The Wiz's Daily Dose: Spotlight Edition: Shawn Darnell 'Homage to the Photographer Vol. 2'

Bio:

Since 2001, I have serviced models and clients all over the US. My company has made positive changes this year and I will continue to provide the best quality photos to satisfy my customers.
I started out on Blackplanet looking for the best of the best and I'm still going strong. I am very creative, hard working, dedicated and about my business shooting sexy ladies from all over the country from ATL to Texas.
Whether you need model shots, business cards, flyers, posters, calendars, model portfolios or comp cards, So Fyne Models is for you and I'm here to serve you.

Interview:

Hennywiz - What’s good Shawn?!?

Shawn Darnell - I’m chillin bro keepin it real as usual

Hennywiz - First off, thanks for taken the time to comethru the Wiz’s daily dose...

Shawn Darnell - Fo sho bro

Hennywiz - Where are you from originally and what’s your ethnic background...

Shawn Darnell - Detroit 7 Mile fo life African American

Hennywiz - Can you talk a little about what sparked your interest in becoming a photographer and what the progression was in the early days of your career? Did you go to college or have any formal training?

Shawn Darnell - 9 years ago I pick up a BLACK MENS magazine and it was a wrap I quit the rap game and picked up a camera. I had no training other than what TREAGAN PHOTOS AND ANTHONY FROM EYECANDY taught me and ran with it and developed my own style.

Hennywiz - How long have you been into photography?

Shawn Darnell - 9 years and also do graphic designing also

Hennywiz - What does Photography mean to you?

Shawn Darnell - Everything I always loved taking pictures of girls and when I opened that BLACKMENS Magazine I knew right away what I wanted to do. Lighting is everything to mean I pay close attention to that.

Hennywise - In your opinion, what makes for a successful shoot?

Shawn Darnell - A successful shoot consist of Being organized and ready I mean lights the camera the model hair nails outfits and makeup because image is everything to me and I have to put out the best quality I can produce with a model.

Hennywiz - Are you always 100% satisfied with what you just shot or do you think about the things you would do differently “next time”?

Shawn Darnell - I always look at what I shoot as I shoot and if I see anything that can be changed then I'll reshoot it and if a model has a suggestion then I will listen and maybe we can collaborate and come up with a better image

Hennywiz - With all the shoots you’ve done, which ones have been your most memorable so far?

Shawn Darnell - So many memorable shoots all I can say bro lol

Hennywiz - How do you feel about miss shots that can’t be re-created?

Shawn Darnell - I’m all for Re-creating a shot

Hennywiz - Give us a rundown of some of your past and present clients you had the pleasure to photograph?

Shawn Darnell - Ms November, Shavon Desire, Honey Eyes, Ms Va, Absolutely Amber, Rikki Renee, Treasure, Asia Mills,Mena Monroe,Anah Mae, Kitty Kennedy,Jajaun, Jai Xclusive.etc....

Hennywiz - Who’s your favorite person to shoot in the industry?

Shawn Darnell - lol. I have a few favs.Dude you tryin to get me jumped

Hennywiz - What do you love the most about this career?

Shawn Darnell - Meeting all the new people as I travel the country going to the events and connecting with people I meet online it’s crazy how important it is to physically network with other and create a real bond with clients

Hennywiz - Besides photography, can you talk about the things that inspire you, that feed your art and your eye?

Shawn Darnell - Real talk depends on what I’m feeling or how I feel anything can inspire me I can go out side or look at TV and even have a convo with someone.

Hennywiz - What or where are some of your favorite places to shoot your clients?

Shawn Darnell - Of course I love shooting in my home city of DETROIT but I have my favorite places I go like DALLAS,CHICAGO,NY,NJ ATL, DENVER. Them just my favs til I hit places like MIAMI, VEGAS AND LA then I’m looking to eventually go over seas and explore. I`M OPEN TO TRAVEL ALL OVER.

Hennywiz - Overall, what has been your opinion of the modeling industry as a whole?

Shawn Darnell - 9 years in the game I seen it all and experienced so much and I see it change every year so that means I have to evolve and change with it.

Pennywise - What are some of your long term goals as you continue to progress in your career?

