Neo Soul &
The Diaspora
Neo Soul and the diaspora is a personal project that I conceptualised and directed in 2022. It focused on celebrating Neo Soul as a subgenre of music and the influence it has had on fashion within the black diaspora in the modern day. Not only was this a celebration of culture but it was also a great opportunity to collaborate with different creatives.
Photoshoot Inspiration
It was important to me that the project was realised by creators from across the diaspora who had a genuine interest in the music to keep it rooted in authenticity.
In order to communicate the concept visually, I created a moodboard using images that I collected from Pinterest which I then sent to each member of the team.
Nature
Relaxation
African
Roots & culture
Baduizm
Empowerment
Freedom
Unapologetically Black
Ideation points
Shoot Day
Once the team was on board, we then moved on to the process of casting the models, most of whom reached out via a casting call that I put out on social media. We were able to narrow down a selection from there and get the relevant inspiration over to the MUA & stylist.
I chose Sunset Studios as the location for the shoot. This was due to its large windows which let in a lot of sunlight and its rugged yet natural aesthetic which I felt would help in achieving the “Neo Soul look”. I also curated a playlist of music from the genre which was played throughout the shoot to allow the models to channel the right energy.
Once the shoot was completed and the shots were edited, I submitted them to MOB Journal magazine where they were published and featured as the cover story for Volume 27 Issue 18 (tearsheets found below).
Tearsheets
