As a photography educator, one thing I do every semester at the Bronx Community College, Art & Music Department, is bring photographer colleagues to speak to my students and inspire them before their final exam exhibition, which focuses on a photo sequence using emotions. As artists, one of the greatest thing, is to always seek new knowledge through peers, professionals, gallery exhibitions, and museums
It is lovely to do what you love and Love what you do. This is something I have achieved by being a photography educator for four years. It has taught me to always find ways to be inspired, not just as an educator but as an artist myself, which is why I get so immersively inspired by my peers and colleagues every semester they come to speak to my class.
The photographer talk is not just about their photography journey but mostly about their photographic experiences in this trajectory of being a photographer amongst the many in our community.
Fine Art Photographer/Educator, Adobe Community Expert
With over 27 years in the photography industry, Lavonne Hall is a New York City-based distinguished fine art photographer, educator, and consultant. As an instructor at the International Center of Photography and the Penumbra Foundation, Lavonne shares her extensive knowledge of digital photography, Lightroom, and Photoshop with enthusiastic photographers.
Lavonne is also a familiar face in the tech world. She has presented a variety of demos for Adobe and Wacom at many events, including Adobe MAX, and is currently an Adobe Community Expert. Her collaborations with major creative companies such as B&H, Fujifilm, Adorama, KelbyOne, and Pentax highlight her influence and versatility in the industry.
Known for her passion for connecting people through photography, Lavonne is dedicated to helping individuals explore their creative potential and find their unique path to success. Her hashtag #LavonneIsEverywhere, reflects her commitment to engaging with the broader photography community and beyond.
I love photography because it gives me a creative space to express myself and share with other like-minded individuals. It’s always fun to capture and preserve memories that we will look back on with great joy. I also enjoy photography because it challenges me to seek out colorful, graphical, and abstract subjects to photograph.
You can see their work here.
Photographer, Podcast, Social Media Manager, and Content Creator
Giovanny Lopez is a Graphic Designer, Photographer, and Content Creator based in New York. More than 5 years experience in portraits, studio, and events photography, also experience as an actor and music video production. Member of Enemigos del Silencio Podcast on Youtube.
I love photography because we can capture special moments, also I enjoy the process of the photoshoot and editing.
You can see their work here
Photographer/Founder of The Black Gaze
Shaun Connell (born 1970) is a Black British photographer based in his hometown of Bradford, renowned for his powerful social documentary work. His photography captures profound moments of life and loss, including family funerals, with an unflinching focus on authenticity and emotional depth.
Influenced by Sir Don McCullin, the late Gordon Parks, and the monochrome visuals of his childhood 12" TV, Shaun has a deep passion for black-and-white photography. He uses this timeless medium to explore and illuminate the lived experiences of Black British communities, creating evocative images that resonate deeply.
Through his work, Shaun provides an intimate window into these communities, particularly within Christian faith settings, highlighting their resilience, humanity, and spirituality. His photography bridges cultural divides, challenging stereotypes and fostering understanding across boundaries.
In addition to his artistic endeavours, Shaun is the founder of The Black Gaze, an online platform dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the work of Black photographers around the world. A passionate advocate for diversity in visual storytelling, he is committed to addressing the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Black communities. Through The Black Gaze, Shaun creates a space where authentic voices can flourish, enriching the global narrative of photography.
With every frame and initiative, Shaun Connell continues to celebrate the beauty, complexity, and dignity of everyday lives, ensuring their stories are seen and remembered.
Life is a series of fleeting moments, some of which we yearn to relive, others we strive to overcome, and still others we hope to etch into memory, preserving them long after we are gone. Photography is a unique and profound tool, a way of holding time still and bearing witness to the beauty, the pain, and the truth of existence. For me, it is more than just capturing an image, it is an act of acknowledgment, a testament to the moments that demand to be seen, understood, and remembered.
A photograph, done well, reveals the soul of its subject. It is not merely about documenting what is visible; it is about expressing what is felt—about a person, a place, a time, or an idea. Photography has the power to celebrate or confront, to unite or challenge, to shed light on what is overlooked, and to amplify what deserves to be heard. It is a means of questioning, affirming, and engaging with the world around us.
This is why I love photography. It is my way of ensuring that our stories, in all their complexity and beauty, endure. It is my tool for truth and my medium for exploration and connection, a way of reminding the world, and myself, of what it means to truly see and be seen.
You can see their work here
Photographer, Filmmaker & Social Media Content Creator
Horacio Rojas is a photographer and aspiring Filmmaker born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Currently based in Queens, NY.
His photographic journey started documenting daily life in the streets of Caracas and later expanded to the streets of New York City, where he now also creates fashion/creative portraiture work. With an extensive background of photographing in the streets, he now mixes the environment with the style of models, fashion bloggers, and clients to create something unique.
His constant curiosity and willingness to learn have helped him to explore different mediums to express his ideas.
He's currently developing his skills as a Filmmaker getting to Direct, produce, and shoot Music Videos as well as Social Media Content for different brands.
Photography saved my life. It was the tool that helped me navigate many difficult moments, from moving away from my family to adjusting to a new culture in a new country. It has been the only thing I do effortlessly, It has become a part of me, like breathing. Having the ability to capture time for the prosperity, memories of moments, and people I've met along the way. It's a very valuable art form that helps humanity to not forget.
You can see their work here
CEO & Lead Photographer at JFP Studios
Jordi-Lakeem Foster is a branding expert with over a decade of experience with a passion for storytelling through visuals.
For over a decade he's worked with over 600 clients in the event, maternity, and entertainment space and then corporations like H&M, NYU, and the Brooklyn Borough President's office.
Realizing the need for small business marketing, he decided to tackle the troubling statistic of 50% of businesses failing in their 5th year.
As the founder of JFP Studios, Jordi specializes in helping entrepreneurs and businesses articulate their brand stories through powerful imagery.
His unique approach combines creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of brand identity to deliver impactful photography that captures moments and drives connection, and growth.
Jordi’s work is rooted in his love for showcasing the best of people and their brands, inspiring them to reach new heights.
You can see their work here
Headshot & Portrait Photographer
Charles is a New York City-based headshot and portrait photographer working with actors, musicians, authors, and corporate clients.
Photography came late to Charles (he started out life as an actor) and saved his creative soul. He is thrilled to be making a living doing something he loves.
Other work includes three personal projects: Agreeable Strangers, The Body Positive Project, and, the Rosie The Riveter Project.
He also takes great joy in teaching and being an ambassador for Wild Tomorrow, a wildlife conservation non-profit based in South Africa.
I love photography because it combines the need to master skills ("What the heck do all those buttons on my camera do?!") with one's intuition and humanity and being in the moment with one's subject, whether that subject is an actor, a rhino in South Africa, a bird in Central Park or an Agreeable Stranger in NYC. It makes me feel alive and connected. It is joyful and can be very purposeful and an inspiration to others.
The 1st Photographer Vlog
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