Naptown Brightwood Ent Cover Shoot

Just decided to post a previous shoot from months ago that was done out in Indianapolis...this is just a sample, check out facebook for the whole thing. Enjoy!

Indianapolis + B.O.E. + More

This is one of the many shoots that I had while I was in Indianapolis. This was actually the very LAST shoot that I did RIGHT before I left. The shoot was with rap group B.O.E. (Monte & Luciano), Smurf and DJ Mon. I love this shoot, it has a "real life", hood type of feel to it. The house was actually the home of Monte during his younger years (now abandoned). Check it out...

Grind x Werque! = Progress + Growth

For those who didn't know...the Holla Fashions website is up and active. It has been updated in the photography section, so just make sure you check it weekly..or daily if u prefer. I will be notifying you about updates here on my blog.

Though I have been grindin hard lately, I have also been taking time out for self to get myself organize, that way it makes my grind much easier. It feels good to take time out, because a lot of people that I deal with throughout the course of the day are very inconsiderate and forget that I'm not a machine. People act like I don't have a personal life of my own...normally when my phone rings, its always someone asking for something but never someone calling just to talk. Thats why I just wanna say to my true friends that I really appreciate them all. Also for everyone who supported me on the southern entertainment awards...I appreciate you. Though I did not come out with a win, I came out with recognition, a nomination, and I have met a lot of new people from it in this past year. You can't take that away from me. In the past year I have grown a lot...in my personal life and within my craft as well. This year I will be going for the SEA's again, and whatever comes out of it is what I will receive. I'm grateful for whatever comes my way.

Earlier today I did a photoshoot with a local hip-hop group known as the Street Poets. Real cool dudes, I know them on a personal level as well as a business level. The shoot came out great...honestly, it doesn't need to be edited but I'm gonna do a couple of edits before I post anyway. Look out for that shoot later after I get back from ATL. I have a couple of other shoots to post before that...some b4 I went to Indianapolis and 3 more in Indianapolis. Maybe I'll find the time to book myself for another self-portrait shoot....HA! That wont be happening for a while.

Look out for the youtube channel...yea, I'm going to have fun with that. A lot of people don't know that I have a hidden talent of video editing lol. Thats like when I let people know I played the sax for 6 years :-O (alto, tenor, and baritone lol). The shoots in Indianapolis were recorded in HD. And I will find time to get some footage of other things along the way to keep yall attention.

Meanwhile, I have decided to leave to ATL a lil earlier than expected for this event with Fusion the Band (shout out to Fusion btw! I ride with them 100%). On March 26th (yes, thats a thursday for those of u who are bad with dates)... Fusion the Band opens for N.E.R.D. Such an exciting event...and yes I get to do the photography, I might bring my camcorder as well. I'm going to be in Atlanta from monday until friday, but I might end up leaving EARLY saturday because Wale performs with UCB & B.O.B. at 8pm friday night...you know I gotta see the homie do his thing since I missed the show in Nashville, TN. I gotta work at my "normal" job that saturday morning at 10am so I know I'm pushing it. Then that evening I gotta do the photography for Lil Wil (my dougie) & Cashmoney's All-Star Concert at 7pm in the Clement Auditorium at Austin Peay State Univ (yea u like that plug lol)....talk about Grind? I gotta photoshoot right before that with a sorority. Yes...I work hard, So after a 4 and a half hr drive, 5 hr work shift, 1 hr photoshoot, 2hr concert, oh and did I mention the photography for the after-party too? naw...I wont pass out. I'll just wake up and be ready to do it all over again...I guess I am a machine after all....
I'm working like I was never nominated....Aye marty lol, thats the answer to ur question! ("how does it feel not to lose 1, but 2 SEA Awards?") HA!

Young Hollaaaaaaa baaaayyyybaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!

SuddaKane Shoot: Indianapolis, IN

While I was in Indianapolis, I had time to squeeze in an extra photoshoot. That way I could make a lil more money while I was out there. The shoot was with south carolina native SuddaKane...a hot rapper that reps where he from to the fullest. Cool dude, he even lived in DC before so he knew all about go-go and all that. He also did a video shout out and an exclusive freestyle, holla youtube channel coming soon. Check out the shoot.

2008 Was Great = 2009 Even Greater

First and foremost, I’m just glad to be alive. 2009 is here and new years’ resolutions come into play. So since I have that amazing opportunity of living another year, I won’t let it go to waste. I have a lot in store for this year.

