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MAGAZINE
WANYEH HILL ASPIRING PHOTOGRAPHER, EXPLORE HIS UNIQUE AND VIBRANT STYLE
Cover photo shot by Wanyeh Hill Styled by Zshavoni Shulterbrandt
NEW & AMBITIOUS MEET
CREATIVES
JOSEF TY HICKS, WANYEH HILL, ISAAC NANA AMPADU, SELAH MARIE, ZXENIA MILLER, AND BRYCE COBBS
JAN 2018
volume
4
ILLESTHETIC magazine JANUARY 2018
Art Director, Editor in Chief, Staff Writer CALAH JONES Staff Writer ALI PHAM Staff Writer SHAE HARRIS
Staff Writer KENAE FRAZIER
Staff Writer KENYA WILLIAMS
Photographer TYSON SPENCE
Photographer PATRICK FLETCHER
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
Letter From The Editor
5-8
Bryce Cobbs, Illustrator
9-12
Josef Ty Hicks, Photographer
13-16 Zxenia Miller, Culinary Arts
17-20 Wanyeh Hill, Photographer
2 1-24 I s a a c N a n a A m pa d u , Pa i n t e r
25-28 Selah Marie, Photographer
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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his is the fourth issue of ILLESTHETIC Magazine (pronounced ill-aesthetic), an ArtByLuna
Collection publication, founded by Page Editor and Art Director Calah Jones. The first issue of this magazine was published in February of 2017 with the intentions to give young writers and journalists an opportunity to write for their own magazine and to feature local visual artists. With our success, we have been able to feature several visual artists in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas. Visual artists include, but are not limited to, sculptors, graphic designers, painters, photographers, illustrators, culinary artists, fashion designers, tattoo artists, and more.
The vision for ILLESTHETIC Magazine is to give these
artists the voice and audience they may not have. Visual arts are often overlooked. Knowing this, ILLESTHETIC Magazine's goal is to help change this perspective and give visual artists the audience they may not have had in the past. This magazine is quarterly, meaning there are four issues each year. Each magazine can be purchased as a hard copy by emailing us through our website at www.illestheticmag.com.
— Calah Jones
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CHRISTION RONEY
BRYCE COBBS
photos by Bryce Cobbs
13 5
B
ryce Cobbs, born in Roanoke, Virginia,
uses markers in his work. When asked about working or
is an illustrator currently residing in
collaborating with other artists, Cobbs briefly brought up
Richmond where he attends Virginia Commonwealth
his relationship with artists such as Malik Radford and
University. Cobbs mainly draws portraits using
last volume’s artist, Steph Reid, also both illustrators. “I
charcoal, graphite, and marker. Coming from an
haven’t had many chances to work with too many artists,
artistic family, he has been creating for as long as he
…(but) they’re some talented artists I’d love to work
can remember. Because he was surrounded by so
with maybe sometime in the future,” he said. Recently,
much creativity, it was easy for Cobbs to find his own
Cobbs had an art showcase with a few of his friends
personal form of creative expression. He says the
and creators of “Push Explore The City”. He also has
hardest thing for him when trying to start new pieces is
another show coming up with some of his friends from
finding inspiration. He mostly gets his motivation from
Uncharted Domain called “Beneath the Surface” on
his mentor, Nicholas Fletcher, along with other family
January 25th, 2018. The show is being held on Broad
members such as his parents, sister and brother. “(My
Street in Richmond, Virginia.
mentor) constantly inspires me to push myself with every
new piece,” he said.
as of lately, he has been trying to incorporate comics
in his drawings. His favorite drawing to date is his
The young illustrator’s favorite artist is Nuri
Durr (IG @actionhanbeard), another illustrator who also
Cobbs especially enjoys drawing portraits and,
Kendrick Lamar piece with the red and blue colored
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background. “I don’t really know why it’s my favorite,”
music and that has sparked my interest in it, as well.”
he laughed, “I think it’s mainly because he’s my favorite
Every day he tries to create and find a way to express
rapper and it was fun to work on.” Cobbs also has
his creativity. He encourages other artists to try different
similar celebrity portraits like his drawings of Big Sean
things. “Don’t be a one trick pony,” he said, “…It limits
and Gucci Mane. His dream is to take his art to the
your versatility and prevents opportunities for the future.”
next level and create something professionally for a
Cobbs hopes his art can be an inspiration to others and
celebrity. “I want to do an album cover or commission
also hopes to inspire people to always stay in tune with
for Kendrick Lamar,” he said. As a career, Cobbs wants
their creative sides. More specifically, he aspires to
to do commission work for all types of big named stars
reach out to kids of color and push them to push through
and celebrities. He also wants to create a graphic novel
all adversities they may face and find their own source
and have it published someday.
of creative expression, like he did.
Along with art, Cobbs also has a passion for
music. “A lot of my family and friends are heavily into
— Calah Jones
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photos by Bryce Cobbs
JOSEF TY HICKS
J
osef Ty Hicks is a 21-year-old
and reinvest in yourself,” he expressed. Hicks explained
photographer, originally from Maryland
that photographers do a lot of free work at first to build
who has only been working his craft for two years.
their portfolios and then there are people who want
Already, he has managed to get published and shoot
favors because they know that the artist is still new. “I
for several artists during their shows. He says he
had to get others jobs to fund my photography. Certain
owes this to his “by any means” attitude. He started
things get me more money than others; birthday shoots
his photography career in 2015 after meeting Aaron,
and regular shoots money goes fast. That’s why I like
a local photographer, the summer before coming to
doing events like weddings. I can easily start at $150
Old Dominion University. After following him on social
or $250,” he said. Hicks also spoke on doing shoots
media and seeing him shoot a show for Mac Miller in
for friends and how it can be rather unbeneficial for
December, he knew that was what he wanted to do. “I
him. “The only people who complain about prices are
was just thinking like he goes to my school (which is
my friends because they want free shoots. I cant 100%
crazy), and he’s really on stage. Taking photos for a
say that though because a lot of my real friends will
dope ass artist, I can really do it, too!”
throw me $20 automatically or $40,” he explained “They
respect what I want to do.”
After his interest was sparked, he came back to
ODU after winter break with a plan to make his mark in
photography. “When I got back, I saw my friend walking
can clearly see the progress that he’s made in the past
around with a camera,” Hicks said “and I asked him
two years. When asked if there were any artists that he
where he got it from. He said the library. So I went to the
began with of which he can equally see their progress
library every week and took pictures everyday until I got
he mentioned his friend Aaliyah Craddok. “I’ve definitely
where I needed to be.” It took Hicks three months to get
watched her grow a lot. Other than that,” he said “many
his own camera and, even when he did, it was a camera
of the people I started with are progressing at, I guess,
that he and his brother went half on. Once again,
a slower rate.” Hicks accredits this difference to being
portraying the “by any means” mentality allowed him to
hungry, and wanting to build a career out of the craft.
prosper so well in such a short period of time. He then
“A lot of people do it for the ‘clout’. I only like working
bought his own camera two months later and another
with people who want to do this for the rest of their lives.
one within a three month span.
That’s why I really enjoy working with brands and, like,
two models that I constantly work with,” he said. “Aside
He explained that the reason he bought
Hicks is someone who knows his worth and
his cameras the way that he did was because as a
from that I feel like a lot of people do it for likes.” When
photographer, “it can be hard investing in yourself
asked about who his favorite models to shoot with were,
because initially the pay isn't amazing.” “A lot of
he said, “Aaliyah is number one, but she’s been slacking
photographers don’t make what they should be making
lately. So she’s on my bad list,” he said, “but I love
(me). When you have bills and stuff and it's your only job
shooting with my friends Kennedy, Tone, AJ, Selena,
it’s hard to take the money you make from photography
and Kayla. I hope I didn’t miss anyone.”
