Derek Blanks

Derek Blanks was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on November 5, 1977.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2009/apr/22/derek-blanks-incorporating-richness/|title=Derek Blanks: Incorporating Richness|last=Wright|first=Lizzie|date=April 22, 2009|website=Jackson Free Press|language=en|access-date=January 3, 2019}} His father was a school teacher in Pearl, Mississippi. He is the middle twin of three siblings.{{cite news|url=http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/index.php/print_view/29221|title=[Dish] Derek Blanks: Incorporating Richness|first=Lizzie |last=Wright|publisher=Jackson Free Press|date=April 22, 2009|access-date=April 18, 2012|location=USA}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Blanks attended Murrah High School in Jackson, Mississippi, and enrolled in APAC: The Academic and Performing Arts Complex, which exposed him to art at a young age.

In 2000, Blanks graduated magna cum laude from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore, Maryland,{{cite news|url=http://www.hasselbladusa.com/user-showcase/derek-blanks.aspx|title=Hasselblad Photographer Derek Blanks|author=|publisher=Hasselbladusa.com|date=February 3, 2008|access-date=April 18, 2012|location=USA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412233542/http://www.hasselbladusa.com/user-showcase/derek-blanks.aspx|archive-date=April 12, 2012|url-status=dead}} where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration. Upon graduation, he worked in commercial design, illustration and freelance photography through work with The Baltimore Sun newspaper, and illustrated the children's book Up in the Learning Tree, published by Lee & Low Books.{{cite news|url=http://www.leeandlow.com/books/122/pb/up_the_learning_tree?oos=hc&is=pb|title=Up The Learning Tree|publisher=Lee & Low Books|access-date=April 18, 2012|website=LeeandLow.com|year=2006|location=USA}}

Blanks went into lifestyle and fashion photography by developing a portfolio of work published by Essence magazine, BET Networks, Sony Music Entertainment, Reach Media Inc. and Ebony.

In 2009, Blanks collaborated with NeNe Leakes by photographing the cast of Real Housewives of Atlanta for his Alter Ego portrait series.{{cite news|url=http://www.mica.edu/Documents/Career%20Services/CareerTracks/Media%20Arts.pdf|title=Maryland Institute College of Art Careertrack|author=Office of Undergraduate Admissions|publisher=mica.edu|date=September 24, 2009|access-date=April 18, 2012|location=USA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530031435/http://www.mica.edu/Documents/Career%20Services/CareerTracks/Media%20Arts.pdf|archive-date=May 30, 2012|url-status=dead}} Blanks photographed several more celebrities for the series including Chaka Khan, Taraji P. Henson, Blair Underwood, Snoop Dogg, Janelle Monáe, Rockmond Dunbar, Hill Harper, Faith Evans, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Brandy, Boris Kodjoe, Terrell Owens, Angela Bassett, Cover Girl, Nicole Ari Parker, Mike Epps, Eva Marcille, Akon, Cedric The Entertainer, Columbus Short, and more.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2009/09/24/a-talk-with-derek-blank-atlanta-alter-ego-photographer-for-real-housewives-of-atlanta/|title=A Talk with Derek Blanks, Atlanta alter ego photographer for 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'|first=Rodney |last=Ho|publisher=AJC.com|date=September 24, 2009|access-date=April 18, 2012|location=USA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117053438/http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2009/09/24/a-talk-with-derek-blank-atlanta-alter-ego-photographer-for-real-housewives-of-atlanta/|archive-date=January 17, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://atlanticrecords.com/news/day26-presents-the-alter-ego-photoshoot-by-derek-blanks/|title=Day26 Presents: The "Alter Ego" Photoshoot by Derek Blanks|author=Atlantic Records|publisher=Atlantic Records|date=November 9, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2012|location=USA|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707151143/http://atlanticrecords.com/news/day26-presents-the-alter-ego-photoshoot-by-derek-blanks/|archive-date=July 7, 2012|url-status=dead}}

In October 2011, Blanks became a cover and features photographer for, Essence. His covers of Essence magazine include Wendy Williams: The Girl Friends Issue, Angela Bassett: Black Women in Hollywood 2011; features include 2011 Do Right Men featuring Amare Stoudemire, A Few Good Men: The Cast of Red Tails, Don Lemon: Transparent and Black Women in Hollywood 2011 featuring Viola Davis, Loretta Devine and Amber Riley of Glee. Blanks images have also graced the covers and pages of Billboard, Maxim, People, Ebony, Life & Style, PEOPLE en Espanol, Uptown, Jet, Modern Luxury, Runway, Upscale and other publications.

