It was just a different time and I thought if I had black men in my book then maybe I wont get work. Scruggs, born in Chicago and based in New York, started out photographing vintage clothes and furniture for her own Etsy store a decade ago. We had to find a way to convey that shes an elite runner without that, Frank says. In The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion, curator and critic Antwaun Sargent addresses a radical transformation taking place in fashion and art today. All rights reserved. At the early stages of her career, she launched SCRUGGS Magazine a print publication dedicated to her vision of the male form. Dana was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Synonymously, Scruggs then became the first Black Female photographer to shoot an athlete for the Body Issue in its 10-year history. All rights reserved. Thats what drives me, she says. Since then, Scruggs has further broken down barriers in the industry by becoming the first Black person to photograph the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine in its 50-year history. Were pioneering advanced therapies with a deep sense of purpose with the goal of people being able to live their lives fully, regardless of whats written in their DNA. Some people arent willing to help you because theyre afraid youre going to take their jobs or their clients. At the early stages of her career, she launched SCRUGGS Magazine a print publication dedicated to her vision of the male form. Style; Then Scruggs photographed model Adonis Bosso on assignment. It's our way of honoring the innovators, the leaders, the public figures and the game changers whose work from the past year is breaking down barriers and paving the way for the next generation. Find 34 people named Dana Scruggs along with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok profiles on PeekYou - true people search. General Admission tickets include museum admission. Scruggs says, I want people to understand that black people are powerful and have autonomy over our bodies, that our bodies and culture are not just for mass consumption and regurgitation. More black celebrities are now featured in magazines, but theyre mainly captured by white people through a white perspective, she says. Do you think that there are still more hurdles to get over and is even talking from a black perspective necessary or do you find that sometimes it can be limiting? Facebook gives people the power to. Louise Haggers self-published books landed an assignment to shoot stills and motion for Rekorderlig ciders. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage. Your cart is currently empty. I had to do jobs I didnt want to do. When she moved to New York City to pursue fashion work she was primarily photographing white people, she says, because I thought that would give me legitimacy. Then she met Soukna Roussi, the founder of GODS magazine, a platform for photographers, creatives and models of color whose talents were being underutilized by other magazines. Become the spark for better care for sickle cell. About Us | We understand its essential to listen to those living with sickle cell, as well as caregivers, and patient advocacy organizations so that we can bring awareness to all the complexities involved with sickle cell. Even before Im dead, I want to have museum retrospectives when Im 50. Want morePDN? She used to work at ESPN. Dana With Rolling Stone, it was another example of when one person gives you a chance, the industry takes notice. Meet the self-taught image maker, whose high-contrast and intimate photographs have appeared in GQ, ESPNs Body issue, and on the cover of Rolling Stone, among others. Thats why they get angry when black people are finally breaking through these professional barriers. And Swedish photographer Arvida Bystrm questions how objects and colors are coded as feminine through cheeky, social media-literate images. By inviting her models to improvise, she says, They feel part of the creative process and theyre willing to go the extra mile to give me different poses and expressions.. There is a real understanding that Western ideals of nudity are not necessarily what everybody is experiencing in the world, Hajjar said. Paintings View All. Im not saying you have to solely shoot black people, but youre perpetuating a status quo of not being inclusive of black people and people of color. Then, within a year of starting to do that, I moved to New York to pursue photography as a serious endeavor. It is upbeat, active, warm, and beautiful. Im able to get the images that I get because I view my work with the model as a collaboration. Overall, the women represent 20 nationalities, with their ages ranging from mid-20s to mid-50s. Storytelling is a key element cemented in Paola's creative vision something she holds near and dear to her heart. Scruggs success didnt come overnight. All I knew was, okay let me reach out to some agencies and see if I can test. Historically the female perspective has been precluded in this narrative of what the nude body means and how it should be shown, said Amanda Hajjar, the museums director of exhibitions, in a phone interview. I wasnt really known for shooting women at all. Featuring Mandy Harris-Williams, Crystal Anderson, Dana Scruggs and Aya Brown. He was like, Theres no reason why you shouldnt be shooting for big brands and big publications. At the time I was thinking about moving to Amsterdam because I just couldnt get jobs here. His own mother told him . Its that fear of being pigeonholed. Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Dana Scruggs and other top speakers and celebrities. "There were a lot of people following me but hadn't contacted me," she says. A barrier breaker, she was the first Black Female photographer to shoot ESPNs Body Issue and the first Black person to photograph the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine in its 50-year history. "I photographed 10 covers in 2019. Im very skincentric and with the quality of images from the a7R III, she says, not having to do a ton of retouching is great., Lights: Her favorite lighting technique, she says, is finding the light.. Sept. 10, 2022. This exhibition is a celebration of Black creativity both in-front of and behind the camera. Watch Strong Black Lens on Strong Black Lead channels. By Loring Knoblauch / In Daybook / April 20, 2022. Founder & CEO of The ActOne Group; The First African Actress, Director, Author; Known for "Empire" and "Precious". The right people will hire you for what YOU DO. If you have a vision, dont let other people tell you that you should change your aesthetic or shoot more commercially or change your subject matter. Dana The best advice that I can give photographers just starting out is to shoot as much as you can. This is something that I now believe in wholeheartedly. When Dana Scruggs talked to PDN about her successes of the past yearincluding assignments for ESPN the Magazine, