• Self-portrait. About to be thirty-four years old. Grew and birthed three amazing humans in four years. Opened a formal portrait studio this year. Life’s good.
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    Self-portrait. About to be thirty-four years old. Grew and birthed three amazing humans in four years. Opened a formal portrait studio this year. Life’s good.
  • The portrait studio space is OPEN for business! It’s cozy, clean, smells like Cedarwood (the official scent of the studio), has a private entrance and restroom and is AWESOME.
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    The portrait studio space is OPEN for business! It’s cozy, clean, smells like Cedarwood (the official scent of the studio), has a private entrance and restroom and is AWESOME.
  • Ooooooh man!!!! Mamas and babies are the JAM! It took me 33 years and having three babies of my own, and now I love babies. Thank you Hayley for letting me shooting you and Lane! Photographed against @gravitybackdrops with @elinchrom_ltd using a @canonusa
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    Ooooooh man!!!! Mamas and babies are the JAM! It took me 33 years and having three babies of my own, and now I love babies. Thank you Hayley for letting me shooting you and Lane! Photographed against @gravitybackdrops with @elinchrom_ltd using a @canonusa
  • Payton’s colour scheme is the perfect blend of beige, sienna, chestnut, ochre, and pumpkin. She is so lovely! Photographed in studio using @elinchrom_ltd against @franklinbackdrops
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    Payton’s colour scheme is the perfect blend of beige, sienna, chestnut, ochre, and pumpkin. She is so lovely! Photographed in studio using @elinchrom_ltd against @franklinbackdrops
  • Lawrence: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage? I’m Black American, a blood bought born again believer. •What is the earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? I was taught from an early age not to look at someone’s outer appearance. But that being said, everyone is different in some kind of way, because God made only one me, and no one else is like me. •What is the earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? First of all, racism is hate and a sin. So, I see hate as a strong dislike of someone different then you. In middle school when they started to bus kids from other neighborhoods to our school which had different races. At that time, I was called the N word by my own race from the different neighborhood kids. Racism (Hatred)can come from any group of people, it’s not just one-sided. •What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? I would not even dream of being another race. I love the way God has wonderfully made me. If I was white, it would still be me, etc.... Race doesn’t make the person, but your choices in life do. God don’t make no mistakes! •How can white people be better allies to the black community? There again, there is no special communities in the real world (In Christ)!! It should be,  how can we as a people no matter what your race, be better allies with others that is different from you? It will never happen in this world as we know it because of sin. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes everything !!!!!So, if you have hatred in your heart for your fellow man, the gospel is the answer. Christ is the ONLY ONE that can teach us how to love one another. You can’t work this up by trying to get to know a community. Men need a change in the heart, THEN they can get to know other communities & become allies. Jesus said, Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart! Humility!!!!! be it black and white and every other color. No one owes anyone anything, but to love one another! #blacklivesmatter
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    Lawrence: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage? I’m Black American, a blood bought born again believer. •What is the earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? I was taught from an early age not to look at someone’s outer appearance. But that being said, everyone is different in some kind of way, because God made only one me, and no one else is like me. •What is the earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? First of all, racism is hate and a sin. So, I see hate as a strong dislike of someone different then you. In middle school when they started to bus kids from other neighborhoods to our school which had different races. At that time, I was called the N word by my own race from the different neighborhood kids. Racism (Hatred)can come from any group of people, it’s not just one-sided. •What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? I would not even dream of being another race. I love the way God has wonderfully made me. If I was white, it would still be me, etc.... Race doesn’t make the person, but your choices in life do. God don’t make no mistakes! •How can white people be better allies to the black community? There again, there is no special communities in the real world (In Christ)!! It should be,  how can we as a people no matter what your race, be better allies with others that is different from you? It will never happen in this world as we know it because of sin. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes everything !!!!!So, if you have hatred in your heart for your fellow man, the gospel is the answer. Christ is the ONLY ONE that can teach us how to love one another. You can’t work this up by trying to get to know a community. Men need a change in the heart, THEN they can get to know other communities & become allies. Jesus said, Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart! Humility!!!!! be it black and white and every other color. No one owes anyone anything, but to love one another! #blacklivesmatter
  • Bobby: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage? My parents immigrated from Haiti in the 70’s. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, USA. I follow Jesus and I’m always figuring out more of what that means. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? There was a kid in my 2nd grade class that all the kids didn’t like for whatever reason. I remember my teacher telling us we were all different shades of the same color. I believed her. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism High School. Friends giving accounts of being called the “N” word and getting into fights over it. Felt like a justifiable reason. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? It’s hard to think of not being me. I’ve never thought about being a different “race” but I have wondered what it would be like to be a part of a different culture. I feel like my cultural experience has given me a mental advantage I wouldn’t have had otherwise. “L’union Fait La Force” • How can white people be better allies to the black community? Ask God what this means for you personally: First, learn the history and facts, which may help understand a lot of what people are so upset about. Then, find a way to give up your privilege for another, just like Jesus did. “who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead, he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” P.S. We should all consider what this means in light of our own opinions, preferences, and privilege. P.P.S Support black businesses!
