Today we’d like to introduce you to Yazid.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Yazid. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It wasn’t always my plan to be a photographer as a young kid growing up in Jamaica life had other plans for me. When I was 17, my brother called me one day and offered me the chance to come visit and live with him in California. I always wanted my life to be different and needed new settings so I decided to take his offer. There was definitely a culture shock when I first arrived in America. I had to learn how to live and communicate in a place so different from my home. It was a little difficult at first, but I adjusted pretty quickly. I bought my first camera a couple of months after being here in America, I truly bought it to take pictures of myself but I quickly developed a love for being behind the lens.
My real journey as a photographer began in 2014 when I was living LA and I met up with another Jamaican Photographer @jamaicanxboogie, and he guided me in the process of unlocking the true potential of my camera. I had gone on Instagram and messaged a few photographers and he was the only one who was willing to take the time to link with me and helped me understand certain technical aspects of shooting. I was grateful for his input and took his advice and spent hours on YouTube, learning shooting techniques and experimenting with my camera, basically learned by trial and error. A couple of months into living in LA, my brother and I ended up moving to the bay where I ended up at a really popular photographer meet up @flaskmob. It was the first time I was in a space with so many people who also shared the same passion of photography.
After that, I was inspired and began to shoot any and everything in sight. I had no boundaries! I would shoot cars, buildings, scenery, and people, it was nothing like what I do now. All of my shots were in the moment, and I definitely lacked conceptuality, but I was inspired so I kept shooting. I started to use Instagram as my primary way of recruiting models for my shoots, but something was off to me when I would look at the results of the search. I started to notice the trend in my area of most photographers only shooting white and Asian girls in bathing suits and catsuits. Where was the representation? I took that moment and thought about my environment and was like, these photos do not represent my reality, and that’s when I decided my main focus would be photographing and showcasing the beauty of black women. I was inspired again! I was focused on doing much more than the random simple shoots I was doing before. There was purpose behind my shooting now.
After about a year of working on my craft and perfecting my way of shooting, I was offered the opportunity to setup a DIY studio in my friend Walkers garage. This was the first time I had ever had the opportunity to work in a studio setting. Natural light was my thing so this was a challenge but also another opportunity to improve my work. I have to be truthful, shooting in the studio was really difficult at first. There was such a difference in with lighting when shooting inside vs shooting outside. Luckily I had visited LA a few months before getting the studio and met with Boogie who also just got a studio space for his production company and he showed me the tips and tricks he knew. This helped me transform the way I thought about shooting indoors. I started experimenting with different styles of shooting and use of color, and I loved it! Up until this point, I had been styling all of the shoots myself, but as I started to do more full-body editorial work, I quickly understood the importance of having a dope stylist and hair and makeup artist to solidify my visions. I was working hard but I never stopped looking for ways to improve my portfolio and expand my photography range.
So one day, I scrolling through Instagram and I noticed a friend of mine had just recently released a clothing brand collaboration with a Chinese clothing brand named GrafWu. I had been searching for a brand to work with and after seeing the collab and the quality and potential of their brand I knew I had to work with them. I reached out to Graf and they were equally as interested in working with me. Things took off with creator of Graf, she immediately began shipping me clothes to shoot for their social media. I was inspired again! Getting the yes from Graf made me more hungry for opportunity! I just kept grinding, and I worked for Graf for free for at least a year. The money wasn’t important to me, I truly did not care… it was fun and it was something I truly enjoyed doing so I did not seek compensation. I was truly working in my passion. After that year of working for Graf for free the owner contacted me and refused to keep allowing me to work without pay. They loved and valued my work and wanted to be sure they were properly compensating me for my skills. Having that conversation with Graf felt amazing!
This was the first time I had begun to see my art pay off in a major way. Not only was I known for my art here in California, but I was now creating work internationally and being paid for it!! Though it was the beginning of my career, I had already accomplished way more than I could have imagined two years prior. I did not realize how much having paid work would benefit the quality of my work. I was now able to upgrade my equipment and really improve my shooting quality. I was doing a lot of work for Graf, but I never abandoned my passion work. I was still shooting out of my friend’s garage. I dedicated two years of learning and growing my craft and watched my career grow and the quality of my work progress. I was thriving and this is what led to another major life change. I decided to relocate back to Los Angeles and work with Graf full time. The move back to LA was definitely a game-changer. I was suddenly surrounded by so many other creatives who also had grand visions and Ideas. I felt myself wanting to become better and not necessarily better than those around me, but better than my former self. I wanted to transform.
