Learning and growing

Finding My Way Back to Myself

For the past few years, I’ve been wrestling with my work—creatively, emotionally, and personally. Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that to stay visible, I had to behave like a content creator. I let the audience, the algorithms, and even other creators shape my direction. In the process, I trimmed away parts of my personality and creativity just to fit in.

I streamlined my output, posting only what I thought would get likes. I built what I believed were friendships and collaborations, only to realise later that I was often just “good optics”—the creative Black guy who made everything look more diverse. Our journeys were never the same, and rushing to keep up was never my style, though I tried. I’m not built for relationships that lack meaning.

Pretty Isn’t Enough

Yes, I created some beautiful images. But many of them weren’t memorable to me. They were pretty, not powerful. Some projects stood out, but not for the reasons I would have hoped. Still, I’m grateful for the lessons.

People sometimes ask why I’d complain when the work looks good. It’s not a complaint—it’s an observation. A reckoning with myself.

I’m a private person. Content creation demands visibility—tagging, posting, showing your face, keeping up with the pace. That isn’t me. Fast-paced work isn’t me either. I miss things. I make mistakes that feel unforgivable. I care about the details, the emotions, the connections. I care about the story behind the image.

Slowing Down and Reconnecting

So I’m slowing down.

I’m revisiting the projects I loved. I’m spending more time in nature and in the urban spaces that give me life. I’ll continue photographing nude subjects and members of the fetish community, but with more intention—working only with people I trust and have built real bonds with. I’ll still take on some custom content to help fund my projects and exhibitions.

This next chapter is about exhibiting more, selling more prints, and raising funds to bring my ideas to life. And I’m asking for your support—donate, buy prints, commission work, help me keep creating. There’s so much I want to build, but I can’t do it if parts of me are missing.

Choosing Art Over Algorithms

I’ve been trying to find balance, prioritising what seemed profitable instead of what felt true. I don’t want to be a content creator. I am an artist, to survive as an artist, I need help. I’ll be publishing more, exploring new ways to fund my creative life while raising a family, and doing my best to maintain balance. For now, photography will return to being a side hustle while I go back to my day job. This isn’t me quitting. It’s me choosing to share only the parts of my work that I’m proud to put my name on.