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10
photo by Josef Ty Hicks
Because Hicks is a college based photographer,
The most interesting topic is the effect that
there are a lot of broke aspiring models trying to make it,
photography has had on Hicks’s relationships. He said
just like he is. He said that plays a huge factor in how often
he doesn’t normally date models, but if they have enough
models try to finesse free shoots. Students are very familiar
substance he might. “Ninety percent of any relationship
with Hicks at ODU, because of that, many aspiring models
I’ve tried to start as a photographer hasn't worked because
will walk up and ask him about doing a shoot just to make
of something dealing with photography. A Lot of people
conversation. “Freshman year, when I started, girls would
aren't used to their man being around beautiful women all
pull up on me asking was I a photographer, but now that’s
the time,” he explained. Hicks talked about how he would
really died down. Now it’s just the issue of people saying
need a woman that’s very secure. This is a business for
they know me because other people know me. I’m ugly,"
me. I don’t cross that line. I always think first, do I want to
he joked, “but the photography thing has definitely brought
approach her as a photographer or Ty, or Tyler (fun fact). I
notoriety.”
don't like females without substance,” Hicks said.
— Kenya Williams
photos by Josef Ty Hicks
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"I TOOK PICTURES EVERYDAY UNTIL I GOT TO WHERE I WANTED TO BE." — JOSEF TY HICKS
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Q&A the
featuring ZXENIA MILLER
photos by Zxenia Miller
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here are you from/grow up if it’s different
Baking & Pastry Arts, I’ve earned the title & right to
places?
be addressed as a pastry chef (Chef Zxenia). One
I was born in Norfolk, Virginia. I kind of grew up both
thing I would want people to know is that you can’t
in Norfolk & Newport News because I didn’t move
go around calling yourself a chef loosely. Chefs know
across the water until 2005.
who Auguste Escoffier is. Chefs are CLASSICALLY
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trained. A cook isn’t. We’ve earned that title. It must be earned.
hat culinary school did you go to? For my technical degree in Culinary Arts I
went to New Horizons Regional Education Center from 11th-12th grade for a two-year program. While attending there I discovered my passion for baking
H
ow did you pick the school you went to? I applied to Sullivan University, Johnson &
Wales & finally, Culinary Institute of America. I got
all from one cake. After graduating from there/high
accepted into all three. The decision ultimately came
school I pursed my passion with baking & attended
down to Johnson & Wales vs. CIA because they’re
Johnson & Wales University.
like the Harvard & Brown University of the culinary
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world. You know that butterfly feeling you get when hat kind of culinary artists are you?
you meet that special guy? That’s how I felt about
Pastry? Sous chef?
them & hearing their success stories of Johnson
Since I didn’t go further than a technical degree with
& Wales. Also, Emeril Lagasse went to Johnson &
culinary arts I just classify myself as a culinary cook.
Wales.
Since I graduated with an Associate in Science in
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D
hat were your feelings when you first got accepted into school?
I can’t even begin to describe the kind of happiness I felt
job?
Yes. Of course, I know that I could’ve skipped school
within. I was so proud of myself to be chasing a dream.
W
o you think going to school helped you get a
& probably taught myself by baking online recipes or attending classes at a craft store. I wanted to be trained.
hat were some personal challenges you faced
I wanted to know the history & origin so that when I did
while in school?
graduate I could figure out my own style. Also, jobs at a
My first biggest challenged that I overcame was the dark
pastry chef level at least want an associate’s degree plus
gloomy cloud of considering dropping out. I guarantee
experience.
you every college student has gone through that thought
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process. I would mentally ask myself “Should I have chosen something that’s easier to land a job in? Should I have stayed home? How am I gonna pay for this
o you believe there is a lack of presence of people of color in the culinary world?
