was so lucky to have companies Rufskin, Ami Sanzuri, AussieBum, N2N Bodywear, and Andrew Christian donate some incredible fashions for a photo series!

Cut to the day of the shoot.  I thought shooting Flashed was a tight squeeze… After cramming six models, a make-up artist, an assistant, a wardrobe stylist and myself into a 4 person sauna, the space I had to work with in Flashed was a cathedral!  The models were troopers, often contorting their bodies into painful positions in order to fit into this space.  I think the wooden background was truly worth the cost in the end.  Add in the effect of hot sweaty men in hot suits enjoying a hot sauna…and I think we’ve got a pretty HOT series.  I hope these images inspire you to rethink your perception of the “speedo.”  Enjoy!  – JM

Hair and Makeup by Hanna Wagner

Ryan in Rufskin.

(Left to Right)  Joe in Andrew Christian, Colin, Jeff, James and Ryan in Ami Sanzuri, Jake in N2N Bodywear.

Joe in Rufskin, Colin, Jeff and James in Ami Sanzuri, Ryan and Jake in AussieBum.

James in Ami Sanzuri, Jeff in Rufskin, Colin in AussieBum.

Jake in Rufskin.

James in Andrew Christian, Jake in N2N Bodywear.

Colin in Ami Sanzuri.

Joe in Ami Sanzuri, Jake in AussieBum, Ryan in N2N Bodywear.

Jeff in AussieBum.

Joe in Andrew Christian, James in AussieBum.

Jake and Ryan in Ami Sanzuri.

Colin in Rufskin, Jeff in Ami Sanzuri.

(Top) Jeff in Ami Sanzuri, Jake in Rufskin.  (Bottom) Colin in N2N Bodywear.

Joe in N2N Bodywear.

Adam – Portfolio Shoot

The first thing you’ll notice when you shake hands with Adam is his stunning blue eyes.  The second is the strength in his handshake.  Adam is one of those guys that has no lack of confidence.  He exudes a firm self-assurance, perhaps because of his strong looks or perhaps because he runs his own very successful internet company.  Having already mastered online business at such a young age, he’s turned his efforts towards using his good looks to rake in some more dough.

We started the day at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.  We shot some images in his room, near the pool, and around the city.  Then we went on the hunt for the perfect field.  Adam had a special request for some classic black and white Abercrombie style images.  I think we succeeded.  Enjoy!  – JM

Derek – Portfolio Shoot

I drove to Ann Arbor, Michigan to meet model Derek Watson.  Derek was in need of some new amazing images for his portfolio and comp card.  We had been talking about shooting for quite some time, and both of us were quite excited to finally meet.  Considering he also drove into Ann Arbor, and neither of us had even been to the city, let alone lived there, finding great locations was quite a task!  It is, however, one thing I pride myself on… being able to find amazing backdrops for amazing photographs.

Our first location of the day was a simple underpass and stair case.  I love working with large concrete structures.  Maybe its the simple texture, perhaps its the clean lines, but solid cement just seems to provide the perfect structural setting for fashion images.

Our second location took some time to find.  We drove and drove and drove… got a burger (at least I did…models don’t eat) and then drove some more.  Finally we happened upon an old worn out barn house in the middle of a field full of the tallest weeds I’d ever seen.  We braved the weeds, the bugs, and the possibility of snakes to get to this amazing spot.  The rustic setting was well worth the treck.  We all must sacrifice for our art.

Finally, the last location of the day was a lucky find.  We sped past a junkyard, not thinking twice.  After a moment or two of silence, the idea came to both of us.  A quick U-turn was in order.  We sped back to the graveyard where Derek was bold enough to ask permission to shoot.  As you can see from the pictures, it was quite a stellar find!  Over all, it was an amazing day, and I think the images prove that.  Enjoy!   – JM

JC – Portfolio Shoot

Today I met with aspiring model JC Cunningham.  JC is transplanting to San Fransisco within a matter of days and wanted to get a solid portfolio together before the big move.  As JC is just getting started, he needed to build his portfolio from scratch.  Today’s goal was to provide as large a variety of images as a single day’s shoot would allow.

We met at 9am at the Grand Rapids Museum of Art.  Since their remodel, the GRAM has been a popular location for photographers to shoot.  Nearly every time I’ve found myself in the area, I have seen one photographer or another snapping away.  The GRAM provides a very structural, contemporary, and clean location, a perfect backdrop for everything from fashion images to wedding pictures.

JC and I spent the rest of the day running around to some great locations in downtown Grand Rapids, as well as heading out to the beach in Saugatuck.  Over all I think we created a great assortment of looks for a full and varied portfolio.  Take a look!  – JM

Flashed!

Flashed is my first attempt at something slightly larger scale.  Try squeezing four models, a make-up artist, an assistant, lighting equipment and a photographer into a not-so-large men’s room at a local club and this is apparently what you get.  We started the day with make-up artist Hanna Wagner  adding a roughed-up rock star look to the guys before trekking over to the “set” also known as the bathroom at Diversions Night Club.  Wardrobe styling was done by yours truly.  The mirrors brought an interesting challenge, but in the end, they also brought about the inspiration for the name of the sieries, FLASHED!  Enjoy! – JM

Joe Gorecki

Jacob Wolfe

James Michael

JC Cunningham (both)

Jacob Wolfe

JC Cunningham

Joe Gorecki and Jacob Wolfe

Joe Gorecki

JC Cunningham

Jacob Wolfe