…a commercial photographer. That is the question. I literally got a taste of it this weekend when I took a break from my Master’s project and did some freelance work.  Not Im not sure what the future holds for me, but I certainly hope it has a lot to do with making images. I love photography, and honestly, It doesn’t matter the format; journalistic, food, portraiture, I love it all.  Here are a few images that I took this weekend. A quick and fast edit.  Let me know what you think!!

I did a photo shoot for my friend Kyrie who wanted some pictures taken.  Facing the decision to cut her hair, Kyrie wants to go natural. If she follows through, she would like to give her mom the images before she goes Hallé Berry on em’.

Deirdra and Rob Ashley exchange vows during the wedding and reception at the University of Missouri’s A.P. Green Chapel on November 6, 2010. Check out the galley below!

Enthusiasm. Something every man of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has.  I finally got an opportunity to work with he brothers of Epsilon Delta Chapter at the University of Missouri. Among other things, the ‘bruhs’ had just gotten fresh ‘hits’ or brands. The significance of branding in Black Greek Letter Organizations allegedly stretches all the way back to the 1900s where members practiced the bodily scarring method to empower the members, signifying the lifetime commitment among other ritualistic beliefs the members held close.

While little scholarly research exist on branding as a contemporary trend, there is much debate on the practice and it’s relationship with branding enslaved Africans in America. Across centuries of history, branding has always been used to punish those who bore the scars. In Roman days, criminals were marked with the letter F as a mark of shame, usually on the face. I’ll get more into branding at a later date, but for now, check out the ‘bruhs’!!!

WordPress/Godaddy= 1. Jarrad= 0. This is how I feel after a day of fiddling with wordpress templates. I think I just may get this new blog set up if I work hard enough. Keep me in your prayers. I need to get this together! You will see what its for VERY SOON.

Im an uncle. Yes, Im the oldest and no, Harper isnt my brother or sisters son. He’s my best friend Jennotta’s son. I couldn’t have laid eyes on a more beautiful baby boy.  At least until my son is born.  Here is Skye holding Harper close in the living room in St. Louis, MO this Labor Day weekend.  I had a great time back home and will be coming back this upcoming weekend to celebrate my 25th birthday. Here are some shots from the weekend.

Harper Bodie-Thompson, 2 months, is my God-son. Its so crazy to look in his eyes. I know half my best friend is in there.

Make up artist, mommy, student, employee, auntie, the list goes on and on. I am so proud of this girl.

My bestie. Photo credit to Skye. My little photojournalist in training.

KCOU is the University of Missouri’s only student run radio station that gives students the chance to be the Dj of their own show. However, instead of conforming to the expected Rock music of KCOU, DJ D-LUX (Danielle Caldwell, left) and DJ SO Sassy (Aris Williams, right) decided to create a show with all R&B selections! Everything from old school to new school is played every Thursday night from 10pm-midnight.  Tune into 88.1 fm or stream online at KCOU.FM!!!

Yea, this Quiet single mode on the Nikon D300s is super sexy! Huh? Oh yea, they’re cute too. Hey ladies.   But seriously, the sound it makes is really nice. It takes the mechanical out of the sound that can easily interrupt any silent room when a photographer shoots. Dont get me wrong, its not a sound blimp or anything, but it an interesting way to mute the sound. Trying to keep shooting a picture a day even though my day is no longer governed by the rules of photo assignments.

It’s that time of year. New faces, new executive boards, new opportunities for incoming students to stretch their organizational muscles before another productive school year. The National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) has a special place in my heart. As a new Graduate student in 2008, I attended my first NABJ Convention in Chicago. I have been hooked ever since. NABJ has introduced me to new friends, rewarding opportunities and mentors who I appreciate dearly for pushing me on a daily basis (thanks for those of you reading this I just wanted to share a few images from today’s first gathering of the NABJ Chapter at the University of Missouri.;It’s funny to see everyone’s new “summer look” after a long absence away from friends and loved ones. Still, there is something simple and still about hair.  My buddy Lauren Fitzpatrick’s highlights caught my eye.

Our new President, right, and VP, before the meeting. The NABJ Chapter at Mizzou is pushing some very unique and great opportunities for students with the resurrection of The BlackOUT, Mizzou’s only newsletter written, produced, and distributed online by people of color. I encourage ALL students to submit, you can find more information at the website linked above or email: MUTheBLACKout@gmail.com.

Chanecka and Ana have been best friends since coming to college in 2008. Although they both have grown up on different sides of the States, fate lead them to Columbia, Mo. where they both are undergraduates at Stephens College. With little activity for Black women on campus, Chanecka and Ana both found sisterhood in Black Greek Life (Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. respectively). This upcoming story will focus on the relationship between best friends, their collective vision as aspirants of BGLOs, and their struggle to create a safe place for women of color on their campus through their development of a new campus organization: B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.  Yes, I have been working on this folks! Gotta finish this Master’s degree! I’ll post more updates as I get them.

If I had to choose ONE camera to shoot with for my Beyond This Place project, I’d have to choose this Nikon D3x. I have the opportunity to shoot with this beautiful camera this week while getting prepared to open the equipment window at Mizzou. Put simply: I focus on decisive moments. I dont need 12 frames per second to do the type of work I want to do. The D3x gave me the familiar feel of the Nikon D3 body with the incredible image quality that was absolutely awesome. I had to do very little sharpening and color adjustments to get these images to look the way I wanted. Basically, if you know someone at Nikon who can loan me one of these for a couple of years, please let me know. lol. More images from LBC BBQ….

Fire and Ice!

My homeboys cute daughter. They gonna have to watch out!!!!

Brothers having a good time at the LBC BBQ at the University of Missouri.

Nupes!

LaNee and her son, Jai.

The one, the only, Marc Mayes.