Life Check: 

We step back into the archive this time with Samia Minnicks who is a photographer, storyteller, & photo restoration artist. While all of Samia’s work is great I knew it was important to have conversations about photo restoration and learn more about the resource that is this practice! We get a lil sentimental but don’t we always? Wait to hear what sign she is lollol Anyway, if you need your photos restored, Samia is an awesome resource!

Gear Don’t Matter But: 

• Profit Lighting System!!! Love you Profoto, but don’t we all <33

🖤PLC Playlist🖤: 

• Jill scott - To be Honest

• River - Modha 

Shoot Yo Shot: 

Baby we were struggling to find the name all episode lmao BUT National Museum of African American History and Culture is where Samia’s creativity and work will soon live. So! Curators, directors, social teams, whoever is watching, and we know you are, come back this magic happen ✨

You can find, hire, or reach Samia at: instagram, website, tiktok

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok

Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Life Check: 

We get into Loren Toney’s ongoing photo series, Vignettes, focused on Black men growing old. We discover her thought process and journey through creating this project.

Gear Don’t Matter But: 

• The one she got on her (PERIOD)

• EOS Canon 1v

🖤PLC Playlist🖤: 

Loren - Raye - Joy

Qurissy - Mulan - Honor To Us All 

Shoot Yo Shot: 

BEYONCEEEEEE!! We calling on you again girl. We said it in the episode, you could really build a couple of your production teams with all the girlies here so let’s get it started. Somebody get Blue on the line! And Canon, you heard the call to action! We love you over here. Let’s make this happen!

You can find, hire, or reach Loren at: instagram, website, & in Chicagoo

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok
Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Life Check: Our first Photographs Not Taken Minisode! A dream come true! So grateful to everyone who submitted!! We can’t wait to read more of your memories! 

No new additions to the PLC Playlist this week but you can still run it up here —-> 🖤PLC Playlist🖤

Shoot Yo Shot: Qurissy wants all of you to send us your favorite photograph not taken!! Linked below!

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok
Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Life Check: Giving our inner child room to breathe on this episode while we take a little detour right at he top of the show with Mickey in music! But as an incredible music photographer it was only right! We get into being a photographer & content creator and Mickey gives us tips on how to sustain both.

Gear Don’t Matter But: 

Photography Kit:

• Sony A7R5 & R4

• 70-200mm

Content Creating Kit:

• Sony FX3 & Sony ZVE1 with Polar Pro ¼ mist filter or Prism Lens FX filter

• 16-25mm, fisheye, & 20mm

  
  

🖤PLC Playlist🖤: 

• Ella Mai - Might Just 

• Chief Keef - Shake Dat

  
  

Shoot Yo Shot: 

• Teyana Taylor!!!

• Nike!!

Maybe both of yall at the same time? Either way, Yall need Mickey behind the lens, i know you see this talent!!

You can find, hire, or reach Mickey at: instagram, website

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok

Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Life Check: 

Ashley O’Shay returns a Sinner!!! This week we’re talking about Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s recent historic Oscar win as the first woman to win an oscar for best cinematography. We get into what that means for all of us and some predictions Ashley has as a cinematographer in the industry. 

Ashley will definitely be back once her film, Southmont Drive is out, but we did get a lil gem that it will be releasing with PBS in 2027!!! Absolutely cannot wait to get into this piece of work!

Gear Don’t Matter But: 

• Sigma art 18-35mm 1.4  technically a still lens but she uses it cinematically

• Honorable mention: Holga 120 toy cam

  
  

🖤PLC Playlist🖤: 

• Jeneveive - Beam Me Up

• Amber Mark - Sink in 

• A Taste of Honey - World Spin

  
  

Shoot Yo Shot: 

• Camera department for Kira Kelly!!! An iconic Black woman filmmaker who should come to the show!

  
  

You can find, hire, or reach Ashley at: Oaklaaaand, google.com cuz aint no other Ashley O’shay! Or also as well instagram, website, Southmont Drive

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok

Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Life Check: 

Join us as we sit down with the ladies of Black Image Center!! As we continue to celebrate Women’s History month we invited some BIC besties to our PLC Posse to uplift the women of BIC! We use this episode to honor the dedication that the women contribute to preserving Black stories and building communal spaces for generations to come.

We introduce a new segment, just for this episode. Shoutout to Billy on the Street lol

Name A Woman! Where we shared a little extra love with all the women Black Image Center has allowed us to meet. So to Taylor Washington, Nesanet, T’Essence, India Griffin, Madelyn Inez, Astrid, Dakotah, & Qurissy,  - we love yall/usl!!!

