Reality Wanted is a series of portraits of individuals who hope to be cast on a reality television show. I became interested in fame and people who seek fame when I worked for a number of years as an art director at Star Magazine. During that time, I found myself particularly drawn towards those who were looking to become famous through the medium of reality television. Though some of the people I photographed for this series have particular skills and talents that warrant our attention, such as singing, cooking, or design, the main commodity being offered by my subjects is simply themselves. Many of the people I photographed just want to have a television show made about their lives.

The subjects are all shot in their own clothes and have styled themselves. By letting them style and pose themselves with minimal direction, I am allowing them to be seen in the way in which they want to present themselves to the world. However, I also want to show the vulnerability that goes along with putting themselves in the public eye. The photo sessions took place in New York City, Las Vegas and Southern Florida.

In addition to taking their picture, I asked my subjects to answer some questions about their interest in being on reality TV. Some of their answers are excerpted in this gallery.

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Prints from Reality Wanted were exhibited in Moment Of Recognition, a portrait exhibit curated by Amy Arbus at The International Center Of Photography.

Reality Wanted has been written about and discussed in numerous publications and blogs including the following.
Antenna Magazine – – Refinery 29 – – Dirty Magazine
The World’s Best Ever – – Lenscratch – – Flavorwire
Art News Worldwide – – The Sundance Channel.

What reality television show or shows would you like to be cast on? I would love to be cast for any reality show that pertains to shopping, dating and love, nutrition, health cooking organic food also totally interests me. I have been told that I am a serial dater and a shopaholic so take your pick…LOL

Why do you think you would be good on that show or shows? I live my life with extreme passion especially after having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. It was the most life changing experience for me and I live life like I am dying even though I am the healthiest I have ever been in my life.

Would you like to have a reality television show made about your life? If so, what would we see in that show? I would love to have a show made about my life. I think it would be very deep but hilarious at the same time. I truly believe the public would happily tune in to my tv show for a good laugh and a great learning experience. The show would be about how I believe I brought on my own cancer by abusing myself as a teen into adulthood..It was a major wakeup call for me. As far as the shopaholism goes, it started because emotionally I was not being fulfilled. The same has applied for the multiple marriages that I have had which has lead me down the road of serial dating..fun at times but also as if to fill a void within myself.

How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? Wow..I think that my life would definately change for the better because I would be consciously working on all the painful issues that I deal with. I also think that it would be very rewarding because I would be helping other people who can identify with these issues at the same time. I also would find it extremely rewarding and exciting to do something like this. Since you only go around this lifetime once why not really put yourself out there and just see what magic can happen and what dreams might come true….;)

—Debbie

What reality television show or shows would you like to be cast on? I wanna be on a show like jersey shore, real world, roommate situation type, also a love show

Why do you think you would be good on that show or shows? I think i would be good because number 1 I have major sex appeal lol, women love me, I got swag, im very unpredictable and unique, so you never know what to expect from me and i just have what people wanna see

Would you like to have a reality television show made about your life? If so, what would we see in that show? Yes i’m actually working on that right now. I’m a loner, so people would see how i do everything from going to the movies,
bowling, theme parks, bars, lounges and overall just travelling by myself. I don’t have many friends, but my best friend who just about has the same personality as mine would be on the show and we would be so entertaining cause we are both major idiots lol. I would be drinking everyday, playing cards, going to different lounges, talking to girls, pulling pranks and basically just acting a fool

How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? My life would change drastically because I was born to entertain and there’s just nothing else id’e rather do than to make people feel different types of emotions, weather good or bad, but my main thing is i just love making people laugh and i love the camera and the camera loves me. Also, the money because I am extremely broke at the moment lol

—Jay “Reality” Raymond

What reality television show or shows would you like to be cast on? Tori & Dean or The Biggest Loser

Why do you think you would be good on that show or shows?I would be the balanced friend for Tori. The Biggest Loser needs a nice person.

