▁book , ▁“ Up ▁in ▁the ▁Learning ▁Tree ” ▁published ▁by ▁Lee ▁& ▁Low ▁Books . ▁ ▁Career ▁Bl anks ▁entered ▁into ▁l ifest yle ▁and ▁fashion ▁Phot ography ▁by ▁developing ▁a ▁port folio ▁with ▁works ▁published ▁by ▁Ess ence , ▁B ET ▁Network s , ▁Sony ▁Music ▁Entertainment , ▁Re ach ▁Media ▁Inc . ▁and ▁Eb ony . ▁ ▁Alter - E go ▁phot ography ▁series ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁Bl anks ▁collabor ated ▁with ▁Ne Ne ▁Le akes ▁by ▁photograph ing ▁the ▁cast ▁of ▁Real ▁House w ives ▁of ▁Atlanta ▁for ▁his ▁Alter ▁E go ▁portrait ▁series . ▁Bl anks ▁photograph ed ▁several ▁more ▁cele brit ies ▁for ▁the ▁series ▁including ▁Ch aka ▁Khan , ▁Tar aj i ▁P . ▁H enson , ▁Bla ir ▁Under wood , ▁S no op ▁Dog g , ▁Jan elle ▁Mon á e , ▁Rock mond ▁Dun bar , ▁Hill ▁Har per , ▁Fa ith ▁Evans , ▁T ish a ▁Campbell - Martin , ▁Br andy , ▁Bor is ▁K od jo e , ▁Ter rell ▁O w ens , ▁Ang ela ▁Bass ett , ▁Cover ▁Girl , ▁N icole ▁Ari ▁Parker , ▁Mike ▁E pp s , ▁Eva ▁Marc ille , ▁A kon , ▁C ed ric ▁The ▁Entertain er , ▁Columb us ▁Short , ▁and ▁more . ▁ ▁Print ▁and ▁advert ising ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁Bl anks ▁became ▁a ▁cover ▁and ▁features ▁photograph er ▁for , ▁Ess ence . ▁D erek ▁Bl anks / E