The Black Shutter Podcast

Tune in to Episode 39, where we speak with Brooklyn-based fashion, street, portrait, and commercial photographer, Russell Frederick. We discuss the importance of pursuing your craft despite opposition, paying your dues, and finding your purpose behind the camera. 

Tune in to Episode 38 where we speak with Brooklyn-based documentary, commercial and portrait photographer, Aundre Larrow. We discuss what it means to be authentic as a person and how that translates into the work that we make as photographers.

Tune in to Episode 37 where we speak with Brooklyn-based fashion, portrait, and wedding photographer Joshua Dwain. We discuss having diversity in your portfolio vs. focusing on a niche audience and the importance of work-life balance.

Tune in to Episode 36, a 2-part episode, where we speak with Chicago native photojournalist and editor, Brent Lewis. We discuss the differences between being a photographer and an editor as well as his experience working in an all-Black newsroom at ESPN’s The Undefeated. Lastly, we discuss his role at Diversify Photo and why self-accountability is so important.

Tune in to Episode 35 to hear the legendary Adger Cowans discuss his upbringing in Columbus, Ohio, assisting Gordon Parks at Life Magazine and how a trip to Brazil impacted his creativity. In the 1950’s, photography was considered a hobby that only White people pursued. It was not a job and it was not something Black folks really considered. Cameras and film were expensive. Education was expensive...

Tune in to Episode 34 where we speak with Seattle-based portrait, documentary, and commercial photographers, Ike and Tash Haynes about balancing work, life, and family. Not every couple is built to work together, live together, and run a photography business together. Instead of choosing between being parents or entrepreneurs, Ike and Tash Haynes decided to become a family-centered business and br...

Tune in to Episode 33 where we speak with Atlanta-based videographer, portrait, and documentary photographer, Melissa Alexander. She discusses what it means to be seen, practicing vulnerability in her photography and betting on herself when no one else would.

Tune in to Episode 32 where we speak with Jersey City photographer, Gerard H. Gaskin, about the power of long-term photo projects as a form of therapy. His photography allows him to connect with himself and explore his identity based on his feelings and surroundings.

Tune in to Episode 31 where we speak with North Carolina-based artist, teacher and curator, Endia Beal. She discusses the power of collaboration as a way to collectively heal. She uses photography and video to reveal the often overlooked and unappreciated experiences unique to people of color. Her work has been featured in New York Times, NBC, BET, Huffington Post, National Geographic.

Tune in to Episode 30 where we speak with Nigerian born filmmaker, Emmanuel Afolabi explores the notions of identity, giving his subjects and clients individuality and dignity through visual storytelling. He is a Multidisciplinary filmmaker specializing in content creation, with a degree in film production. He’s worked with clients such as Adidas, Foot Locker, Fox, and the LA Galaxy.

Tune in to Episode 29 where we speak with Los Angeles-based portrait photographer, documentarian, and photojournalist, Tara Pixley. She holds a Ph. D. in communication and her personal projects explore Black joy, gender, sexuality, and the different representations of femininity. She is the co-founder of the Authority Collective whose aim is to bring up and support the next generation of women and...

Tune in to Episode 28 where we speak with Polly Irungu, a Kenyan born multimedia journalist, photographer, and founder of Black Women Photographers, a global community and online database of Black women and non-binary photographers.

International photography comes with a set of rules that apply from one culture to the next. You have to respect the culture you are visiting in order to successfully photograph the story. You need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and that takes a certain type of personality. Nicky Woo is from Brooklyn, is half Black and half Hawaiian, and has spent the last few years telling stories in...

New York-based filmmaker, Thomas Allen Harris sees the Black Family Photo album as a battleground for representation. It is where Black families have the freedom to present themselves as genuinely as possible. He is the creator of the documentary Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People which was released in 2014. He is a filmmaker and artist whose work across film,...

Kris Graves blurs the lines between portrait and landscape photography. He creates artwork that deals with his perspective of what's wrong with American society and aims to use art as a means to inform people about social issues. Kris has a long list of clients, including Vanity Fair and National Geographic. He also has two publishing companies to help photographers print books of their work.&nbsp...

Khalik Allah discovered drama on the corner of 125th st and Lexington Ave and turned it into a Street Opera. He practices camera ministry and it’s evident in how visceral and beautiful his films and photos are. His work forces us to see the beauty and humanity of people who have been discarded by society. This Harlem corner served as the foundation for his feature length film, Field Niggas as well...

Thank you to the Black Shutter Community for tuning in and supporting us as we share stories of some amazing Black and Brown photographers.

Tune in to Episode 22 to hear Washington DC based documentary photographer Dee Dwyer discuss the importance of connecting with the communities she photographs. She talks about gaining access and gratitude and why it’s important to say ‘Thank You’ to the community when the project is done.

Tune in to Episode 21 where we chat with London based fashion and portrait photographer, Aisha Seriki. Aisha remembers growing up visiting museums and not seeing herself represented on the walls and how that fed her insecurities about who she was as a black person and as a black woman. That prompted her to pick up the camera and document black women in an empowering and respectful light with honor...

Jean Andre Antoine is a Brooklyn based street photographer who’s made a living taking portraits of people on the streets of New York City. He has the challenge of getting a New Yorkers attention and gaining their trust. It takes a certain type of personality to wake up, pack your gear and hit the streets of NY to sell street portraits. Jean Andre Antoine has been doing this for 10 years and his de...

When it comes to photographing athletes and entertainers, people who treasure their private time, that trust has to be magnified. Our guest today is a sports photographer from Baltimore, Maryland. He lives his life based on the principle of personhood. Personhood centers around the concept of consciousness and the capacity to feel pain. His personhood has granted him access to document his high sc...

Tune in to episode 18 of the Black Shutter Podcast. We speak with Atlanta based, Unit and Stills Photographer, Eli Joshua Ade about his career path to working on one of the top shows of 2020, HBO’s Lovecraft Country.

Tune in to Episode 17 to hear how New York-based portrait photographer, painter, and illustrator, Nichole Washington, finds balance and meaning by combining her different skill sets and interests.

Tune in to Episode 16 to hear New Orleans based documentary photographer, L. Kasimu Harris, discuss the importance of documenting a community that is slowly being erased and how that influences both his photography and his writing.

Tune in to Episode 15 of the Black Shutter podcast. I speak with Maryland and Los Angeles based fashion, portrait, and commercial photographer, Jabari Jacobs. We chop it up about betting on ourselves, taking risks, and how to level up our presentation when it comes to the business side of things.