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    Bobby: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage? My parents immigrated from Haiti in the 70’s. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, USA. I follow Jesus and I’m always figuring out more of what that means. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? There was a kid in my 2nd grade class that all the kids didn’t like for whatever reason. I remember my teacher telling us we were all different shades of the same color. I believed her. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism High School. Friends giving accounts of being called the “N” word and getting into fights over it. Felt like a justifiable reason. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? It’s hard to think of not being me. I’ve never thought about being a different “race” but I have wondered what it would be like to be a part of a different culture. I feel like my cultural experience has given me a mental advantage I wouldn’t have had otherwise. “L’union Fait La Force” • How can white people be better allies to the black community? Ask God what this means for you personally: First, learn the history and facts, which may help understand a lot of what people are so upset about. Then, find a way to give up your privilege for another, just like Jesus did. “who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead, he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” P.S. We should all consider what this means in light of our own opinions, preferences, and privilege. P.P.S Support black businesses!
  • Shaina: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage?  Black & Christian. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? I was in 2nd grade and EPB came to do a demonstration on electricity. The presenter refused to touch my hair & then explained to the class why static electricity doesn’t affect Black people. It hit me that my class mates didn’t look like me. I was so embarrassed, ashamed and just humiliated. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? I remember the quiet racism but my first experience of blatant racism was at my first job. I was 15 and I worked at Kmart. There was an older white man that always insisted on coming to my line only. He would tell me how he wished times were like they used to be so he could have me and that I was the prettiest little nigger he has ever seen. I was TERRIFIED & management did nothing. I was told I should take it as a compliment. I never even told my parents. I felt like no one would care, I didn’t feel worthy of protection and I felt guilty for not feeling more grateful for the “compliment.” • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? I’m a black woman so I am a double minority. I am met with opposition because of the color of my skin and the fact that I’m a woman so the list is so endless on how things would be different for me. One thing that would have been different if I had been born another race is that I would have automatically mattered. I wouldn’t have had to constantly prove I was worthy of life itself. • How can white people be better allies to the black community? I have had over 100 conversations with white people over the last three weeks and I would say to LISTEN. Listen to POC when they tell you their experiences and believe them.
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    Shaina: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage?  Black & Christian. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? I was in 2nd grade and EPB came to do a demonstration on electricity. The presenter refused to touch my hair & then explained to the class why static electricity doesn’t affect Black people. It hit me that my class mates didn’t look like me. I was so embarrassed, ashamed and just humiliated. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? I remember the quiet racism but my first experience of blatant racism was at my first job. I was 15 and I worked at Kmart. There was an older white man that always insisted on coming to my line only. He would tell me how he wished times were like they used to be so he could have me and that I was the prettiest little nigger he has ever seen. I was TERRIFIED & management did nothing. I was told I should take it as a compliment. I never even told my parents. I felt like no one would care, I didn’t feel worthy of protection and I felt guilty for not feeling more grateful for the “compliment.” • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? I’m a black woman so I am a double minority. I am met with opposition because of the color of my skin and the fact that I’m a woman so the list is so endless on how things would be different for me. One thing that would have been different if I had been born another race is that I would have automatically mattered. I wouldn’t have had to constantly prove I was worthy of life itself. • How can white people be better allies to the black community? I have had over 100 conversations with white people over the last three weeks and I would say to LISTEN. Listen to POC when they tell you their experiences and believe them.
  • Frank: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage?  Black Christian • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? 1st day of Kindergarten. There was only two black boys in the class. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism?  At the age of 9 yrs. old. I was told by my 2 nd grade teacher that I was too aggressive. As I played tag with the rest of the boys on the playground. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race?  I would have been in an interracial relationship. • What is one way you think you could connect with white people who have differing views about race?  By not talking about our differences but talking about our similarities. #blacklivesmatter #antiracism
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    Frank: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage?  Black Christian • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? 1st day of Kindergarten. There was only two black boys in the class. • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism?  At the age of 9 yrs. old. I was told by my 2 nd grade teacher that I was too aggressive. As I played tag with the rest of the boys on the playground. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race?  I would have been in an interracial relationship. • What is one way you think you could connect with white people who have differing views about race?  By not talking about our differences but talking about our similarities. #blacklivesmatter #antiracism
  • Chase: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage? Black and Christian • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? The first time I went out in public • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? Learning about the civil rights movement. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race?  It wouldn’t be as hard to prove myself to people. • What is one way you think you could connect with white people who have differing views about race?  Church because it’s not about politics it’s about getting closer to God. #blacklivesmatter #antiracism
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    Chase: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage? Black and Christian • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? The first time I went out in public • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? Learning about the civil rights movement. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race?  It wouldn’t be as hard to prove myself to people. • What is one way you think you could connect with white people who have differing views about race?  Church because it’s not about politics it’s about getting closer to God. #blacklivesmatter #antiracism
  • Cole: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage?  Black, Christian • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? Two years old • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? My Principal acts different with black people. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? If I was born white I would not be judged a lot. • What is one way you think you could connect with white people who have differing views about race?  I have a classmate that I only play with during recess because he likes Trump. #blacklivesmatter #antiracism
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    Cole: • What’s your ethnic and religious heritage?  Black, Christian • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you? Two years old • What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware of racism? My Principal acts different with black people. • What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race? If I was born white I would not be judged a lot. • What is one way you think you could connect with white people who have differing views about race?  I have a classmate that I only play with during recess because he likes Trump. #blacklivesmatter #antiracism