Introducing Symone Seven, PhotograpHER

Symone Seven is a young African-American beauty and fashion photograpHER originally from St. Petersburg, FL now based in Atlanta. I found her work on my Instagram feed and fell in love with her signature style. She's mutual friends with someone I had recently met via a family function. I had to network to get her featured her on my blog. What I love about her style is how unapologetic it is. You'll see! Now, it's time for you to check out who's behind the lenses of Symone Seven Photography.

I've seen many renditions of Nike's Colin Kaepernick ad on social media but, nothing really compares to Symone's version.

On her Instagram profile, Symone created her version of Nike's controversial ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. Take a look at the self-portrait she created above. The quality is just as good as Nike's ad below. Simply stunning work!

"You could be like Mr. Mitchell and take photos of Beyonce for the cover of Vogue. Follow your dreams!” - André Leon Talley

Symone, 22, creates work that breaks barriers on and off camera. She began her photographic career with only a basic Nikon camera and a $20 tripod and no connections being new to Atlanta. In her first year alone, she completed over 100 photoshoots, including magazine covers and fashion shows. She also gained celebrity clients. Today, she continues to sharpen the leading edge of photography through her innovative self portraits and creative client work. Don't take my word for it. Vogue Editor André Leon Talley thinks so, too. Watch!

The Interview

MOTS: Ms. Symone Seven, thanks for taking the time to bless us with your presence at MOTS Blog. As I referenced in my introduction, I couldn't resist featuring you on our platform. First and foremost, as your new fan, I have to let you know that your work is mesmerizing. Not only that, your story is inspiring to so many people. Tell MOTS supporters about your journey.

SYMONE: I’m so humbled by that. Thank you. I can’t even wrap my mind around having a fan since I came into this completely green and organically. I’m coming up on my two year anniversary for photography in January 2019. The path to get to this point was definitely a walk in blind faith. I remembered I hated taking photos or being in photos ever since I was a little kid. I wouldn’t touch a camera but I was immersed in everything beauty related. I grew up in my mom’s hair salon and I wanted to be a fashion design mogul Kimora Lee Simmons. I remember cutting up my mom’s clothes to make my dolls an outfit, then dipping their braids in hot water to make beach waves. I eventually got into modeling, costume design, and pageants. I had no idea back then that I was training my eye and laying my foundation for what I do today. I didn’t connect the dots until 2014, when I graduated high school and I decided to move to Atlanta with my mom from Florida. The summer before the fall semester, we opened a crab shack in the back of the hair salon to raise money to move 400 miles away from everything we knew. I began taking photos to advertise and we began selling out of food daily. I saved all my money to buy a Nikon D3200 and to move. Once I got to Atlanta, things went left and I stopped photography. But I eventually got on the right track in 2017 and I’ve been a full time photograpHER ever since. The first year alone I did over 120 shoots with clients in two states, celebrity work, and magazines.

MOTS: You've come such a long way and it's inspiring how humble you are. Tell us who or what were some of your inspirations? Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photography, and career path?

SYMONE: Honestly, I study “The Culture” and history but I didn’t learn photography online. From day one, I’ve been shadowing photographers and asking questions. I get my knowledge from the photographers I know personally who helped me grow like Byron Boykins, Jarrod Douse, Jahred Rainey, Chad Flucas, Tyrone King, Byron Herring, Terrol Henderson, Rossie Newson, Allen Cooley, and Ty Pleas. I’m so proud that I get to say that I learned the craft from black men. They’re so instrumental with so much ingenuity yet so strong minded. I took what they taught me and flipped it with my eye for style combined with the technique and hustler’s mindset that I learned from them.

MOTS: I researched the names you listed and they're all heavy hitters in their own right. I'm curious. Exactly what it is you want to say with your photographs, and how do you get your photographs to speak for you?

SYMONE: With all my photographs, I start with a vision before the shoot. I’m big on organization for execution and I’m committed. I’ll get a team together or I’ll even design an outfit, style it, do hair and makeup if I have to. I can almost always get it to look like what I imagined. I get all the right elements together, get what I’m looking for then I like to play after the money shot. Many of my best photos came from playtime because the people involved fully trust me and they’re now just as committed as I am.

MOTS: I love that process! Your work has been featured in a number of magazines and online platforms including Ellements Magazine, Kontrol Magazine and Vibe's 100 Magazine to name a few. I saw a long list on your site. Tell us one of the most memorable experiences you've had working one of these dope projects.

SYMONE: I’ve been so fortunate to be published online and in print pretty effortlessly. This will be my 18th publication this year. So many opportunities have come to me, I can’t take credit for that. It was all God. The first time I was published as a photograpHER was actually a double cover and editorial spread for Bonheur Magazine. The model Ali Epson, who I’ve worked with previously propositioned me with the chance to shoot that with complete creative control. I used that opportunity to tell a story on how far rooted the Black Woman was by doing a look for each of Nature’s four elements. I got to help make the all flower outfit that was on the cover, pick the looks/locations, provided some of the wigs. I was only 10 or 11 months into photography. It was just something I couldn’t have grinded for, it was all grace.