Thank you to Black Image Center for introducing us to so many incredible artists and cultivating a community that is far reaching. We love you Maya, Samone, & Kalena!!!

You can find, hire, or reach Astrid at: instagram

You can find, hire, or reach Dakotah  at: instagram, website

You can find, reach or support Black Image Center at: instagram, linktree

BIC Besties :

You can find, hire, or reach Jason Wright of Burnt Sienna at: instagram, website

You can find, hire, or reach Sid of Arthouse Film Lab at: instagram, website

You can find, hire, or reach Madelyn Inez of Ode 2 LA at: instagram, website

You can find, hire, or reach Shanelle Infante of Sinfan Studios at: instagram, website

You can find, hire, or reach Austin Pope at: instagram, website

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok

Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Life Check: 

This week, Kreshonna Keane aka Visuals by K, a celebrated photographer and visual storyteller, shares her journey through motherhood, creative evolution, and navigating the liminal space between personal growth and professional artistry. Her openness offers a heartfelt glimpse into the realities of motherhood and the resilience required to craft a life. This one is especially for the mamas <33

Gear Don’t Matter But: Fuji xH2, Polaroid 

🖤PLC Playlist🖤: 

Kreshonaa: This Chapter - Shavelle G

Shoot Yo Shot: We got a long list for Kreshonna so yall better be listening!!

• Rihanna we need you!

• Damson IDris!!

• Keke Palmer!

• Choyce Brown 

• Coco Jones

• Mufasa 

• FIlm sets for Tv/Movies BTS Key Art Netflix 

I know you’re getting this telepathy!!

You can find, hire, or reach Qurissy at: instagram, website

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok

Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Hang with us for an inspiring episode where photographer, filmmaker, and builder & MUVA to Prince Reefer - Kayla Reefer shares her journey of embracing diverse creative pursuits, from photography and filmmaking to woodworking and brand building. We get into how she navigates her artistry with intention, humility, and a deep connection to her identities, all while cultivating community and authenticity. Kayla’s evolution from self-taught photographer to editorial and commercial artist and what it’s been like in the break!

The Gear Don’t Matter, But:

• Show & Tell with a hasseyyyy

🖤PLC Playlist🖤: 

Kayla:

• What’s something you’ve been listening to lately?

• That Girl - Esthero

• Im Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado 

• Nora Jones - Don’t KNow Why & Come Away With Me

• Lucy Pearl - Everyday

• Santigold - LES Artiste

Qurissy:

• Sada baby - Aktivated

Shoot Yo Shot:

Uniqlo, Kendrick, GINGER ALE - we KNOW yall watch this episode. Be sure to reach out to Kayla now because the price get too high even for YOU!

Let’s help her manifest yall!

You can find, hire, or reach Kayla at: instagram, Photography portfolio, Creative Direction Portfolio

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok
Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

Life Check: Things you should think about as an exhibiting artist though her latest exhibit recently premiered at the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance in Chicago available to view through July 2026. Qurissy also shares insights on navigating the art world, the significance of visibility, and the lessons learned from her early exhibitions

Focusing on her recent project 'Stateside' which explores the identity of being a Black Puerto Rican woman with Puerto Rican lineage. She reflects on the challenges of creating meaningful art, the importance of family history, and the role of cultural symbols like cyanotypes in this work. Qurissy also shares insights on navigating the art world, the significance of visibility, and the lessons learned from her early exhibitions.

Gear Don’t Matter But: Cyanotypes!!

🖤PLC Playlist🖤: 

Big KRIT - Temptations

Shoot Yo Shot: A glasses/frame brand like Warby Parker, Gap, FarmRio, A Puerto Rican gallery or institution to host more conversations and exhibit stateside!

You can find, hire, or reach Qurissy at: instagram, website

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok

Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original

This week we tap into the creative journey of London based photographer Shingi Rice! Shingi is a photographer and UGC creator who tells us about her life through online sharing. Like all of us, she hasn’t updated her website in a while but that led us to some incredible gems of remembering how she moved through the world during her Saturn return (who can relate 😭). We did a lot to get here so I hope you enjoy!

🖤PLC Playlist🖤

• Pon pon - Khruangbin

• Venna - Numero

  
  

Gear Don’t Matter But: Sigma 24-70mm or 105mm

Shoot Yo Shot: Kelela you already know you’re a good fit for Shingi. & Prada let’s get edgy!!!

You can find, hire, or reach Cristina  at: instagram, website, & Te Ciento

📩 Submit your Photographs Not Taken

Watch/Listen to Photographer Life Check ⁠⁠⁠on Youtube , Apple, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠, & TikTok

Photographer Life Check is a BWP Network Original