Another Shoot, BIG NEWS!

A few weeks ago I had a shoot with photographer Thomas Dozol for a French magazine featuring models with tattoos. It was a really cool concept. Each model will have two shots. For the first shot he took a snapshot of the tattoo, printed it, then used a projector to place it on a different part of the body. The second shot was a portrait featuring the tattoo. Each model's second portrait was different, shot in different places. I personally think mine was coolest. The photographer brought me up onto the roof terrace of the loft in Tribeca and shot me with the Hudson River and New Jersey skyline in the background. I haven't seen any of the final photos yet, but I did see this polaroid from the shoot on his website.

If the polaroid looks this good I can't wait to see the final pictures. The magazine is biannual though, so it will be a while!

Now for the news... I'm moving back to Fargo at the end of November so I can spend the holidays with family and start school at NDSU again next semester in January. There were a lot of factors in play while making this decision. Trust me, it was an extremely hard choice. Harder than the decision to drop everything and come here. I kind of realized that modeling industry has been changing due to these economic conditions. It's primarily because retailers and magazines are trying to reach a broader audience. Who is going to reach more people, the all-American good looking guy with the buff body or the skinny, edgy fashion guy? I hope you see where this is going. This last show season was pretty much the nail in the coffin. Nobody like me worked.

My agents and I had a talk about this, about how I didn't feel right for the New York market, and decided to try to place me in London. They tried, but nobody wanted to take me on right now. After that, I called a meeting with the agents again and told them that since things are so slow I felt it would be in my best interests to get back into school. They were completely supportive and will still be representing me. They said that if a project came along that I was right for they would still submit me and I could just come back to shoot. That sounds really expensive but I can get round-trip tickets for under $250 and stay for free with friends. You also have to think that I'll be spending around $500 less a month on rent though!

I am a little worried about switching back to the old lifestyle. I'm going to really miss my life here. The energy of the city, the mindset of the people. The diversity, the style, the individualism. I'll miss it when I'm dropped back in the land of parking lots, identical vinyl sided boxes, and people wearing the same haircuts and Abercrombie clothes trying to fit in. I'm going to stick out in Fargo after feeling like I fit here for the last 18 months. Really, the only thing I'm looking forward to are my family and friends. That and going to school again. It'll be a big change but I know it's time.

New York will still be here. I hear they hire architects too.

More Photos

I just picked up the new issue of SOMA magazine today. Now I have the photos from inside the magazine to share too.

Hope you likey!

SOMA Magazine Cover!

Good morning, loyal readers. I just thought I'd share a little preview I got of the September issue of SOMA magazine that I shot for a few weeks back. I guess one of the photos ended up on the cover.

That's me on the right, and the designer Robert Geller on the left. He's kind of known for his hats; you like? It was a very fun shoot and I'm really liking this photo! And a cover? Yes, please. The magazine isn't out yet, but should be out soon.

Have a great week!

New Job!

I started a new job this week, working nights and weekends to suppliment my real estate income. I'm working at the club reception desk at the SoHo House. The SoHo House is an exclusive club in the fashionable Meatpacking District where members can meet, eat, drink, or stay in one of the 24 hotel suites. There is an incredible roof deck where I also will be working, hosting at the rooftop restaurant and working at the door verifying membership and working the guest list. If you're interested, check out their website to learn more about it.

This place is incredible, and the job is fun. I really like the people I work with and I can already tell that it's a good fit for me. (possibly not the case with the real estate)

In other news, last night after work my friend Reed (Happens to also be manager on the roofdeck at the SoHo House. Guess how I got this job!) and I went to grab a drink at a fun nautical-themed bar called the Rusty Knot. We were playing a round of pool and when Reed stepped out to use the restroom I heard a voice over my shoulder asking me if I could do him a favor. I turned around and it was BILL MURRAY! He was smashed and asked me to drink his drink for him because he didn't want it. He introduced himself to me as Bill, and asked me where I was from. He has actually been to Fargo, so we talked briefly about that. At this point Reed comes back from the bathroom and sees me talking with Bill Murray. I quickly introduce them and go to take my shot at the pool table. I completely miss and Bill tells Reed that he should teach me how to play pool, then exits the bar. Then I walked over to take a sip of the drink Bill gave me: straight tequila! Yuck. But when Bill Murray gives you a drink, you drink it and you like it!

Funny story, huh?

I'm back!

Sorry, my computer broke and I just got around to getting it fixed.

