About the project

The Last Class is a project revolving around young men, part of the high school class of 2028 from around the country, documenting them from freshman through senior year of high school. Through the project, Nate hopes to showcase portraits, fashion, lifestyle, and behind the scenes in addition to the sports and/or activities that the subjects perform. Nate has worked with many young men and women across many classes in different capacities over the past two decades, and the class of 2028 will be his most ambitious endeavor to date, and will also close out this chapter of his photo documentary.Hence, "The Last Class."

Recruiting

Nate hopes to utilize his contacts through Evanston, IL, Appleton, WI, Washington Island, WI, and Surfing to possibly recruit additional subjects in any of the following areas and/or fields:

Nate is currently recruiting from
• Between Chicago, IL and Green Bay, WI
•Between New York City and Montauk, NY
•Ocean City, NJ / Wall, NJ / Manasquan, NJ Areas
•Ocean City, MD
•Hawaiian Islands
•Outer Banks and Wilmington, NC
•Santa Cruz, CA and Southern California
• Near or in Flagler Beach and Delray Beach, FL
•Other areas will definitely be considered.

Nate is looking to recruit individuals that participate in:
Surfing, Water Polo, Swim + Diving, Sailing, Crew, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling, Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Ballet, Fishing, Skateboarding, BMX, Motocross, Snowboarding, and Pro Kart Series. Nate is open to other sports and activities as well, including but not limited to musicians, actors, and models.

Nate is looking to recuit the leaders of their teams. Those who are the heart of their teams. Those who are open to having a small part of their life documented. And those who might have some reservations about it, but aren't 100% against it.

Are you willing to be a part of The Last Class?

References

• Mads H ('23, Evanston Baseball)
• Hank L ('23, Evanston Baseball/Football)
• Henry H ('23, Evanston Baseball)
• Mac M ('23, Evanston Baseball/Football)
• Titus S ('24, Surfing)
• Wheeler H ('24, Surfing)

• Coach D'Amato (Evanston Baseball)
• Coach McGinnis (Kimberly AD, Baseball)
• Coach Hammen (Kimberly MS Football and Sports Parent)
• Kim W (Kimberly Sports Parent)
• Rachel L (Evanston Baseball Parent)
•John H (Evanston Baseball Parent)
• Sue M (OCNJ Surfing Parent)
• Kristin G (OCNJ Surfing Parent)
• Cheri H (SoCal Surfing Parent)
• Irene N (SoCal Surfing Parent)
• Gigi N (SoCal Surfing Parent)

Class of 2006 - Nate's Class - Friends, Family, and Acquaintance
Class of 2008 - The First Class - Skateboarding and Punk Music
Class of 2011 to 2014 - Siblings and Cousin's Classes
Class of 2016 - Gibraltar Players (Theater)
Class of 2020 - Kimberly, WI Athletics
Class of 2023 - Evanston Baseball
Class of 2024 - The 1st Surfers
Class of 2028 - The Last Class

The important stuff

First and foremost, its important that the "subject" is on board with the project. Nate knows its not going to be of interest to everyone he tries to recruit for this project

Secondly and obviously, parents need to be on board as well and present for shoots. Plain and simple

Did you receive this link?

If you received this link, you may have received it from a family or subject that Nate already works with. Nate is trying to recruit early in these early days of the class of 2028 starting high school to get this project going.Otherwise, Nate might have reached out to try to connect with a parent of a potential subject.

The Journey - Scope of Project

Freshman year - Portrait and Lifestyle shoot, including sports/activity portraits. Possible action shots of a game.Bonus: Fashion shoot showcasing the subject's fashion and style through multiple outfitsSophomore/Junior year - Continuing coverage of sports/activity photography (schedule depending) - Portraits if interest from subjectSenior Year - Portrait and Lifestyle shoot, including sports/activity portraits. Possible action shots of a game (more than one when crossover is possible with another team)Bonus throughout the years - Lifestyle with friends and/or family, added activities, additional portraits. Additional ideas from the subject. Nate has ideas, but would love to hear your ideas as well.

Background

Almost 20 years ago, in the year 2005, Nate started his professional career in photography by going to work for a company in Evanston, IL. His first assignment was to cover New Trier HS Sports, Band Concerts, and Plays and Musicals. For a photographer that started his photographic journey with skateboarders and punk rock banks, this wasn't exactly in his wheelhouse.Nate quickly started applying what he was learning through his job to covering his younger sibling's sporting events, musical talents, and lifestyles. When his youngest brother started 6th grade football in Kimberly, WI in 2013, with basketball and wrestling to follow, a whole new opportunity presented itself to cover not only his brother's sporting events, but the teammates and friends he made, paving the way to documenting their younger siblings and friends through the years.In 2015, Nate was introduced to the Evanston Baseball community through attending one of his cousins's baseball games. Through many seasons of baseball, Nate formed relationships with the families, coaches, and players and eventually began working with other sports in the community including hockey, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, and football. Returning to the North Shore of Chicago began to feel "full circle" as Nate grew up in Wilmette, IL.In 2018, in an attempt to return to his early beginnings, Nate looked to get back into skateboarding photography, but accidentally got into documenting surfing instead. Surfing has opened the world to Nate in many new ways.