'I love being in front of the camera!'
When I interview models, one of the questions I like to ask is what they like about being a model. On the surface it seems an easy question, but like any job, not everyone loves what they do. Some male models were encouraged to enter the industry because of their looks, and many have a love/hate relationship with being in front of the camera. We have all seen images of incredibly hot men who look absolutely pissed to be dong what their doing.
It is ok not to love your work, I don't love mine many days. But for models, if the resentment for their work shows, it can be a major turn off, no matter how hot they look. When I stumbled upon model Donta J Norman's portfolio, I could tell instantly he was having a blast in front of the camera. His answer to the 'why' question only confirmed what I felt when enjoying his work. 'Because every time I'm at a shoot my body gets excited and I put my best smile on.'
And that smile is infectious bringing energy and joy to his images. Donta's more serious looks are equally compelling, especially with his beautiful eyes which in some images light up the shot, and in others convey a sad, soulful look, pulling in all the sorrow and pain from his short 21 years on earth. Donta's passion for his work started early. Donta currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, but grew up in New York City where he remembers most of the kids he grew up with were thinking about fame.
In 2011, Donta interned for a fashion company called DIFFA. This experience cemented his desire to model, especially the industry events, fashion shows and cocktail parties and the excitement that surrounded everything that was going on. Donta didn't just want to be around the creation of great images, he wanted to be in them. Donta remembers always jumping into pictures and shooting selfies, something he is happy to say he hasn't grown out of.
Despite his enthusiasm, Donta is careful to research and get to know those he shoots with. Clicking the 'shoot nudes' option on his Model Mayhem page means Donta has gotten plenty of offers to take off his clothes. Donta is pretty pleased with his look, especially his front, from his face on down. If there is one body part he hopes to improve, it's his bottom, which he says needs a little work. Although he has no fear about showing skin, Donta looks to see the photographer is professional, ensuring it is a artist he can learn, and gain experience from while at the same time creating dynamic new images for his port. One of the photographers was PhotoFreedom, the artist behind the images featured here.
'This shoot with PhotoFreedom was my first nude shoot. I was shocked because I thought I would be scared and shy but I wasn't. I knew the artist, and he wanted to shoot with me for awhile. I had a blast shooting nude.'
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