Would you like to have a reality television show made about your life? If so, what would we see in that show? My show would have a spiritual tip, helping people to find their spiritual path and to serve their purpose.

How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? I would be able to do more of what I love, helping people!

—Edwige

What reality television show or shows would you like to be cast on? WWE Tough enough, WWE NXT, Any modeling shows, & shows similar to jersey shore.

Why do you think you would be good on that show or shows? For the WWE shows it been a passion of mine since I was a kid to be a wrestler. As for modeling. I love fashion & style, & with shows like jersey shore I just like to party & meet new people

Would you like to have a reality television show made about your life? If so, what would we see in that show? I would love to have my own reality show. In my show you would see me helping my family & others any way I can.. Helping people get second chances, get back on there feet, or reunited with there fam.. Overall just giving a helping hand.

How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? Once I’m casted on a show I’ll start 2 branch off to make movies & T.V. Shows…

—Leon

What reality television show or shows would you like to be cast on? I would like to cast on Americas Next Top Model, Bad Girls Club or a show that allows me to help people out especially children who have been through molestation & finds it difficult to trust in people.

Why do you think you would be good on that show or shows? I think I would be good on these shows because I have confidence within myself & I have experienced living life as a troubled teenager sneaking around getting into trouble all because I thought acting out on the things that had happened to me as a child growing up was the right thing to do, but now that I’m older I’m much more wiser. I can deal with constructive criticism & use it to the best of my ability to better myself & be happy with who I am.

Would you like to have a reality television show made about your life? If so, what would we see in that show? Yes, I would like to have a reality television show made about my life. I do believe that this show will reveal all of the struggle & strife of my life. It would also share my most inner thoughts & secrets of my mental, physical & emotional abuse that I come up from & how I try to use everything that I have experienced to help others get through their issues. They will see that I am a happy woman now.

How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? I think my life would change in the form of others seeing me as a role model to some who are dealing with Domestic Violence or a family member using drugs. It would also change in the eyes of my son who will look up to me even more to know that I was strong enough to share with the world all that I have been through & no matter what a person goes through in life they can get through it & still live life to the fullest.

—Natasha

What reality television show or shows would you like to be cast on? If I were young enough: American Idol. I fully intend to try out for The X Factor as soon as tryouts are held.

Why do you think you would be good on that show or shows? I’m a very popular singer, and would love the opportunity to demonstrate that on a national stage.

Would you like to have a reality television show made about your life? If so, what would we see in that show? I absolutely would!! They can see the life of a Wall Street computer programmer who never sleeps, because, at night, he’s also trying to start a music career.

How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? It would hopefully be the start of big things for me!!

—Joe

What reality television show or shows would you like to be cast on? Jersey Shore! haha! Actually I want to pitch my own Reality show trying to win the heart of DjPaulyD. There is the trash bucket named Susana Montez, who was on the show “For the love of RayJ 2”, and she claims and tweets that she is dating DjPaulyD. I want to go head to head with her and compete for his love.. we can throw some other girls in the mix to make it more interesting, but the show would focus on the 2 of us battling it out.. She’d do it, she’s a fame whore.. lol. ( PS> I have met PaulyD). Whadya think?

Why do you think you would be good on that show or shows? I am witty and shock people with the things that come out of my mouth. Everyone tells me I belong on TV. I was actually on a show call “Change of heart” with WB11 in 2003. The producers told me the camera loves me, but I never continued my reality career because back then, who knew it would be so successful…?

Would you like to have a reality television show made about your life? If so, what would we see in that show? My life is a book in itself.. My love life is non existent, I spend week ends and summers in the clubs partying and fist pumping, wayyy before Jersey Shore..I’m a Hooter girl/ Dental assistant and my family is trash..

How do you think your life would change if you were cast on a show? I have been cast on the dating show and nothing changed then, and I’m not sure it wont change now. Just my bank account if the show is successful…

—Heather

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