The hands of fate seem to be working in favor of Gene Young. Hailing from our Nation's Capital, Gene is an acclaimed photographer well versed in his craft. He catapulted into his career after meeting a Washington D.C. based disk jockey who invited him to photograph artists at an upcoming concert. Immediately, Gene's talent was recognized by the radio station and he began receiving freelance assignments. While this may not seem much out of a photographer's ordinary agenda, Young was young himself - he was fourteen.
Now at 23, the entertainment photojournalist reflects on earlier times. "Growing up, I thought I wanted to be a professional chef," he candidly states. But Gene soon discovered that his true appetite was grounded in his desire to take pictures. "When I was five years old, the only Christmas present I received was a small, point-and-shoot camera. I took pictures of everything and everyone even though I didn't know what I was doing." In the seventh grade, his science teacher caught wind of his knack for taking photographs and ultimately suggested that he pursue his hobby seriously. "My teacher tried getting me into a photography class later on in high school. She even loaned me her own equipment and set up a dark room in the classroom's storage closet," he explains.
And his instructor's encouragement didn't go unnoticed. The following summer, it just so happened that a photographer for C.U.E. (acronym for Collegiate Underground Entertainment) Magazine experienced technical difficulties with her camera. Desperate for quality shots, she offered to purchase Young's pictures. Ultimately, Gene's work caught the eye of C.U.E.'s publisher, who welcomed him aboard the staff. Although the magazine closed down a year later, the high school sophomore further developed his skills within the mid-Atlantic regional office of Arista Records and BMG Entertainment as the official freelance Live Events photographer. There he learned the ups and downs of the entertainment industry while establishing long-term rapports with chief executives.
In 1998, Gene became the personal photographer for R&B romeos Ginuwine and Next, as well as Rap impresario Queen Pen. Things dramatically progressed when he conducted a photo shoot with a then unknown quartet named Dru Hill. According to Young, "I felt like I bonded with the group because they let me in on their private sound check and allowed me to take pictures of their entire concert - from the stage."
Gene worked at a photo processing lab at 15, became an entrepreneur at 16 and made the trek to the Big Apple shortly after graduation. A year later, he landed a stint with Jive Records which eventually led to the opportunity of a lifetime: photographing his first album cover. Young was even more ecstatic because his subject was double Grammy winning Gospel star Hezekiah Walker. Since then, Gene has performed freelance duties for other Jive artists including Joe, Aaron Carter, Tonex and Justin Timberlake (he was assigned as the exclusive photographer at Timberlake's debut solo album listening party). And one of his Avril Lavigne photos (from her first U.S. concert at the famed Irving Plaza) was even published in a hardcover book.
A self-proclaimed photo junkie, Gene attributes "persistence, persistence and caution" to achieving and maintaining his success. In fact, the freelance photographer was signed for exclusive representation to the internationally renowned Star File Photo Agency four years ago. This brought him to an even greater achievement. Through his agents, Young's photographs were published in magazines and newspapers such as People, US Weekly, Harpers Bazaar, J-14, Ocean Drive, The New York Times and Wasington Post, and also on VH-1, MTV, E!, "Access Hollywood" and "Extra." In addition, he has covered award shows such as the Grammy's and parties for everyone from Pink and Missy Elliott to Fat Joe and Enrique Iglesias. Furthermore, the photography expert acquired exclusive shots at one of P. Diddy's after after party at New York's trendy hotspot, Butter, with the help of P. Diddy's mother Janice Combs (whom he affectionately calls Momma Combs). More recently, Gene has taken actress/model Katie Cassidy under his wing as a personal client.
Gene, who asserts that his best picture to date is of Pop princess Christina Aguilera, says he wishes "to capture the natural essence of celebrities to make them more tangible. I want others to see them as real people, not just as stars." And he's had tremendous practice, having photographed some of the top movers and shakers in show business. Included on his roster are music giants, fashion aficionados, talk show queens and some of the world's leading actors: Heath Ledger, Nelly, Nicole Kidman, Michael Jackson, George Clooney, Meg Ryan, Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O'Donell, Lauryn Hill, Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Michelle Branch, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Our Lady Peace, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Donald Trump, Anna Wintour, Betsey Johnson, Patricia Fields and Donatella Versace - to name only a few.
Who will be his next subject? "I want to photograph the Royal Families of England and Monaco...now those would be amazing experiences. However, I eventually want to hit it big in the music industry and become a high-power executive. I would love to run my own (record) label. People like Clive Davis and photographers Mark Seliger and Herb Ritts are my biggest inspirations. They're so accomplished."
It seems as if Gene Young has an amazing head start or, from a photographer's point of view, head shot.