My old style of shooting was beautiful, but I wanted to do more. I became more involved with creating more high fashion and editorial work. My portraits were beautiful, but I felt like it needed a bit more. I began working with more edgy models and brands and this really allowed me to form my creative shooting style. I wanted to make what was once believed to be imaginary feel as if it could be real. Utilizing out of the box makeup trends became a huge component in my new style of shooting. I had completely evolved my shooting style once again and I loved the direction I was going in. It has been 2 1/2 years now and the move to LA and my determination to find and create with dope creatives is paying off. I have had the opportunity to work with creatives that I have had an eye on since I lived in the bay three years ago. Two Influential creatives I’d like to mention here in LA is the amazing creator @Uzumaki.gallery and the super creative makeup artist @Thescottedit.
Creating with them is always a guaranteed fire project, creating new and innovative looks to unease into the high fashion editorial community. I’ve also had much success with Graf and transcended from just being their photographer to now working as their creative director while also having major influence with their US marketing and operations. I’ve come such a long way but I have never stopped challenging myself. My goal now is to create a new lane for me outside of just Instagram. I have begun the process of creating prints of what I believe to be some of my best works to bless the spaces of those who appreciate art. I am working to build myself into a brand that doesn’t only encompass photography but allows me to extend my creative talents to other aspects of the creative and fashion industry. There are so many opportunities in this industry and I want to have my hand in as many as possible creating timeless work and concepts that will live long beyond me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey has definitely been interesting, I had to go through a lot of ups and downs in the beginning. I shot a lot of things that did not make me happy, and I took my fair share of L’s. I have come along way on my journey, but I have also had to make many sacrifices to get where I am. Working for a brand full time is hard work, and sometimes I find it really hard to stay motivated and inspired when it comes to producing my passion work. Often times, my mind is so occupied with fulfilling my role with Graf that it is hard for me to be inspired to create ideas for my passion projects. I would have to say that is my biggest challenge. Being inspired and motivated all the time is hard, I have creative blocks sometimes, even though I spend 60-80 percent of my time behind the lens, it’s mostly for work and not pleasure.
I often look at my position in the photography world, and I do believe that if I was able to put more of my creative and editorial fashion projects out into the world, I would be further with my brand and have more notoriety. I am doing very well and I have a cool following, but I have to admit I do feel as if I’m stunting my growth at times by putting in so much work with the brand instead of focusing more on my own creative shoots. Being a one person business is also very stressful, it takes a lot of patients and discipline with myself. I leave myself no room for error because my level of success truly relies on me and how I choose to spend my time. The booking, shooting, and editing is all done by me. It forces me to be very strict with my time management and that kind of leaves me no room for much of a personal life. My social circle is very small because I am always working.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about KingYazid Photography – what should we know?
I consider my self to be a brand and a business. King Yazid as a brand is an editorial/ fashion photographer with the purpose of enhancing and magnifying the raw beauty of all women of color, but primarily black women. My brand focuses on capturing and promoting non hyper-sexualized versions of beauty into the world. I believe that achieving that beautiful and sexy look is still possible without using sexually exploitative styles of shooting. I am to uplift, not degrade. King Yazid as a business is a creative director and curator for clients in search of fashion and streetwear e-commerce look books. Through my brand, I have been able to provide paid photography services for clients who could see themselves in my work as well. I specialize in creating imagery for those who think outside the box and appreciate my style of shooting.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Making my mother proud and receiving her admiration was the best support I have ever received, it keeps me going! There was a time when my mother’s approval was a fantasy, and the day she told me she was proud of me changed my life forever. My brother was my biggest supporter, he pulled me from Jamaica and supported me financially for three years after arriving in America. My friend @WalkityTalk (Walker) also played a huge part in the success of my journey. He gave me my first Mac Book and he also allowed me to use his garage as my first photography studio.
Also, the homie Nuglife, he has supported me since the start of my journey. Always keeping me on my toes, constantly reminding me to keep going and stop wasting time. Time is money! And always a very special thank you to every person who has ever supported me, created with me, given me positive feedback, booked a shoot, or blessed me in any way! I truly appreciate you all from the heart. It’s the combined support from everyone that fuels me everyday to continue my work and challenge the standards of creativity and beauty.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kingyazid.photo
- Phone: 5104228765
- Email: Yazidjohnson1@gmail.com
Image Credit:
@Fesa_n @Nymcfly @Uzumaki.gallery @Thescottedit @Amiraavee @Cindy_wright @Skooder_; @Kavon_thetrendsetta @Grafwu @Glotaylorr
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