In the world of hip-hop you’re not someone until you’ve been shot—that is by celebrity photographer Leo Marshall.  This California native has established himself as one of the most consistent image makers in the world of hip-hop with clients such as KING Magazine, Black Men’s Magazine, Melyssa Ford, Angel Lola Luv, Ludacris, T.I. and more.

Whether he’s capturing the contours of the female form or getting your favorite rapper to step outside of their comfort zone to display a different side of themselves, Leo’s work is noted for bringing fashion flair to the world of hip-hop photography.

Such flair has captured the attention of one of the leading mobile entertainment service providers, mBeat Media, Inc./URBMOB.com.  Leo and the company recently teamed up in search of the next Glamour Girl.  The winner will be the new face of mBeat Media, Inc./URBMOB.com, featured in KING, XXL, Black Men’s Magazine, on BET, and more.

Sixshot struck a pose and chatted with Leo about what makes a top model, how the digital age is revolutionizing the fashion industry, shooting Ciara’s first lingerie spread, T.I.’s outburst on the set of a shoot, why he believes urban models and photographers are not well-respected in the indus try, and more.

You began as a model so how did you transition to working behind the camera?

I started off doing film, so before I thought about modeling I was in film in Los Angeles.  Out of college I started working with some video directors.  Coming out of college I was broke.  I didn’t have any money. [Laughs]  So I got offered a few modeling jobs here and there while I was still working in film.  When I modeled I asked a lot of questions and picked up a great understanding of photography.  I saw that a video set and photography were very similar.  I always enjoyed being behind the camera instead of in front of the camera.

With mBeat Media, Inc./URBMOB.com you’re on a search for their glamour girl.  What makes someone a top model?

A top model is someone that is able to have her energy and her expressions easily translated to a picture.  That’s the key.  From fashion to commercial to glamour whatever emotion or energy we’re going for I need to pick it up in you.  Some models rely on their beauty but their real flat, and some girls just ooze it out and have that great talent to open up to a photographer.  Once they open up to us someone else can feel what that model is feeling.

This project is a testament to how photography and the digital age are combining in new ways.  What are the pros and cons of the digital age on your industry?

One of the pros is that a relatively unknown model based on her look can do phenomenally well because it’s the actual fan that’s picking the model, and not someone who just has the connection to an editor of a magazine.  Another pro is that in the urban world of modeling they [models] are making money.  The top models are making six figures just on mobile downloads and that shows advertisers that these models are making good money on downloads.  That’s how Vida Guerra became FHM model of the year—just because of pure numbers.  The con is that a lot of models just depend on taking a picture with anybody and putting it out there.  They may not take it that serious.  Some women who say they’re models put it out there and say, “I don’t need to work out.  I don’t need management.  I’m just gonna put it out there and they’ll buy it.”  They don’t take it as serious as they should.

You photographed many major artists such as Ludacris, Monica, and T.I.  Is there one shoot that stands out in particular?

Well recently I had to shoot Ciara and we didn’t get out of there until five in the morning.  That was an all day shoot.  The images came out great.  I think I was the first person to shoot her in lingerie.  She wanted to do something different and have her fans see a different side of her.  She was singing and doing her thing and people were lying down.  I was tired.  We were still shooting but she was like, “I’m ready to go some more.”  T.I.’s shoot was pretty interesting.  He was upset with somebody—no names—but he was screaming at somebody on the phone at the top of his lungs.  That was interesting.  I was like what’s going on in that bathroom?  He came out like everything was okay. 

How much does the music of hip-hop influence your work?

One thing I like about music and especially hip-hop is that as an artist myself it’s expressive.  I love to see talent express themselves.  I’m a visual guy so what impresses me more than just the lyrics is the artistic expression of a song.  When I see it shot how an artist or video director sees that it inspires me.  Some rappers paint a picture with their lyrics and that’s inspiring too.

As a photographer what do you think aesthetically and ethically of the images of video vixens in hip-hop which has been criticized as being degrading?

Most people love the way I shoot because they say that I have a fashion edge to it.  There are different styles to shooting anything.  For a photographer or video director if you look at women beautifully you’re gonna shoot them beautifully.  If you view them as just a sex object that’s the way it’s gonna come off in the image.  I see women as beauty.  I have three sisters and my mother.  I think we all have a different view on the art itself.  Yes, in hip-hop some lyrics degrade women and as a culture that we have to build up women.  I think that’s important.

In addition to shooting glamour girls for urban magazines you also shoot fashion and commercial work.  Is urban photography as well respected in the fashion industry as photography for publications like Rolling Stone or Vogue?

No it’s not.  I don’t think it is.  I have different books as a photographer.  I have fashion and hair clients and I shoot for the number one and number three ones in the world.  I don’t think they’ve ever seen any of my urban work.  If I shoot a black woman in a swimsuit and a Caucasian model that’s much thinner in the same swimsuit, I get a different response.  With thicker women who have more curves they respond to it differently and I noticed that.

Why do you think that is?

I think it’s what is taught in our society as beauty.  Girls with a C cup and hips larger than a 38” waist you would never see in certain magazines.  People look at her as why is she doing that?  She shouldn’t be a model.  What has changed in the last few years is that they’re booking more women who are dancers for music videos and some magazines.  When I say dancers I’m talking about strip clubs and that makes some difference too.  Sometimes people clump a lot of girls in the industry together as dancers, so that’s why I believe sometimes it’s not respected.

Photography is about telling a story.  What is the story about hip-hop that you want to tell?

A lot of people think of hip-hop as only one facet.  So I try to always put a little different spin on it.  I want to show strength, confidence, and someone having fun—not just the same grimy image.  When I shoot hip-hop culture—especially when I shoot a woman I want her portrayed as sexy and confident, and not raunchy; but with a fashion edge to it.

For more information please visit:
http://www.leomarshallphotography.com/
and
www.urbmob.com 

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