MOTS: I watched when you were asked to be on stage by none other than the fabulous André Leon Talley at a SCAD event. You've also met Essence Senior Editor, Charreah K. Jackson, too. You have to tell us what that experience like.

SYMONE: Yes, I met Ms. Charreah Jackson again recently after interning for the PR agency House of Heralds behind the Essence Magazine Ford City 4 Ways event. That was my second year working that particular event. I had to take a photo with her that day since we were twinning! But the biggest blessing was having Vogue Editor and Fashion Icon André Leon Talley call me on stage at his documentary screening at SCAD Show. That whole night was unbelievable. My muse/friend Alexus told me about the event the day before, I didn’t decide to go until 10 minutes before the event started. So I get dressed in 10 minutes, rush downtown, get there late so I’m in the back with standing room only. The movie was just minutes from starting. I cried the entire movie because it came to meet me exactly where I was in my journey. Growing up being so different and walking this lonely road with nothing but your faith. When the movie wrapped, he took questions from the audience. Many people left after the movie and one single seat opened in the third row and the woman next to me just happened to be the first question of the evening. He barely answered her question but he was so into my big afro and waving me down like we were best friends. He called me on stage, I got the mic and walked onstage. He sang my praises telling me how beautiful I looked, asked me about myself, and began to prophesy over my life. He said, “You’re special. You could be famous. You could be like Mr. Mitchell and take photos of Beyonce for the cover of Vogue. Follow your dreams!” Then I “sashayed away” according to him! Every time he looked at me in the audience he acknowledge me, and we took a selfie at the end of the event. That moment was the confirmation I was looking for. Those words couldn’t of come in a better way or at a better time.

MOTS: Tell us about your upbringing and where are you from originally?

SYMONE: My family was a military family traveling about until I was born, then my mom, dad, and older brother settled into their hometown in Florida. I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, a beachtown that’s nearly an island since it’s a peninsula on a peninsula. I carry a piece of that city with me everywhere I go. My extended family is huge and got together everyday like it was Thanksgiving at my great grandmother’s house. She was the matriarch of that family and the whole neighborhood. I was happy to have that experience of growing up how my parents did where we actually went outside and played every day and every one in the neighborhood knew each other. Those are times I’ll never forget.

MOTS: You are very accomplished for someone so young. Where did your tenacity come from? Was it instilled?

SYMONE: Definitely my mom is where my tenacity comes from. She was always so iconic to me. She ran a business doing hair all day with a diamond ring on every single finger and a baseball cap turned to the back. Then she would work at night as a RN with all white scrubs, flip curls and red lipstick every night. My mom was and still is a hustler. So when she would preach to me and my brother about being the best, we couldn’t doubt her. I was a straight A student from 4th grade and graduated high school with an AA degree. Growing up, she molded me into the person I am. I was involved in school as much as the arts. I remember when I was 16 being a junior until 2pm, rehearsing as Marguerite in the Dearly Departed play until 5pm, then going to my college class until 7pm, and having two hours of tutoring after, homework, then waking up at 3am to do it all over again.

MOTS: Wow. That's quite the schedule for a teenager. I'm amazed! Your mother has done so well with teaching you how to be tenacious. Now, let's talk fashion. Where did you get your fashion sense and how would you describe your style?

SYMONE: I grew up old school until the internet came then I got into studying fashion and beauty. I wanted to be a fashion designer. I would read all the magazines at my mom’s salon but actually getting to dig deeper online was so crucial. I would go on Vogue.com and watch all the shows, look at all the collection slideshows, make Powerpoints planning my own collection. You could not tell me I wasn’t a star in training lol. Now, I’m starting to reconnect with that side of me again. I consider my style to be soulful because it’s all about the essence of my authentic self. I’m tall 5’11” in chunky heels everyday, I have a big afro, long nails, and deep dark skin. I wear things with drama like I wear long coats that trail behind me, or throw a fur over my shoulder or I’ll add some costume piece I made in the mix.

MOTS: Yes, queen! I love that. How do you get the person, place or thing that is in front of the camera onto the film, chip or paper in just the way you want?

SYMONE: Sheer determination. Anyone I photograph, I commit automatically at least five hours to them. We spend prep, shoot time and I retouch my own photos which could be 1-2 hours per photo.

MOTS: Thanks so much sharing your process with us. Tell us what can we expect in the near future from Symone Seven.

SYMONE: I plan to use photography to share my other skills like fashion design, hair, and acting. Photos are only the tip of the iceberg.

MOTS: I'm sure your supporters are looking forward to seeing what you have in store, including me! Is there anything you'd like to add to this interview? What are lasting words you want to share with the younger generation interested in photography? Feel free to shout anybody out, too.

SYMONE: Always say yes to your purpose. And I love my momma.

MOTS: And there you have it, Symone Seven everyone!

Not only is Symone an amazing young photograpHER, she's absolutely gorgeous! She's also a model herself. Check her out below!

These are some of my favorites Symone Seven IG posts! (click on image to go straight to IG post)

The photo below is the one that started it all. I met Bre Peters at a family function. After doing a little networking, I discovered this photo. That's when I had to know who took them, and a Symone Seven blog post was born.