Yes & no. Yes, to their being of a lack of presence in more
afterwards?” The decision of transferring to the Providence
upscale environments. Especially in executive positions.
campus for sophomore year came about through this guy
Then I say no because I see a good amount in local areas
that I was seeing & love kind of begged me to transfer
such as bakeries & mom & pop places. I would love to
with him, so I did because I was thinking “Well I’m going
see more African Americans on Food Network & upscale
to have him by my side while I’m up there & it’s the same
environments because it gives people of my community
school, just a different location”. After about the first
more hope & inspiration so that we don’t feel so limited.
month of being up north for the first time EVER I started to become homesick of course because there’s no place like home. Then depression kicked in because my love life was a living Hell. I’d be crying myself to sleep till my eyes were so poofy that I couldn’t possibly cry anymore because he was out being a fuck boy. I was having a hard time connecting with my classmates & having to adjust to the teaching styles of the chefs up there.
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hat were some memorial lessons you learned while in school? Personal and Educational.
Personal wise, I learned to never give more of myself to someone that’s giving me less of them. That actions are louder than words. It hurts more to stay than leave & that sometimes love isn’t enough. Educational wise, I learned that mistakes are growth. Mistakes are Eureka’s. You may not be good at breads but you can be amazing in cakes. I think the biggest lesson I learned over the ones I stated & the ones I didn’t is that no matter what chase your dreams. You have one life why not chase your happiness.
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H
H
ow much do you spend on your kitchen supply?
I just spent $230 on a kitchen aid mixer (she’s gorgeous)
ow old do you want to be when you’ve achieved everything you want to achieve or do
you have a time period when you want to achieve it?
that was originally a little over $400. That was my biggest
I’d say my early to mid 40s. If I can do it earlier that’d
purchase towards my catering business. I’m a member at
be great but I want to bake & make pastries until I can’t
Michael’s so I get a lot of coupons. Most of the stuff I’ve
anymore.
collected as gifts over the years but starting my business off I spent about $40 on standard ingredients such a flour & sugar as well as some supplies.
I
A
re you happy with your position in life? Personal and professional?
Yes, I’m happy but, there’s always room for growth &
f given the opportunity, would you go on a
improvement. I know that soon as you graduate from
cooking show, whether competition or for your
culinary school it’s like starting all over again because
own recipe?
now you must get out there & gain job experience to
I would probably for myself to do so for the exposure
back up that school experience. Eventually I want to
& networking opportunities but, I don’t have the TV
move out of Virginia & take my talent elsewhere where
personality. Obviously, I’d have to be a people person
food is the talk of the town. I really want to get over to
working in this field but being broadcasted in front of
California because there’s so much money to be made
thousands? Eh, not my kind of tea.
for doing what I love.
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I
f you could further your studies, where would it be?
I would go abroad to Europe where most of American cuisine has gotten its inspiration from.
I
s there a specific type of food you wanted to specialize in? Japanese? French?
H
ow old were you when you graduated and when did you graduate?
(I was) twenty years old. June 6th, 2015 (Culinary Arts) &
May 18th, 2017 (Baking & Pastry Arts).
D
o you want to own your restaurant one day? Not exactly. I want to do something different like
If I were to go back to my culinary roots it would have to
owning a pastry food truck.
be Mexican or Mexican Avant- Garde (basically modern
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Mexican).
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hat is the most difficult dish to cook? I don’t really get into my culinary side anymore
ho are your favorite culinary artists? Emeril Lagasse would have to be my first choice
because he went to a tech school before Johnson & Wales and what most people don’t know is that he never
unless it’s at home but, if I had to choose it’d be roux’s
got to graduate from there although he did receive an
(bases) for mother sauces. For baking I’d have to say
honorary degree. My second choice would be Bobby
baking breads is highly difficult.
Flay. God, I love that guy! If I instead chose to further
D
my culinary career I would try to be exactly like him. My id you work aside from going to school?
third choice would be Ina Garten from Barefoot Contessa.
I couldn’t work with the way my schedule was set
What’s funny is that none of these artists mentioned are
up my freshmen year. My sophomore year I did have a
pastry chefs.
chance to work because I had to complete an internship to get my degree.
