In the April issue of Cosmo, Marc Baptiste and Olya Titova prove that braids aren't for schoolgirls anymore, but for the sexy bombshells ready to let their tresses run wild, showcasing texture and sex appeal. Get inspired by this guide on how to spruce up your hairstyle for the season.

 

This past Friday, Marc Baptiste hosted a fundraiser with Selita Ebanks and Justiin Davis to rally support to finish a school for children affected by the earthquake of 2010, in the Bois 9 section of Cite Soleil, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. This special event was held at Casa La Femme in NYC and the turnout was beyond phenomenal. Check out some of the photographs from the night, taken by Simon Russell.

Marc Baptiste mixes classic with chic in this stunning denim editorial for the April issue of Essence Magazine.

This month's issue of Essence has Marc Baptiste and Bernadine Bibiano showing you how to stay chic 24/7 in this editorial showcasing the season's hottest trends.

French actress, Nora Arnezeder graces the cover of the Fashion and Music issue of Genlux, shot by our very own, Marc Baptiste.

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the Smithsonian National Museum of The American Indian auditorium seats were packed for the 2012 program and reception in honor of Haitian Independence. Our very own, Marc Baptiste, was presented a special recognition award for his photography as well as for his philanthropy by Manhattan Borough President, Scott M. Stringer, The Haitian Roundtable, and The Haitian American Caucus. We would love to congratulate Marc for his recognition of being active in the restoration and betterment of the beautiful country of Haiti.

 

 

 

 

 

Way With Words is a new feature we offer to give you a peek into the minds of the JC artists. Our first interview is with none other than celebrity and fashion photographer Marc Baptiste, who just recently came from a routine visit to Haiti.

 

 Darnell: Welcome back to NYC Marc, Happy New Year! So I see you just came back from a little trip to Haiti, fill me in on your adventures.

 

 Marc: Haiti is the closest thing to my heart and it always plays a part in a lot of my projects so, I tend to always go back and forth for a little visit. This trip in particular was for the 2^ndanniversary of the earthquake that happened January 12, 2010, So I just want to go back to see the progress, you know? To see what’s been done since visiting a week after the earthquake. I started going in ‘97 to document Haiti for a book I was planning to release, but when the earthquake hit, of course I couldn’t finish it. It just wouldn’t have been appropriate. In turn I decided, when I visit, maybe I should shoot the progress after the earthquake, so every other month or so, I go back to document it and interview the people on the effects of the earthquake in their lives; to see what good’s been done, if there is any movement from the government to move people from the rubble to sustainable housing, etc. I was very happy (as well as surprised) to see that President Martelly was taking the 1.5 million homeless people living in tents and placing them in housing projects with the help of Habitat for Humanity.

 

Me on the other hand, not only have I have been documenting the aforementioned events, but also had my hands in supporting the orphanages. I try to help anyway I can, not only with just money but with enlightenment as well, from encouraging the children to stay in school, to bringing clothes and shoes to providing essential items like flashlights, whistles… anything there is, I’ll bring it.  It’s helping  a nation in need. I do little by little and even though one may think one person can’t make a difference, it actually totally makes a big difference. A dollar makes a difference. Even talking to people to uplift their spirit is a good thing in the long run.

 

 

D: Along with your documentation of the progress of Haiti, did you get a chance to work on any projects down there?

 

M: Get this; I was in Haiti January 7^th-14^th. On this trip I participated in a Street Art exhibition with the Paris based artist, JR, which was coordinated by Tatiana Etienne. It was titled “Rising Soul- Haiti.” It featured really amazing headshot portraits of uplifting people. I was not just shooting, but also out wheat pasting huge pictures to walls all over Port-Au-Prince! It was crazy, man! I just had glue all over my hands and arms! I am going to do a small portfolio on my website so people can see what it was all about.

 

I also took sometime out to shoot a calendar to attract tourists to come BACK to Haiti. I shot Ms. Haiti 2011, Anedie Azael, for the cover of Rebelle Haiti, (a magazine Marc is  the creative consultant for the magazine, along with his friend Philipe Gerlin), and people went crazy for the cover, just crazy. I figured, if people went crazy just for her, let’s go and shoot her beside the beauty of Haiti. Not by the rubble, but by beautiful beaches, beautiful mountains, beautiful roads…. surrounded by only beauty. We also cut a commercial that is also going to go with the calendar and will hopefully be picked up by the tourist board .Basically, It was a lot of work in a very short time, but they were all very, very, very uplifting projects. Haiti is so powerful, so magical. If you want to renew your soul, go to Haiti.

