Country Boy: Tyler B Shields by Jaymz Sapphire Photography

Earlier this summer I did a small piece on photographer Scott Barnes and his work with model Tyler B Shields. (Tyler-B-Shields By Scott Barnes) I was taken with Tyler's look and got in touch with him about featuring more of his work. Though facial expressions and pose, the 23 year old Indiana model displays in many shots almost a blonde farm boy innocence. His incredible brown eyes however, express a knowing awareness much less innocent than his grin might imply.

The farm boy innocence comes honestly enough. Growing up on a small Indiana farm, Tyler B Shields grew up around tons of animals, and even today raises horses, goats, and ducks, not to mention his three dogs, a Saint Bernard, a beagle, and a chocolate lab. When I went back through Tyler's work to find shots for a follow-up, most of my favorite images came from Alonzo from Jaymz Sapphire Photography. The St. Louis based photographer captures many sides of Tyler, my favorites being the series below with Tyler wearing, and slowly removing, his striped t-shirt.

Alonzo has been shooting for about four years now and says his goal is to bring out a truth and a confidence in the models he shoots, beyond what they may see themselves when looking in the mirror. Often those around a person can see pick up wonderful attributes and qualities, maybe ones difficult for someone to see about themselves. Alonzo uses his camera to focus in on these truths hopefully opening up a model to see themselves from an entirely different view or angle.

'Our shoots went over over a 3 weekend period with our first being in an office setting. We had never met prior to the shoot but talked often just to get familiar with one another. Upon meeting at the first shoot we instantly clicked and bonded. I was amazed at his level of direction taking and learned that Tyler is a natural nudist and quite open and ok with himself and his body.'
Alonzo-Jaymz Sapphire Photography

Alonzo reports their shoots were always fun and full of laughter. He and Tyler both enjoyed the collaboration process creating beautiful images. This past June, in their third shot together, Alonzo was asked to do shoot a poster for this years official contest posters of both Mr. Midwest Leather & Mr. Midwest Puppy. Tyler was selected as a model to participate in the shoot and Alonzo reports it was great to have him back in front of his camera.

'My experience working with Alonzo was absolutely amazing, he is a great guy and a very good photographer. He is very professional, but yet is still funny and always makes sure the models are taken care of. I have shot with Alonzo three times and I do plan on shooting with him again very soon.'
Tyler B Shields

Tyler -B- Shields on ModelMayhem
J S Photog on ModelMayhem
Jaymz Sapphire Photography

'As part of the first shoot we added another model. He was the total opposite of Tyler but the chemistry they had between them worked so well, the second model became a part of the next shoots as well.'
Alonzo