So, where to begin. I went to Los Angeles last month to shoot that story for Italian Vogue. It was without doubt the most amazing experience I have had yet. The flight to LA on that Wednesday morning was probably the most miserable flight I've ever taken. Non-reclining seat in the last row. Crying baby in front of me, lavatory behind. Oh the glamorous life of a model.

Once in Cali, I took a shuttle van to the hotel where I stayed, the Hollywood Standard Hotel. Check out this celeb in his shades!

The hotel has a really cool mid-century modern design. Here's a photo of the lobby.

There was one other guy model who flew in from New York, Matt, who is also with Fusion. We shared a room to keep the costs down, as we were not paid very much for this job. After we got everything squared away in the room we went down to have dinner poolside, which we did every night we were there.

We wore our trunks down with the intention of swimming, but after the sun went down during dinner the air got too cold. Trust me, I jumped in anyway and froze! I said, "I didn't come all the way to California to NOT swim in the pool", then proceded to swim for three minutes, followed by a quick walk upstairs for warmer clothes.

Both Thurday and Friday morning we were picked up in a van to take us to the set at 5:45am. On the first day I was very excited, despite the early hour. As evidenced by this photo as we waited for the van to arrive:

(Yes, the hanging bubble chairs were fun)

So, the van pulld up and as I opened the door to the van to find one the most beautiful girls I have ever seen inside to greet us. As we started moving toward the set, she introduces herself to us. Of course she is the supermodel who the shoot is about. Her name is Rianne and she is Dutch, but lives in New York. Not only stunningly beautiful, but also very sweet and intelligent. No, unfortunately she was not interested in me! At one point in the shoot though she said, "Nathan, I don't think I've ever seen a boy as skinny as you." Not sure if that counts for anything. Back to the story.

We pull up to this newly-constructed high school where the shoot will take place. The concept of the shoot is a quarantined area with some deadly disease which Rianne is impervious to because she is so mind-blowingly beautiful. We, the 5 skinny boys, of course are all sick or dying from this. The school is all steel and concrete and glass. Very sterile, as any quarantined area should be. Biohazard!

(very cool architecture!)

We walked into the cafeteria, where we would wait between photo sessions. Also where the catering was. The three of us were joined by the other three boy models, all from the LA area. The stylists were there already unpacking racks and racks of clothes, at least six tables of shoes and four tables of accessories. This photo contains just a portion of the clothes they brought.

We grabbed a little breakfast and started fitting the clothes. While we were trying things, in walks Steven Meisel. He came and introduced himself to us (I was a bit starstruck, not going to lie) and left us to get dressed in our first look.

We wore the most amazing clothes! Think of a designer there was something there for us to wear. Dior, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Raf Simons, Balenciaga, Jil Sander, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, etc. Rianne was in very 80's inspired clothes with strong shoulders and lots of gold jewelry, while the guys were in either all black or all white ensembles. We each had a hood over our heads, then a scarf wrapped over our noses/mouths. Think somewhere between ninja and arabian knight. We also wore a lot of gas masks as you might imagine one would in a quarantined area.

For each shot Steven would start with Rianne and maybe one or two guys, then add more guys in the shot if he felt he needed more. The first few shots used all of the guys, but especially the second day he used two or three guys per shot for most of the day. One of the guys from LA and I realized that the two of us were in every shot, and that we were requested on set first. I guess we were doing something right!

We had shots inside, outside, in the grass, by the pool, IN the pool (have you tried diving into a pool wearing Dior?) There were about twelve different areas of the school we used. Sidenote: I have no idea how the final shot will come out, but I am one of the extras on the cover. Hopefully you can see me!

So after two 12 hour days of shooting, we got back to the hotel with just enough time to get a few hours of sleep before heading to the airport to fly back to New York on Saturday morning.

I got back and switched from model-mode to broker-mode and began focusing on renting apartments. Recently I've been doing a lot of business in the Financial District, so I'm pretty much exclusively advertising there. It's an area that has really good deals, and not a lot of brokers are working there right now. I'm submitting another application for an apartment there tomorrow!

I've worked two more jobs since I got back to the city. About three weeks ago I shot a look-book for Uniqlo's Jil Sander diffusion line, which you wouldn't ever see, but it paid really well.

Two days ago I shot a couple pages and video for Soma magazine. The magazine is running a profile on German-American designer, Robert Geller. They had me dressed in his fall/winter 09-10 clothes and there were photos of us together in his showroom and outside on the street. On the block where his showroom is in Tribeca Julia Roberts was filming some movie and the street was all blocked off and full of set equipment. As we were leaving the showroom to take some photos along a brick wall at the end of the street, we took some really cool photos using the movie set as a background. I guess it was the right place at the right time. We finished shooting on the sidewalk and went back to the showroom to get our things and go home. Robert had popsicles in the freezer which were exactly what we needed, shooting outside in the hot August sun. Especially me, in my three layers of winter clothes and hat.