— Kenae Frazier
16
photos by Zxenia Miller
WANYEH HILL
photos by Wanyeh Hill
17
W travel purposes.
anyeh Hill, born and raised in Queens,
can easily go elsewhere.” Hill enjoys the relationships
New York first got into photography for
he builds for his creative concepts. “I’m able to come up
Hill picked up his first camera when he
with and execute, it all excites me,” Hill explained. During
went on a family trip and thought he’d bring along a DSLR
his shoots, he tries to make his models as comfortable
for the memories. “It wasn’t until I started hanging out
as possible by only having the people that are necessary
with a friend whom I refer to as ‘Lord Vega’ that I really
for the shoot present. “I learned that models (male and
started focusing and getting serious with photography,”
female) work best when they don’t feel watched all the
Hill said. For the past three years, Hill has been working
time,” he said.
on his photography. “When I first got into photography,”
Hill said, “I thought as long as I kept on taking high quality
photography. Emotion is what he strives for in his
pictures of random people that I would be content, but
photography. “I feel like you get the most emotion out of
that was not the case.” He learned later how to direct his
doing portraits,” Hill said. His favorite piece of work so far
photo shoots and create his own concepts.
is a shoot he created with his friend Jasmine Love. He
described the shoot as “super clean, crisp, simple, and
“I do what I do because of the reactions people
Most of Hill’s work consists of portrait
give me when seeing the photos I take of them,” Hill said.
retro.” Even with the model’s expressionless pose, Hill
“It genuinely makes them happy and it’s neat when people
said you could still see the emotion in her eyes.
are booking me for my take on photography when they
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With his goal being to stay unique
and portray individuality to his audience, Hill pushes other creatives to “be bold and focus on individuality,” as well.
“I see a lot
of creatives not pushing a concept because of what others may think or because it isn’t the norm and that really gets under my skin,” he explained. Hill wants his work to push him to be a better artist. “Every photograph I put out, I want to be slightly better than my last,” he said. Hill’s inspiration comes from music, nature, books, and things around him. Rather than him being inspired by people, he gets his inspiration from the things in his surroundings and from people who have similar concepts.
Hill enjoys working with fashion
stylists. He hopes to eventually work with a stylist with similar ideas as him. “(I want to work with) someone who isn’t afraid to go against the grain; someone who isn’t afraid to be bold and actually put out whatever crazy idea they have in their head no matter what people may think,” Hill said. In the future, the young photographer aspires to travel wherever he needs in order to create with clients. He desires to take portraits globally and learn from various different cultures.
Hill's advice to other aspiring artists
is to stay true to yourself and never change the way you work to fit someone else’s style. He encourages artists to take full advantage of individuality. “There are way too many creatives out there trying to mimic other people. It’s okay to learn from your idols, but it’s the individuality that really sets us apart,” he advised.
— Calah Jones
15
"NEVER CHANGE THE WAY YOU WORK TO FIT SOMEONE ELSE'S STYLE." — WANYEH HILL
20
photo by Wanyeh Hill
photo by Isaac Nana Ampadu
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ISAAC NANA AMPADU
I
saac Nana Ampadu is a visual artist
on the right, black power ranger in the middle, and
and his dedication for his art work are
green ranger on the left. The red and green power
models and the African American beauty. At the
ranger have legs that blast off like a rocket and the
age of twenty five, he is now better with paintings
black ranger has regular Yeezy shoes on. It shows
after starting his career in 2015. Nana was born and
that the red ranger and green ranger are not black
raised in Accra, Ghana and now currently lives in
and they have all the boosters in life and the only
Woodbridge, Virginia. Nana embraces the African
way to bring progress is to use their privileges to
American culture to show the world the beauty of
help the black ranger.
his people. Nana has done paintings of Lebron
James, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G, Floyd
woman wearing a head wrap, or what his people
Mayweather, and is planning to do more paintings of
call; a “Duku,” Nana said. “The women wear (them)
famous black people in the future.
to secure their natural hair when there is no time to
prepare their hair for the day. It has been looked at
One painting Nana did was a Power
Nana’s painting of an African American
Rangers painting that symbolized support for the
as a cultural thing for ages,” Nana explained. The
African American people. He has a red power ranger
woman is a model in a dark purple background.
