| Welcome
to raymondboyd.com a mini-magazine, which feature
photos taken by Chicago-born and based photographer
Raymond Boyd. I had a lot of fun putting this
site together with the help of my friend, and
website designer Terrance Harrington. We didn't
want to create anything complicated or do something
that would be hard for people to navigate around.
So we came up with a very simple site that's easy
for your viewing pleasure. And since I'm still
actively shooting pictures, I will keep the site
updated as regularly as I'm out snapping the flicks!
I
don't want to bore you with a long, drawn-out
story as to how I got started taking pictures.
I'll simply say that I have a God-given talent!
I'm self-taught, plus I get a lot of help and
advice from other photographers I shot alongside
during my early beginnings, and now on a regular basis.
I
have been taking pictures since high school
when my mother bought me a Kodak pocket camera(remember
those?) for graduation. And as they say, the
rest is history! I have been taking pictures
in the entertainment industry for over 20 years now! Whew! My first ever published photo was of the
late Roger Troutman of Zapp, which appeared in then-published
Rock & Soul Magazine back in 1983. Since
then, my work has appeared in, and still appear
in publications such as Fresh!, YO!, Black Beat,
M!, Right On!, Word Up!, Sister 2 Sister, Ebony/Jet, Popstar!, Black Noir, Billboard and Upscale among others. Record companies
and publicists also hire me to photograph their
artists when they appear in and around Chicago
for promotional purposes. Some of those photos
can be seen throughout raymondboyd.com
I
guess I could say my love for photography
began as a kid when I started putting pictures of my favorite group, The Jackson 5ive
on my walls(wishing that I had taken
them). And who knew years later as a photographer I would actually meet them! My initial introduction to my work
being published came from shooting for the Chicago
Defender newspaper, which I have to thank Fine
Arts Editor Earl Calloway for. He would always
see me on the "scene" at various functions,
and ask me who I shot for. When I responded
that I was doing it for fun, he immediately
told me that I was wasting a God-given talent
and to look him up. I did that, and began as
a freelance entertainment photographer for the
Defender. During that time, I attended a Prince/Time/Vanity 6 concert back in 1983, which was the last time I actually PAID for a concert
ticket. Now I get photo passes and free tix! But In looking at pictures from that concert,
and submitting some of them to the Chicago Defender,
I realized what Earl was trying to tell me.
I worked hard at my craft to try to develop
a style. But when I was told that my photos
capture the "true essence of the artist", I
thought, "Man, that's deep!" As I sit back and
look at some of my work now, I guess Earl Calloway
was right when he told me that! And t hat's what
I have been doing since those early days...capturing
the true essence of the artists. And when you view my work, I hope you
see that same thing. My work has also captured
the eyes of the prestigious Michael Ochs Archives in Venice, California
who represent me. They have my photos placed worldwide
on cd covers and inserts, television commercials,
books and magazines distributed by Time and Life Books and
countless other entertainment-oriented outlets.
Shouts out to Jonathan Hyams and the staff
at Michael Ochs for the fat checks!
What
I'm most proud of now, is that I have always
wanted to have my work shown in a photo galley.
And thanks to my website and a special man I've
known for years named Bill Adler, that
dream came true. Bill's EYEJAMMIE FINE ARTS
GALLERY in New York City had a special photo tribute to
Run DMC called, "It's Like That: 20 Years of
Run DMC". Some of my photos were included in
that exhibit. Comedian, and huge Run DMC fan, Chris Rock actually
bought a photo of mine from the gallery. Thanks
Chris! That exhibit has also been to the HEADQUARTERS
SALON GALLERY in Los Angeles. Matt Suroff of
Sock Bandit Productions, also in NYC found me through
my website. From my "Classic Rap Fotos", Matt
used some of my photos(N.W.A., Luke, Run DMC
and MC Hammer) in his Hip-Hop Immortals Remix book.
He also had some of those "classic" photos displayed
at the PROUD GALLERY in London. But before that,
a group photo I took of N.W.A. back in 1989
was displayed and sold at the GOVINA GALLERY in Washington,
D.C.!
Through
my years of photography, I have traveled a lot,
learned a great deal, and have developed some
special friendships with special people. And what's good about it,
is that I am still in the game some 20 years
later! I'm STILL learning and STILL having fun!.
And that's what it's all about! And being that
I never studied photography, my eyes and
ears are always open as I continue to learn!
With the knowledge that I achieve, I continue
to pass it on to the new photographers coming
into the game. And to the would-be photographers
who email me from all over the world and abroad,
I appreciate your email. I hope my advice work
for you. So sit back and enjoy my website! Your
comments and criticism are well appreciated!
You can reach me at raymond@raymondboyd.com
Enjoy!
Raymond
Boyd |