So that's about where I am now. I've been to two fashion week castins so far, and I'm sure there are more in the coming week or two. Fashion week is the second week of September and I'm hoping I book a few more shows than last season. We'll see what happens.

Long post! Thanks for sticking it out!

Exciting News!

I was awoken this morning with a phone call from my agent. It seems I booked this job that I was optioned for. It shoots next week. In LA! I will be flying to Los Angeles to shoot on Thursday and Friday with top-photographer Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue! I know, crazy right?

Now, before you get all excited reading this, I am not starring in the story or anything. The story is about some, as of yet unknown to me, celebrity girl. There are a bunch of skinny boys with her in the shoot... I will be one of these boys.

I just see this as an amazing opportunity to work with one of Fashion Photography's biggest artists. Who knows, if I impress I might come to mind for another project he works on... hmm...

I'm very excited. ...aaaaand hitting the gym!

Guess Who Walked to Work this Morning!

Yup ME!

I went from gunshots on the corner to a Pottery Barn. Love it.

I spent the majority of yesterday moving everything from the old place to the new one. It took four trips on the subway. Eight if you count there and back. Well, only seven... I stayed after the last one ;)

Now you need a photo or two of the new digs. Bear in mind that, although it is only 7' x 9', it is in the perfect location and I'm not home that much. It's about the size of my parents' walk-in closet, but for me it's essentially all I need. A walk-in closet with a bed! The half bath is just bonus.

Here's looking from the door to my room toward the back. The door in the back is to the half bath.

We're going to need some paint in here. I also am going to move the shelves around a bit so that the room flows better.

The half bath:

Luxurious it's not, but it's just for me so it's perfect. I have never in my life had a toilet just for me. I want to hang a sign that says "welcome to my humble commode" but I suppose that would be tacky.

I might have to see if there is something I can do with that tile (or lack there of). The faucet only has a working hot handle. To use the cold water you turn the supply line on, the water comes flowing out, then you shut off the supply line to cut the water. Classy. It's something I can fix though, just like the slow drain. The sink is about the size of a cereal bowl, so it fills up pretty quickly with the slow drain. This is beginning to feel like my old house blog! The paint in here is even more dingy than the bedroom. Luckily I have some of the old paint from my old room in Harlem that is a nice light blue that will work nicely with what's left of the tile. Ha ha ha.

Here's a photo taken from the bathroom back toward the door, kitchen beyond.

Again, the shelves are going to get moved a bit, and the walls and trim need new paint. I'm thinking a khaki or tan color for the walls and some crisp, clean white for the trim. No money for that right now, but maybe in a couple weeks.

The kitchen has a really awkward layout, but who cares with my cooking abilities. It's a weird space because you come into the apartment through a door on the East, my door is on the South wall, a roommate's door is on the North wall, and a spiral staircase and window are on the West wall. Appliances and cabinets are just kind of strewn about carelessly, but it's OK because I can make my pb&j sandwiches anywhere.

The staircase leads upstairs to the next floor where the main bathroom is, as well as the third roommate's bedroom.

So, I was coming down the stairs after my shower in a towel and I thought to myself, "hmm, if anyone is in the kitchen, they're very likely to be getting a free show right now if they look up!" I don't know how the gals in their dresses manage spiral staircases like this! (nobody was home though)

I have two feline roommates as well. There is Allie, who is a 15 year old male cat with grey and white longer hair. Charlie, who is keeping me company here on my bed as I type, is a sleek, jet black female with short hair. Funny thing about Allie though, with his longer hair, he looks like any ordinary cat, but when I reached out to pet him I got a surprise... at 15 years old, he's pretty much just a hair-covered skeleton kitty. You can seriously feel every bone in his body! I'm not one to judge though; pretty bony myself. They're both nice cats though.

Last night I walked from the apartment to a club in the Meatpacking District where I sometimes go on Wednesday nights. Usually it takes about 45 minutes to get there, and even longer to get home because the trains don't run express after 1am. It took me about 10 minutes in a leisurely stroll. I walked back home (saw a taxi smash into another taxi!) and got up this morning and walked to work. It is the best thing to be able to live in the same neighborhood as I work/play in. It's like a whole new New York!