Today we’d like to introduce you to Briajah Chanel.
Hi Briajah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a photographer. I’m from San Diego, but have lived in LA since moving here in 2019 to attend college at UCLA – I actually just graduated from there in June. I first started shooting last year, in 2022, because I founded Recluse Archives, my zine that highlights Black and Brown creatives across various industries (art, music, skate, etc.). Then, I honestly fell in love with it, realizing how happy the whole process and feeling made me, despite the hardships.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m still on this road, and trying to find the balance of everything isn’t easy. But I’ve definitely had my moments where I did fail. I still have those moments daily, but I learn and grow from those moments, mistakes, and failures. I’m learning daily, but I’m very thankful for my failures.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a self-taught photographer and creative director. I create work that speaks to my heritage, the intersections of culture within society and the communities around me. I always want to capture the heart, and the emotions of my subjects, always wanting my photos to have a nostalgic, familiar feel to them. My work is a reflection of the connections I make with people and communities because I understand the intersections between the two. I find beauty in my roots and community, so that’s how I would describe my work, focus, and what I ‘specialize’ in. I only shoot with film; film makes me so happy. And honestly, I haven’t been shooting enough, and will definitely be shooting more. It gives me so much joy and I have so much I want to do, so many goals, dreams, people I want to work with, brands I want to shoot for, magazines I want to grace the cover of, and personal projects I want to begin and expand. Now that I’ve graduated and am no longer in school full-time, although still working full-time, I definitely will be investing more into my art, and reaching my full potential, navigating around life responsibilities, and balancing everything out in the best way I can, for me. I try to let my work speak for itself – and will continue to do so.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Hmmm. Honestly, I don’t really know; it’s hard. There’s photographers I admire and whose work I absolutely love – so, they are somewhat unknowingly mentoring me because seeing their work deeply inspires me. And although networking is important in today’s world, as I’m still learning myself, I always prioritize building genuine relationships with people, and not seeing everyone I meet as a “networking opportunity”, because a lot of people do that, and to me, that’s whack.
Contact Info:
- Website: briajahchanel.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/briajahchanel
Image Credits
Photos by me: Briajah Chanel
