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Transformation : Art & Other Drugs
Transformation : Art & Other Drugs

What happens when every goal you set as a marker is actualized? What happens, when you get the top of the first hill, but find yourself at the bottom of a new one? 

A year of learning, a year of becoming new, a year to evolve. Learning to accept the parts of me I didn't know existed, the parts of me I didn't want to accept, and the parts I didn't even know I could accept. 

The decision to the begin this life path was born from a need to survive. I didn't realize that I had forgotten myself. As I grew, my life demanded more of me, my mind, my energy, my focus… In focusing on these demands, I forgot who I Am. 

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Freestyle, MukaYogimodel, District of Columbia, Miami, New York, Photographer, Los AngelesComment
Beware of Creative Treadmills : Distinguishing Movement from Progress
Beware of Creative Treadmills : Distinguishing Movement from Progress

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work. Success, therefore, isn't an accident but a result of rigorous preparation. A lot of people in this process adapt the mindset of practicing 'tunnel vision', an act of ignoring anything outside of the task at hand & removing the ability to get distracted by outside interests. In the process of creating and pushing towards your dream, it is instead easy to get distracted by the perception of our feet always in motion and be blinded by the fact that we aren't actually getting closer to our goals. How do we then prevent this creative stagnancy while remaining focused on our intended goal? I'm finding that the answer is a lot more complex than I was taught growing up.

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FreestyleYogimodel, Photographer, Portrait, Los Angeles, NYC, Miami, AtlantaComment
Creative Valuations: Knowing Your Worth & Adding Value
Creative Valuations: Knowing Your Worth & Adding Value

This set with Nico (@nicoobaby) was inspired by a shoot I recently saw of Bella Hadid from 2016 for Calvin Klein. I have an appreciation for the contrast of skin and denim and how it appears soft on camera. The goal here was to take Nico's already beautiful aesthetic and create a sultry vibe in a setting that would help it to stand out. We found this Garden in DC that served as the perfect setting for this fit. We had to be quick with the shots during this shoot because we were in a public place that luckily happened to be shielded by tall bush walls, so we got off some great shots and then had a great conversation to follow.

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FreestyleYogiPhotographer, DC, Los Angeles, NYCComment
Don't Fly Too Close to the Sun : Be Careful Chasing Your Idols
Don't Fly Too Close to the Sun : Be Careful Chasing Your Idols

We all enter the creative world with hopes of carving out our own lane and crafting a unique style that stands apart from everyone else. We look at the Basquiat's & Lichtenstein's, whose legacies have glamorized the artist lifestyle, as examples of remaining individualistic throughout their rise to stardom. One of the biggest oversight's in this thought process is that most of the artists that are glamorized in pop culture didn't receive their recognition until their time of death. The trick is finding that individuality without losing yourself but also elevating simultaneously.

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FreestyleYogiPhotographer, DC, District of Columbia, Los Angeles, NYC, modelComment
Do Process: The Benefits of Being Transparent with Your Creative Process
Do Process: The Benefits of Being Transparent with Your Creative Process

I've been thinking for months now how to dive deeper within myself to reflect in my art and how to really go about it. With that, I have asked myself a range of questions, tried to step out of myself to really see other's perspective and really just allowed myself the space to remain honest about my process. At the beginning of it, I realized that I didn't really know where to start or what to ask myself in order to supply answers that would allow me to dive deeper, so I started first by asking other people.

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FreestyleYogiDC, NYC, District of Columbia, Philly, Photographer, transparent, Miami, WIP, Los Angeles, model Comments
Little Black Dress

As a young kid, I grew up with some sort of ball in my hand and my school year evenings being filled with sports. Whether it was basketball in elementary, football in middle and high or track the last leg of my High School years, sports consumed my social life. My mind was filled with plays, thoughts of scoring and dreams of playing under bright lights for the rest of my life. Clearly, the career path that was destined for me had nothing to do with sports in the long run but those principles that I learned during those years still lingering in the back of my mind as I move throughout life. 

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FreestyleYogimodel, cigarette, dc camgirls, District of Columbia, NYC, Los Angeles, Photographer, portraitsComment
Idle/Angle Series Pt. 2

The long-awaited Part deux to the Idle/Angle series has now arrived. I'm very proud of the series for a few reasons, one in particular being that the quality of the images and the expression through them is seamless but most importantly I can say that I am honestly proud that I was able to actually complete it. The problem I have often, as well as other artists that I speak to regularly, is keeping the same energy from inception to completion. It is so easy to get discouraged throughout the process and loose interest as a result but the mental fortitude needed to complete a vision is definitely an uphill battle.  

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FreestyleYogiangels, idle angels, Model, Photographer, Portrait, District of Columbia, NYC, Los Angeles, editorial, printComment
Balance Between Life and Work

I mentioned it last time but this shoot in particular is what truly showed me, Faith is great at what she does. So unafraid to move and extend herself, it really shows her dedication to her craft. The movements being so fluid and natural but still being able to hold composure and not loose her model-self in the images is a skill. Looking forward to our next shoot for sure.

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FreestyleYogitommy hilfiger, model, Portrait, Photographer, Los Angeles, District of Columbia, NYCComment
Beach Bummy

Living on the East Coast, it’s truly hard to develop a true love and appreciation for the Beach. Don’t get me wrong, the beach has always been a place of peace for me - waves crashing, the soft sand beneath your toes, the intensity of the sun refreshing your skin but the water on the East Coast doesn’t allow you to fully engulf yourself in the experience (outside of South Florida). But the West Coast is a different beast and I didn’t realize how different until I arrived in Malibu to shoot with Vanessa (@overstandi).

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FreestyleYogiNYC, swimsuit model, Model, Photographer, Portrait, Los Angeles, District of ColumbiaComment
Swim Good

If this isn’t a sign that summer is on the way, we might not ever get one on the East Coast. 8 days into Spring and it’s still feeling just as Cold and gloomy as it has most of the winter. In actuality, it’s getting warmer but after spending 8 days in LA with 80 degree weather, it seems my body has refused to adjust to these cooler temperatures. As glad as I am to be home I still haven’t been able to settle back in to life in DC but being that I have no choice, I’ve got to force it out of myself.

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FreestyleYoginyc, Model, Portrait, photographer, DC, Los Angeles, District of ColumbiaComment
Gone Fishing

First off, shoutout to Jaffy (@xjaffy on IG) for her dedication and growth within her craft. The conceptualization, the fit and execution in this shoot compared to our first shoot is monumental. I enjoy having the ability to grow my skill and understanding of my craft while simultaneously bringing my muses to higher heights as well. DC is truly on the rise and growth such as this one is a sign of the times we are currently living in and I'm excited for what's to come.

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FreestyleYogiDC, Los Angeles, California, agency, model, Portrait, PhotographerComment
The Texture of Dreams

I love shooting with Jaz (@jazmine_brinkley) because of her willingness to create something deeper than surface level, we always aim to provide substance to our audience(s). So this shoot, in its fine art styling, are a testament to something we have been building towards for the extent of our collaborations. Her skill as a creative director are unmatched and I look forward to sharing more ideas and concepts that we create in the near future.

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FreestyleYogiDC, DMV, Los Angeles, NYC, model, portrait, PhotographerComment