#naturalopulence

[bloomandplume]

May I present the first image from Shades of Blackness vol.2 #untouched #nofilter #naturalopulence Click the link in profile to pre-order I could barely sleep filled with excitement and anxiety from the idea of sharing a project that has been probably my biggest labor of love to date. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to put myself out in the world with something that is very close to my heart. But I never let fear stop me from doing anything I feel strongly about so in the words of Janet Jackson in Throb #herewego For the last couple of years I have been on a journey trying to love myself for who I am which is not easy when you are a big black gay man that doesn’t fit into society in the way in which it was taught to you. This sent me on a journey to find myself in other people, so over the course of this past year I cast a diverse group of amazing people for their natural beauty and constructed unexpected (or at least I think so...) Floral compositions that could Only occur with the human touch. All manipulation was done in camera #nophotoshop so the final image would be as is meaning none of the flowers are photoshopped or moved around in post #likeforrealthough What you see is what you get. Each flower, feather, fruit, or vegetable has been strategically placed by hand to create each composition. This project explores stripping away the filters to create images that highlight our natural beauty flaws and all. This project was made with so much love! I thought I would drop it like it’s hot with my little brother @letmypplgo for he truly has been such an inspiration in my life as my training partner, business partner (Bloom & Plume coffee opening dec2017), a true example of staying the course and putting one foot in front of the other, not stopping to look to the left or the right because we are all on the path that we are suppose to be on aka take the time it takes so it takes less time, and a overall big hunk of love and support, oh and I guess it helps that he is fine lol! Anyway y’all know how much I love my siblings... so start your holiday shopping earlier with a gift for yourself... lol #getintoit #imintoit #good #buyfelicia (at Bloom & Plume)

[mattesonsflorist-blog]

This #floralcrushfriday goes out to @bloomandplume not only for their jaw dropping gorgeous arrangements, but also for their descriptions which are always worth the read, which is why we included the Mother's Day description below. • • • • • • This is what happens when a dad calls in and says “I’ve tried getting flowers from other places, but my wife will only accept flowers from @bloomandplume...” Fam say no more we got you! Love creating for people that appreciate the love, time, and energy that we put into our work and helping husbands understand why wives feel this way, not to mention maybe strongly encouraging baby making activities with the overwhelming amount of beauty that shows up at there doorstep... lol Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there, you are all doing the most important work on the planet. I am sorry that you are not honored for what you do everyday, but trust and believe i see you and appreciate you!! Shout out to my Mom! We don’t see eye to eye, however I deeply respect her journey and love her so much! #happymothersday #prettyinpink #peonies #backinseason #spreadinglove #spreadingflowers #latinosonladders #latinosmatter #latinoswithflowers #naturalopulence #bloominandplumin #babymakingflowers #😘 https://www.instagram.com/p/B2FHJ_KnOS3/?igshid=1x34xf0jwseyv

[bloomandplume]

Honey it’s Monday, the sun is finally shining and my girl Katie Jackson is looking fine as hell on her quarter apple soapbox losing her goddamn mind. Talking about she’s meditating over her meaningful stones a.k.a. Crystals a.k.a. Pretty rocks a.k.a. Petty rocks #fettywap trying to recover from being in the trap house over the weekend during a full moon summer solstice meditation situation and has come to the conclusion that if she just stands in front of this 3 wheeled, built in speaker having, OG vintage flat screen tv singing “A Moment Like This” she will become America’s next Top Model #wrongshow. This nutty bitch went as far as to support this disabled device with one of her very own meaningful stones, saying it has healing properties... #gurlbye , I could barely keep a straight face (which is hella hard for my gay ass) knowing that some people spend a lifetime for a moment like this and they damn meaningful stones, but I kept it cute in an effort to be supportive to my delusional ass friend. I will say it’s hard to keep it real when I’m blinded by such beauty. I mean her blue vain’d French tulip highlights are everything and them pin cushion roots are flawless. Katie got the look house down boots hunny, but we just need to work on them flat ass notes cause judging from the rocks that you got, you ain’t even Jenny from the block and that trap house got you fucked up... #betterlucknexttime #meaningfulstones #aintnobodygottimeforthat #looksarenteverything #naturalopulence (at Bloom & Plume Coffee) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHKW4fncMp/?igshid=1occpyb5ij2q

[bloomandplume]

Well hello Monday, hello gorgeous (that's me in a rose gold @celine metal green glass, heavy AF shady frames), and hello Ms. Rosalind Rosenthal. Sometimes when you look this damn good and everybody can see that yo pussy is poppin there ain't much to say... But today my name is @msjasminemasters and I have something to say... I was at target the other day #dontjudgeme trying to live my best life trying to buy a people magazine with the Obama's on the cover cause I want the T #pettylabelle, I wanted that new @teenvogue with my girl @saintrecords on the cover and I wanted some @icebreakers breath mints so that my breath won't be stankin #teampepermint. I'm looking everywhere for this damn teen vogue can't find it anywhere I ask my cashier in my best Becky voice "excuse me, do you know if you all carry Teen Vogue"? As she scans my mints she says to me without skipping a beat in the most uninterested I gotta go and they don't pay me enough to answer questions voice "I wouldn't know"... I was actually verklempt #theshadeofitall... I mean, I do realize I am a big grown ass black man asking for teen vogue, but damn can you pretend to care about my teen vogue fantasy for like 7 seconds before shutting me all the way down #shit ... well cut to 5 mins later as I was walking to my car she was waiting for her Uber... #byebitch #gethomesafely #betterlucknexttime #bitchkilledmyvibe #butrosalindbroughtthemback #prettygirl #pettygirl #bloomandplumeharvestday #naturalopulence #ithoughtyoudidnthavemuchtosay #byebitch (at Bloom & Plume)

[bloomandplume]

Happy August everyone!!! This image is from our calendar titled Shades of Blackness. This project was intended to look at all the different types of black beauty we see around us and celebrate them in the way that society encourages us to celebrate whiteness. It was my goal to create images that were universally beautiful that #alllives would relate or at least consider in a way that they had not before. With the help of @theglasszipper And her graphic genius I think we got to a pretty incredible place! I am so proud of this project and this image!!! Shout out to our model @theoriginal_danadane For being stunningly beautiful, kind, and flexible!!! #blackisbeautiful #blacklivesmatter #naturalopulence #afro #powertothepeople #righton #love #peace #justice #cantwealljustgetalong (at Bloom & Plume)

[bloomandplume]

The color of fear Birds of A Feather 2015 Shakir&James Being black and gay is a huge part of who I am and a huge part of the culture that we all live in. In a society that does a poor job celebrating the nuances of the black man I figured I would continue to do my part to rewrite this narrative. #blacklivesmatter #blackgaylivesmatter #mylifematters #blackisbeautiful #boldandthebeautiful #birdsofafeather #onflock #slay #werk #naturalopulence (at Bloom & Plume)

[bloomandplume]

It's March y'all Hope everyone is enjoying there calendar If you are tardy to the party you can still purchase on sale now for 35 bucks link in profile! #shadesofblackness #naturalopulence #blacklivesmatter #march (at Bloom & Plume)

[bloomandplume]

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The making of #naturalopulence