model featured Jade Turner
Who is Juwan James?
Who am I ?! I’m just your friendly neighborhood spider-man, but I’m just a regular guy from Baton Rouge Louisiana! Who likes to relax most of the time haha
What is something most people don't know about you?
Hmmm that I’m the only child!
How did your journey as a visual artist begin?
I was always a visual person growing up, I think throughout my different journeys in life being a creative person took its form in different ways.
When did you discover it as your passion?
My passion for art and doing creative things has always been there, it’s just photography found its way to me.
When you're not creating, what brings you the most enjoyment?
Sleep , I love to sleep! it helps me cool down me from overthinking about concepts and different ideas. Hanging with my friends also and going to different food places, I found a new enjoyment in going to the beach when I can because we don’t have any in Louisiana unfortunately.
What do most people consider unattractive that you actually find beautiful?
Hmmmm the imperfect honestly.
How would describe your work?
How would I describe my work … I have no clue lol because I’m still growing and trying to figure out what would be the best way to describe it.. I can’t answer it yet but most people have their own ideas and opinions on what they think it is and most of the time I agree!
model featured Kirtus Thibodeaux
What has been your most meaningful body of work?
All of them , I don’t shoot as much as I would like to because it’s always reason when I want to do something.. I just don’t shoot just to shoot, it has to feel right.
Take us behind the scenes of a creative project, what does your creative process look like?
This is funny , my creative process is a mess. I’m often unsure about a lot and trying to do everything myself… ideal I create a mood board to try and grasp something solid but most of the time I can’t find things to display what I have in my head.
Your work features some amazing and eye-catching hair moments, can you tell us more about the importance of hairstyling within your work?
It’s always about the vibes, and what I want the picture to say. I like simplicity when it comes to hair, makeup etc.. but it all depends on the concept.
Who are your biggest creative inspirations? And how do you think you inspire others?
I don’t think I have a biggest creative inspo, I’m just inspired by what’s around me and my imagination honestly and I would like to think I inspire others, that’s part of the goal ya know.. hoping what you do inspires everybody. Also I’m producing images of black people, we are inspirations within ourselves.
A lot of your shoots are done outside the studio, how do you use the landscape to help tell the stories within your visuals? How does that differ from the approach you take when working in-studio?
I love outside images , landscape , nature etc because the sun is your best light to me. With studio I usually don’t get the same feel I do with my outside shoots but that’s something I have to work on.
Collaborations Collabs are essential in the creative world, who would you want to work with?
As far as brands go I would love to work with Nike & create my own shoe one day ! As far as working with people anybody who I feel can aid to my creativity and we can create something amazing!
What's your favorite part about collaborating?
The bounce off from my ideas to the next person and really collaborating. Not just me doing all of the excessive work it’s supposed to be an equal effort!
model featured Jade Turner
Out of all your shoots, what has been your favorite hair collab?
This is hard lol, but! I would have to say a shoot I did awhile back with like a weirdly shaped Afro.
How do you decide the hairstylists' for your shoots? What hairstylist have you been wishing to collaborate with?
It just comes with the concept honestly and @babybangz! That’s coming real soon!
Can you tell us more about your shoot with Anthony Mackie? How did that come about and what was it like working such an incredible talent?
Sure , when they contacted me about the shoot I thought it was a scam or someone just playing in face haha , but they did a follow up email and was super persistent so I took a leap of faith and boom I’m shooting Anthony Mackie! One of my fav experiences ever.
Take us back to your first shoot, when was it and how do did you feel? How has it shaped the creator you are today?
My very first shoot I honestly was just shooting , I didn’t know anything about angles , light , I literally was just pressing buttons. It came out amazing , those pictures Definitely set the tone for how my work is today.
What's one thing you failed at many times but kept trying until you finally succeeded?
Not executing a shoot like I wanted to.. I have big ideas but the thought and planning is not always where it needs to be.. so I regroup or I adjust if the shoot is not going how I see fit I adjust to the circumstances and it usually comes out great.
What has been your biggest sacrifice?
I think my biggest sacrifice was trying to unlearn habits that hindered my creativity , and recently I just trusted someone who was new that I worked with because I’m so hands on with everything sometimes I just have to let the art flow !
model featured Paola Beltre
Whom do you seek most for advice?
I don’t really ask for advice which is probably a terrible thing.
What's something new you've recently learned about yourself?
I learned I can’t do everything on my own and it’s okay to ask for help.
What makes you feel unstoppable?
God without a doubt
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