Since I was young, it has always been my natural inclination to rebel and go “against the grain”. For years my parents, teachers, coaches, administrators worked hard making attempts to curb that inclination with discipline to no avail. As I look back, it was likely due to my feeling of discomfort with the standard we are all taught to go along with. A few positives came as a result of this personal realization: I realized that it helped to eliminate any inkling of having a fear of missing out and I also realized that it allowed me to find comfort in taking risks that challenged the status quo.
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Check out more from Shon on her IG at @thevanilladream & cop an issue for yourself at NUVU Magazine.
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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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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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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.
Read MoreQuality is always the better option in comparison to quantity, but the pairing of the two is a win for all parties involved. As creatives, we aim to use our abilities as often as possible, in opportunities that allow us to create at optimal levels but as we all know, working in situations that undervalue our crafts can be stressful. So ultimately the goal is to work less and make more, you know, "work smarter and not harder", the idiom we are all familiar with.
Read MoreIf 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.
Read MoreFirst 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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Thank you Reah (@beeazyreezy on IG) for always trusting my visions and allowing me to capture you as vulnerable as you've ever been on camera. This shoot was great for me to explore but also to truly understand what it is that this camera can allow me to provide to both, culture & art.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreFor all intensive purposes, I ended the past year chasing larger format shoots based on themes that peaked my interest. I set out to tap into topics that lied deep below the surface, while simultaneously, creating images that even satisfied the viewer on first look. The result was a series that I deemed, Idle/Angels.
Read MoreWe are officially 2 weeks into 2018 and already the year has started off with a bang. I started off the year with some golden opportunities and great news and still yet, I am still angry and driven to reach for me. As I've mentioned before, that feeling of wanting to as good as you envision is a natural one and is important to pushing yourself beyond your limits but it is also important to take a breath in the moment and enjoy it.
Read MoreBig shout out to Trill for plugging me in that show, she’s the booking firm & humanitarian of the future. Trust & believe.
Read MoreIn all my travels, the one truth that remains constant is that there is no one like a DMV native. The sights, the sounds, the feelings we experience all shape the way we move, the way we speak & the way we think. It's an ingrained work of art that you can pick out of a room packed full of people. The DMV way has created so many great beings - it's the reason that the city is now turned on it's head. DC Rising.
Read MoreShoutout to the team that helped accomplish this shoot. We waited a long while to deliver this to our audience and it is officially time.
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