Year ’07, kicked off ’08 for me really well. I ended ’07 with getting on a big marketing project with Rapper Lil Boosie & Dipset Byrdgang’s own So’Sa (pronounced “So-Say”). Leading into early ’08 I received radio shout-outs in my hometown, Washington D.C., from radio host Jeannie Jones on WKYS 93.9 (formerly a host on WPGC 95.5, a part of the Russ Parr Morning Show, and spokeswoman for IPOD, Coca Cola, Smirnoff, Gillette, Anheuseur-Busch and L'OREAL Paris). Crazy thing is, I was in school in Tennessee when it happened. She hit me up with a message letting me know everything she said and that she shouted out Holla Fashions on the air and etc. She said she was proud to see a young black student putting his mind towards something positive. Something as simple as that motivated me so much for the simple fact that it showed me how much my hard work is actually paying off and getting recognition.

Throughout ’08, I teamed up with a band out in Atlanta, GA, known as Fusion the Band. I am now officially working with Fusion Entertainment on a consistent basis designing, photography, promoting and bringing my creative mind to the table. I’ve been doing a lot of work out in Atlanta for others as well. And as many of you know, it has been like a second home for me and I plan on moving out there in due time. While working with Fusion, I’ve also got the chance to tour with them to St. Louis, where they performed at the University of Missouri. Right after the performance was over, Fusion & I was interviewed live on the radio in St.Louis (my voice was gone but it was fun as hell!).


I’ve also been working heavily with a big DJ out in Indianapolis, IN. known as DJ Blendz: The BlendMaster (formally known as DJ Bnasty). I received the opportunity to actually go out to Indianapolis and do some freelance photography for the Leak Magazine for the Circle City Classic Weekend & the Shawty Lo Concert along with Tyrone (Brightwood Entertainment). Also worked with singer Young Maine & rapper Monte’ (1/2 of Group B.O.E.) while in Indianapolis.


I also worked with Singer/Songwriter PrincessKENYA out of California by way of Chicago (which I’ve been working with her since age 16/best friend). She’s making crazy moves in the music industry write now as far as Songwriting (Signed under EMI Publishing), and is also working on her own project as well. She took me in the studio in Atlanta and gave me the chance to meet many people; one of them being producer Fatboi (produced 2 platinum Ying Yang Twin Albums, songs for Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and Snoop’s “Sensual Seduction). So make sure you look out for her.

While doing all this, I also did my normal freelance work (graphic design, clothing, photography). This includes work for establishments like What Women Want: Clothing & Accessories (Clarksville, TN) and Sunscreen Customs (Clarksville, TN). Also for different people and organizations around the city, one being Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. And work outside of the state of Tennessee; Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany and different states around the U.S. to name a few. I also was on an internship with One-Hundred Magazine.

Though I did not hop on this project, Holla Fashions was asked to be a clothing sponsor for the Annual Mixtape Awards ("The Justos") held in NYC (too much going on at the time). Meanwhile, 2008 brought me nominations for two Southern Entertainment Awards (S.E.A.)…. Photographer of the year (Young Holla) & Clothing Line of the year (Holla Fashions). The awards ceremony has been pushed back to the third weekend in March 09, so I won’t know if I won until then. I’m up against some big names, and to me it’s not even about winning, I’m just so happy to even have the opportunity to have my name mention with the others. Simply because everything I do, I do it alone. All the work I have put in has been all me and I can take full credit for that. And this is out of the entire southern region of the United States. I’m up against names like Gino Green Global (the tees with the G’s all over them), YUMS (Soulja Boy always shouting them out), and Kashi Kicks (found in City Gear), to name a few.

By the end of ’08, school took its toll on me. But I stuck with it and graduated receiving my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. A week before graduation, me and 7 other senior graphic designers had our Senior Design Exhibit at Austin Peay; it was a GREAT turn out. After that, I didn’t feel like doing anything else. So I took a vacation back home to Washington D.C. for the holidays and now I’m ready to get back to work for ’09. This year I plan on doing things a little different, and I’m taking them a bit more serious. School is over and now real life begins.



I’ve been applying for graphic design jobs out in Atlanta, and basically just been waiting, praying to find something. In the meantime, and even after I get an official graphic design job, I will continue my plans for 2009. Just to name a few plans I still will continue with ALL of my freelance work. I plan to release version 5:A Perfect Fifth of the Holla Fashions website (hollafashions.com), as well as an Online Magazine/Blog (Untitled). Later in the year, I will release a Holla Fashions Mixtape (free for download) with the music artists featured on the website (no I’m not a music artist), also my photography will be for sell online which will also allow custom framing when you place an order(imagekind.com). PrincessKENYA and I have a lot of upcoming projects in the works that we will be working together on (music ventures, modeling, and etc). I will also continue to work with Fusion Entertainment. There are some Holla Fashions designs that will be officially manufactured rather than hand-painted and will be available in select stores (both men & women sizes). The designs are finished and ready to go whenever I decide to make that move. And this is only naming a few, so just make sure you stay tuned.

Thanks to everyone that helped me get to where I’m at with my craft, I appreciate everything and I promise I won’t let you down. Special shout out to Mr.DeKorte couldn’t have done it without ya homie!

-Y. Holla