22
photo by Patrick Fletcher
The painting is dark, usually like his other
paintings, and it has a little black at the top to blend in with the purple. The woman in the painting has a stare that will make anyone looking at it feel as if they did something wrong.
Nana’s favorite painting was a woman whose
eyes were covered by a yellow butterfly. "When you close your eyes, all you see is black," Nana stated. The painting is more colorful than his others, it has the woman’s face in green, light green, yellow, and blue. The woman's hair is in blue and has white and grey at the top. Nana said the painting was all about “growth and beauty of the African women.” The butterfly represents growth and how pretty the black woman is. The background is considered “crazy” by Nana with the white triangles or pyramids with scribbles in it and the swirly patterns with scribbles in it. The background has a mixture of red, pink, and purple to lighten up the painting with bright colors. Despite Nana’s love for this painting, he gave it out for free because he had it for so long. He wanted someone else to feel the great feeling of the painting.
Nana will continue to make his artwork known
to the world with his pride in the African community. He stated that he originally painted animals and now he is more focused on people. He uses mostly acrylics in his paintings and he just started working with oil painting. His first painting was a panda with a red and white background and he sold it for $20. He is planning to make his own art business after his graduation from Old Dominion University where he is currently enrolled and is about to graduate this fall semester. He is currently a Business Information Technology major and he is planning to stay in Virginia with his future art business. No one knows what Nana will do next with his art, but he has tons of more creativity to give.
— Ali Pham
"I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE MY ARTWORK KNOWN TO THE WORLD..." — ISAAC NANA AMPADU
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photo by Patrick Fletcher
Q&A
CHRISTION RONEY the
featuring SELAH MARIE
photos by Selah Marie
25 13
C
an you tell us your name and what you do?
pictures and being in front of the camera, so I thought
My name is Selah Marie and I am a bank teller and
modeling would be best for me. I guess God had other plans.
photographer.
I made my first purchase of my Canon and that was it for me.
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T
here are you from and how long have you been creating?
I am from Richmond, Virginia and I have been creating for about three years now.
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ell us, what about your work do you enjoy the most?
I fell in love with the passion of photography and capturing my models features. I have always been a creative person, so I like for my photos to speak for themselves.
hat was it that got you into art/photography? I actually wanted to be a model. What sparked my
interest first in photography was that I always loved taking
D 26
o you sell any of your art? I will soon in 2018.
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hat is your favorite piece of work?
versus him just playing videos games on my phone.
My favorite piece of work is a piece I did in
Once I showed him how to do it, he fell in love with photography, as well.
2015 of my good friend Taylor. She had an afro and red, white, and yellow flowers in her hands. I’m still
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in shock because I was just starting out in 2015 and now that image is all over social media.
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make art?
I would probably dance because I love dancing.
here did you get your name, Visual Narrator?
I created the name “Visual Narrator” because all of my photos each tell a story.
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hat do you think you’d do if you didn’t
P
rofessionally, what’s your goal or where do you see yourself in the future?
I see myself being a Financial Advisor because I currently work at a bank. I want to help teach people
escribe your work-life? How is it being a
how to save and mange their money. Financial
mom and a photographer with a full-time
literacy is very important to me and I feel like people
job?
should know more about it. Currently, I will be getting
Being a single-parent mom, my son would be with
back into school.
me during my photo shoots. One day, on my shoot, I decided to give him the camera and take pictures
— Calah Jones
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photos by Selah Marie
ILLESTHETIC Visual Arts Magazine was published by ArtByLuna Collections.
www.illestheticmag.com