Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonisha Franklin.
Hi Rhonisha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I picked up my first DSLR camera in 2007 as a way to have a creative outlet to my daily routine. I quickly fell in love with photography and decided to take it to the next level by participating in a beginner’s photography course. After a few years of working in the industry and being open to photographing any and every genre, I started to feel uninspired. In 2014, I took the much-needed time to focus in on discovering what really made my soul smile and that is when I found that portraiture was “my thing”. I went full steam ahead and converted my one-bedroom condo into my studio space, started working with makeup artists, studied and created portraiture exclusively. It was the best decision I have made during my photography career so far.
In 2018, while working on a personal project, I created an image of a woman that ended up being the inspiration for the project I’m most widely known for, Profile Noire: A Photographic Experience Featuring 100 Women of Color. Being on a museum exhibit for three years in Washington DC, the project has touched hundreds of lives. The mission of Profile Noire is to change the visual representation of women of color. Now that it has been made into a coffee table book, it has reached an international audience. I’m honored to continue to offer Profile Noire sessions to my clients as a way to honor themselves, mothers, sisters, aunts, or any woman in their life. Profile Noire is a reflective project where the participant must provide answers to three questions 1) What is one word that describes how you see yourself? 2) What is one word that describes how others see you? 3) What is your power word? Those words are then used as titles of the 3 images included in the session. It is truly a healing experience.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not been smooth, but I think that is where the beauty lies in the process. I have struggled with imposter syndrome, creative lows, financial restraints, and simply navigating the unknown. However, all along the way I have had a community to encourage and motivate me. Friends, family, clients, and supporters of my work have played a major role in making sure that when there is a low moment, it doesn’t last long.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a portrait photographer that specializes in creating portraits of people of color. I am most widely known for my project, Profile Noire: A Photographic Experience Featuring 100 Women of Color.
I am most proud of Profile Noire and the mission that I have embarked on to change the visual representation of women of color. I am also proud to be able to share what I’ve learned with other photographers and creatives through various workshops and speaking engagements.
My sessions are healing to those that trust me to create with them. My clients know that I will create a safe space for them, that I will produce images that allow them to see themselves in a whole new light.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is making sure my clients feel safe and seen. When I do that, I’m able to make images that portray the true essence of my subject. There is a skill to photographing people of color that goes beyond lighting…it is knowing that you are in a safe space with someone who truly sees you and allows you to let go and breathe. It is in that moment that the creative work begins.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rdionefoto.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rdionefoto
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Rdione
Image Credits
Rhonisha Franklin