Blanks has photographed print and advertising campaigns for BET Networks including The Mo'Nique Show, The Game (Season 4 and 5), Let's Stay Together (Season 1 and 2), College Hill: Atlanta and Miami, Baldwin Hills, Reed Between The Lines, Toya: A Family Affair, Family Crews, Monica: Still Standing and Tiny and Toya. Additional print campaigns include WeTv's Braxton Family Values and Mary Mary.{{cite news|url=http://www.cocoandcreme.com/2011/04/from-ebony-to-jones-magazine-the-best-of-the-spring-issues/|title= From Ebony to Jones Magazine: The Best of The Spring 2011 Issues|first=Jessica C. |last=Andrews|publisher=Coco and Creme|date=April 11, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2012 | location=USA}}

In late 2011, Blanks began transitioning into the world of video, with his directorial music video debut featuring America's Next Top Model contestant Dominique Reighard{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s68/americas-next-top-model/interviews/a351591/americas-next-top-model-dominique-reighard-on-music-future-qa.html

|title='America's Next Top Model' Dominique Reighard on music, future: Q&A|first=Lara |last=Martin|publisher=Digital Spy|date=November 18, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2012 | location=USA}} and "Charades" by Chrisette Michele from Audrey Hepburn: An Audio Visual Presentation and "Party or Go Home" by Trina Braxton. In 2014, Blanks took on the role of music video directing for Faith Evans' single, "I Deserve It", featuring Missy Elliott and Sharaya J.{{cite web|last=Pearson|first=Joi|title=Faith Evans' 'I Deserve' BTS Atlanta video shoot|url=http://rollingout.com/photos/entertainment-photos-photos/faith-evans-deserve-bts-atlanta-video-shoot/#_|publisher=rollingout.com|date=August 8, 2014|access-date=August 31, 2014}}

;Albums and directing

• Faith Evans featuring Missy Elliott & Sharaya J – "I Deserve It" (directing role)
• BeBe and CeCe Winans – "Still"
• Brandy Norwood – Baby Mama feat. Chance The Rapper; alongside Frank Gatson Jr.
• CeCe Winans – For Always: The Best of CeCe Winans
• CeCe Winans – Songs of Emotional Healing
• Ciara – Fantasy Ride
• Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon
• Dondria – Dondria vs. Phatfffat
• Donell Jones – "Lyrics"
• Faith Evans – Something About Faith
• Fantasia – Back to Me
• Juanita Bynum – The Diary of Juanita Bynum
• Kelly Price – Kelly
• Kelly Rowland – Here I Am
• Keyshia Cole – Woman to Woman
• Lalah Hathaway – Where It All Begins
• LaShun Pace – Reborn
• Ledisi – Pieces of Me
• Mary Mary – "Go Get It"
• Monica – New Life
• PJ Morton – "Walk Alone"
• Richard Smallwood – With Vision... Promises
• Ruben Studdard – Letters from Birmingham
• Sheri Jones-Moffett – "Renewed"
• SWV – I Missed Us
• T-Pain – Revolver
• Tamela Mann – The Master Plan
• Tedd Winn – Balance

;Magazine and reality television shoots

• Alter Ego Portrait Series{{cite news|url=http://www.dblanks.com/alterego/|title=Portfolio: Alter Ego|author=DBlanks|publisher=Dblanks.com|year=2009|access-date=April 18, 2012 | location=USA}}
• Real Housewives of Atlanta Alter Ego Portraits{{cite news|url=http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/alter-egos-revealed#image-45785|title=Alter Egos Revealed|author=Bravo|publisher=Bravotv.com|year=2009|access-date=April 18, 2012|location=USA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907140137/http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/alter-egos-revealed#image-45785|archive-date=September 7, 2011|url-status=dead}}
• The Insider Extreme Makeovers{{cite news|url=http://www.theinsider.com/thelook/44653_Kevin_Brooke_Channel_Kanye_Lady_Gaga/index.html |title=Kevin & Brooke channel Lady Gaga and Kanye |author=Insider |publisher=Insider.com |date=September 29, 2011 |access-date=April 18, 2012 |location=USA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012013722/http://www.theinsider.com/thelook/44653_Kevin_Brooke_Channel_Kanye_Lady_Gaga/index.html |archive-date=October 12, 2011 }}
• Essence Magazine Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon{{cite news|url=http://www.essence.com/2011/05/09/black-women-in-hollywood-2011-photo-booth/|title=ESSENCE 'Black Women in Hollywood' Photo Booth|author=|publisher=Essence.com|year=2009|access-date=April 18, 2012 | location=USA}}
• Melanie Fiona Alter Ego shoot{{cite news|url=http://www.essence.com/2011/03/10/melanie-fiona-derek-blanks-alter-ego-sistory-every-woman-womens-history-month-campaign/|title=Exclusive: Melanie Fiona on 'Every Woman' Campaign|first=Yolanda |last=Sangweni|publisher=Essence.com|year=2009|access-date=April 18, 2012 | location=USA}}
• Michelle Williams Alter Ego shoot
• Amber Riley in Essence magazine{{cite news|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/02/03/amber-riley-essence-chaka-khan/|title='Glee' diva Amber Riley channels Chaka Khan in this month's 'Essence'|first=Hillary |last=Busis|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 3, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2012 | location=USA}}
• Little Women: Atlanta Alter Ego Portraits{{Cite web |title=Little Women: Atlanta: Season 6, Episode 9 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/little_women_atlanta/s06/e09 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}

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• Video: [https://www.voanews.com/a/derek-blanks-master-of-the-camera/4568950.html Derek Blanks: Master of the Camera] from 2018, by VOA News

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Category:American photographers

Category:American illustrators

Category:Maryland Institute College of Art alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Artists from Atlanta

Category:1977 births