About Rodeo's and Male Nudes

WHEN YOU GROW UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN OKLAHOMA WHERE THE RODEO IS THE ABSOLUTE HIGHLIGHT OF EVERYONE’S FUN, BECOMING A RENOWNED FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER PROBABLY COULDN’T BE FURTHER FROM YOUR MIND. LET ALONE BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER OF MALE ARTISTIC NUDES. STILL THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT NATHAN PAUL WANTED TO DO.
Dallas based photographer Nathan Paul is from a small town from Oklahoma where going to the rodeo was the highlight of everyone’s fun. Nathan’s love for photography came at very young age. It wasn’t until he was 13 years old when he picked up his first camera and was just shooting just for fun and for his junior high and high school year book. The year 2007 is when Nathan wanted to take a stab at fashion photography. He started reaching out to other photographers and assisting them in photo shoots, looking at fashion magazines and how to books on lighting techniques to perfect his craft. Nathan’s work started circling around in Dallas and people started inquiring about his work and local model agencies were asking him to test their models. Nathan Paul is steady growing as a photographer and always pushing himself to the next level. “My biggest competition is me, not with other photographers. I love photography because I want to invite people to see what I see, not to see if I can be better than the next photographer. It brings me happiness and it’s my passion.”

When Nathan Paul first met Jonte Armand, he asked him where he was from and came to find out, he is also from Oklahoma. They talked about – yes - the rodeo that they have there and how things in Oklahoma are very different. All that lead to scheduling a photo shoot. and up until the time I didn’t know how nor had an idea how I was going to shoot him. The day of the shoot came faster than expected, leaving Nathan with no idea how he was going to shoot Jonte. They ended up shooting at a friend’s house in a high rise apartement in downtown Dallas. “I had looked at some previous pictures of Jonte and I saw that he was very comfortable being nude. Jonte’s previous pictures that were taken were very overly sexy, so I decided to do the opposite and shoot him in natural light with very subtle movements and softer in the face. I have found out that it is the natural and in between movements that make a photo really sexy and eye catching.” Nathan Paul took advantage of the dim lighting outside with the sunlight peeking through the clouds just enough. Jonte handle himself as a professional, carefully listened to what Nathan told him to do and took it do the next level. A mutual sense of comfort resulted in a very creative session and most relaxing atmosphere: “Even in the between moments of the shoot we would crack up and joke around. I am a fan of Jonte!”

Jonte Armand loves modeling. It is something he only gradually got his feet into, but when one thing lead to another and he started to work with various photographers, he learned it was a great medium to express himself. “Modeling is wonderful but I also learned it is tough work and you have to grind. I have yet to reach the level I desire which inspires me to pursue my dreams even more.” Working in the erotic category, Jonte considers himself a product able to sell what the market needs. Browsing the Internet one day Jonte stumbled upon the Model Mayhem profile of Calvin Brockington. Reviewing his work he just knew he had to get in contact with Calvin. He did and that lead to a fruitful collaboration. “Since working with Calvin I've learned to have more appreciation for my body and looks, I learned how to move in front of the camera.” Shortly after working with Calvin, Jonte was introduced to Nathan Paul, a close friend of Calvin Brockington. –BM-

NATHAN PAUL | BEAUTIFULMAG