NYC Headshot Session With Teddy Garces

For the last 2 years Teddy Garces & I have gotten together to do a headshot session right before the new year. I would've showcased the shots sooner but Mr. Garces, who I have known for 10 years, wanted me to touch up 36 photos. I would normally say, "HELL NO LOSER I ain't touching up more than 2." However, I make acceptions for angry looking people who have 220 lbs of muscle & stand more than 6' 2. Truth be told, with all the projects he's booking, he isn't that angry, & more importantly he's a good friend. :)

Teddy who is scheduled to be in a new Cinemax show called The Jump Off called me in November to tell me he was coming to NYC to visit his family. When he asked if we could do a photo shoot together I naturally said yes because of his height, weight and our friendship. All jokes aside, Teddy asked me to act in an episode of his self produced extremely hysterical web series Sound Advice that is scheduled to aire this spring (at an Internet near you) so how could I say no. 

Side note-I flew out to LA to film Sound Advice a few days before my daughter was born & in case you don't remember I live in NYC. 

When Teddy came over we had no formal plan for the shoot. We both knew we would shoot headshots but he aslo knew he wanted action shots. Immediately I thought why not shoot him on the roof. "Wanna shoot on the roof Teddy?", I asked expecting him to say yes. He responded, "a big black man getting shot on the roof by a skinny white guy? We both laughed for 3 reasons. 1.Teddy has great comedic timing and knows when to throw in a good joke. 2. He isn't black he is actually 100% Dominican who gets hired to play black. And 3.... I am not skinny.

Once we finished shooting in my studio, which doubles as my son & daughter's playground, we ran to the roof to get in as much shooting as possible. 4pm is a late start and with Daylight savings time nowhere in sight we were fighting time. Besides, for those who could actually see us running around on the roof, I must have looked like a skinny white dude running with a big black man.    

We could have shot all day right through the night because we were having so much fun together hanging out finding moments that were photographically truthful. However, I eventually have to play dad to my kids when daycare ends and Teddy has to eventually go back to LA to book more great roles that are waiting for him. Besides, when the door of roof opens and the building's super says to me in private that he got a call from a neighbor who saw a big black guy on the roof, it's a wrap. 

Please check out Teddy Garces' website to see what he is up to because at the rate Teddy is booking roles there is only so much time before he becomes a household name. 

To book a photo session with me in studio, outside or if you just want to run around with a white dude on the roof please send me an email. 

Until Tomorrow.

Jai