Shawn Darnell - Well to continue to bring a great image be creative to keep clients interested in what I’m doing and that Straight edge and persistence!!! "I DON`T WANT TO BE A FAD PHOTOGRAPHER" that’s how I stay afloat in this game.

Hennywiz - Who are your influences?

Shawn Darnell - TREAGAN PHOTOS, EYECANDY ANTHONY, JOHN BLASSINGAME (BLACKMENS MAG), K SLAY (STRAIGHT STUNTIN MAG), TINMAN, CHARLES BLACK (SKINTONES MAG), SIVAD, SHABAZZ (AS IS MAG) THE SOURCE MAG FOR PUBLISHING ME FIRST REALLY INSPIRED ME TO KEEP GETTING PUBLISHED ETC..........

Hennywiz - What else would you be doing if you hadn’t become a photographer, what else would you be interested in to do?

Shawn Darnell - I don’t know probably still be working in the auto plant and my other hustles.

Hennywiz - What are some of your hobbies?

Shawn Darnell - Music, video games, ladies I’m a science fiction freak.

Hennywiz - What has the single biggest obstacle against growing as a photographer?

Shawn Darnell - my haters they are a great obstacle but they give me the power to keep doing what I do to piss me off more so they can keep giving me the free advertisement lol

Hennywiz - Do you ever have creative blockage when shooting; if so, how do you overcome that obstacle?

Shawn Darnell - Only at the end of a shoot where sometimes I run out of ideas I try not to go to magazines cause I like to create my own ideas

Hennywiz - How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?

Shawn Darnell - I feel that you should Photoshop just enough to get rid of imperfections and if the model don’t need it then do it I really hate how some of these dudes over do it and the model looks like a clay figure or cartoon character so I try to little as possible I had to learn that.

Hennywiz - Give a description of a day and a life of Shawn Darnell.

Shawn Darnell - I wake up get myself together I chat on twitter before I get to working on projects and promotions etc.... do everything I need to do business wise and when I finish at the end of the day later at night I tweet again

Hennywise - What is one thing about yourself that tends to shock people once they get to know you personally?

Shawn Darnell - Alot of the models and clients I work with always say I look mean as hell or they be scared to say anything to me but when they meet me I’m the coolest and real person TRUST ME THE MODELS BE LOVING MY ASS WHEN THEY MEET ME FACE TO FACE LOL.

Hennywiz - Name some things you couldn't live without?

Shawn Darnell - My daughter means everything to me my fam.

Hennywiz - What genre of music are you into?

Shawn Darnell - I’m versatile I can adapt to anything depend on the situation real talk

Hennywiz - What can we expect from you in the near future?

Shawn Darnell - UPGRADING shooting new sexy models more magazines and book covers being better than I am now being a rich nigga lol

Hennywiz - The “Upgrade” that’s your new slogan; give us some insight on that?

Yes that’s a new slogan my original one is "EXPLORE MY WORLD OF SEXY AND DISCOVER THE REAL YOU" I’m upgrading all my equipment and the way I shoot and models I shoot as time goes on you will noticed the changes but the still the same person.

Hennywiz - If you had it over to do again, would you have become a photographer?

Shawn Darnell - HELL YES!!!

Hennywiz - Who or what would you like to shoot in the future that you haven’t already?

Shawn Darnell - It’s so many and most of them know who they are and when it’s going down trust me when I tell you I’m a true go getta

Hennywiz - What would you have done differently during your photography career so far and could this be an advice to others?

Shawn Darnell - Nothing I believe I have the right chemistry that kept me going for 9 years and next year is my anniversary year and the big party is going down for my 10 years in the game and I hope my next 10 years ill still be on top of my game.

Hennywise - What advice do you have for inspiring photographers and models out there trying to break into the industry?

Shawn Darnell - Know what you wanna do ask questions and learn your craft and models INVEST in your careers everything that is offered to you for free is always good.

Hennywiz - Lastly, sofyneonline.com is your website. What can fans expect when they visit your site?

Shawn Darnell - Well my site is about to get re-vamped so when it gets its upgrade well you’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Hennywiz - I really appreciate you taking the time to grant me this interview. Anything you want to say to your fans out there?

Shawn Darnell - MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU AND WATCH OUT FOR THEM SHARKS N SNAKES!!!.

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