 

 

D: Recently you were honored by the President of Haiti for your humanitarian efforts in Haiti, but you will also attend a reception on January 24th, 2012 to honor you for your photography and philanthropy. I’m pretty sure that was quite, well, an honor….

 

M: (Laughs) Well, first of all, I am deeply honored, flattered, and excited, all at the same time! I flew back from Haiti on the 14^th and literally went straight to the ceremony. It was so moving to receive such an honor from the Government of Haiti and the Department of Haitian Living Abroad. You don’t have to live in Haiti to help the Haitian people, you know? The honor recognized that “Yes, even though Marc lives in the city, he always goes back to help his people.” I was deeply appreciative of this acknowledgement, and I will be sure to continue, diligently, to work with the Haitian government for whatever they need me to help out with. I am always going to be there. I believe in helping people, but we also have to understand that we have to do what we can to better ourselves and that it all takes hard work. The prime minister personally handed the honor to me and, it was just beautiful, man.

 

As for the honor ceremony coming up January 24^th, the city of New York took notice of what I was doing over in Haiti, as well as the work I produce as an artist that helps inspire others.  They acknowledge not only the positive light I shine on Haiti but also the work I do as a fashion and celebrity photographer. They wanted to let me know that I will be one of the artists that they will continue to follow the progress of from now on and support what I do in terms of doing what I love, and that’s helping people.  The key is to stay inspired and creative, learn, and to help people. It is, has been and will always be my process.

 

 

 

D: It sounds like a form of heroism, which is a great segue into my next topic. I wanted to talk about your recent shoot with the cast of the upcoming film, “Red Tails”, for the February issue of Ebony.  The movie covers the heroic deeds of the Tuskegee Airmen back in WWII and I am aware of your fondness for heroic stories, especially of deeds by African Americans. How were you inspired by the story of these pilots and how did you go about getting the energy from this shoot put into high gear?

 

M:  To me, the Tuskegee Airmen signify so much strength in African American history, period.  Those guys weren’t allowed to share any of the same amenities as their fellow soldiers, but they somehow still managed to succeed. Imagine having to learn how to use a plane in 8 days?!?!? 8 days! They worked their asses off, went over to Europe and still kicked ass! The Tuskegee school was the central of Hard Knocks, so that just shows, when you’re determined, anything is achievable. Nobody can stop you if you really put your mind to it.

 

 

D: It’s the idea that no matter what obstacles stood in their way, it was the time to rise to the occasion and become better.

 

M: Exactly! Become better! As I was shooting the cast, the airmen inspired me! As I looked at all the mood boards and stories of what they went through and their accomplishments, I brought it to the shoot, and the cast could feel my energy put forth towards capturing the feel of being a hero! 

 

 

D: Sounds like the shoot of a lifetime. What other projects do you have coming up that we should be on the lookout for?

 

M:  I just got the green light to do this film documentary on Haiti called “Fam Se Poto Mitan”. There will be a trailer, coming soon! Also, I am working on a music documentary called “La Music Haitienne: Past, Present, and Future Featuring The Tabou Combo Superstars” which is due out early 2013. Right now we’re trying to raise money for an idea we have to go down to Santos in Brazil to document how it went from ‘rags to riches’ due to the discovery of oil in their city. We want to go down by the end of February to start shooting this sucker! Hopefully try to release it before the World Cup Brazil in 2014. (Laughs)

 

 

D: So then, what are your hopes for 2012?

 

M: Deux Mille Douze , ‘ 2012’ like we say in Haiti, its simple, I’d like an abundance of health, an abundance of work, take care of my family and friends, take care of my people and all around, just help people. 2012, man, I have to be focused, I have to be healthy, and have to be open to learning as well as be creative at new levels. I want to be able to release my projects, not talk about it, but BE about it. That’s what I want in 2012. You know the expression “its better to give than receive"? Well that’s me, I’m a giver baby.

 

The February issue of Ebony kicks off Black History Month with its feature on the upcoming blockbuster action movie, "Red Tails", based on the story of the heroic, Tuskegee Airmen. With Marc Baptiste behind the lens and prop styling by Dino DeGuiceis, the cover features the stars of this action packed film; Cuba Gooding Jr.,Terrence Howard, Clifford Smith, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Elijah Kelley, Ne-Yo, Tristan Wilds, Michael B. Jordan, and Leslie Odom Jr.; portraying the famed pilots of World War II.

 

NYC is known for its fashionable parties featuring models and celebrities, and whom better to capture this stylish scene than our very own Marc Baptiste? Olya Titova and Dino DeGuiceis team up with Marc as well as Nick Cannon, Gossip Girl's Matthew Settle, How to Make it In America's Bryan Greenberg, and dance group, LMFAO, to show you how to "Own The Room".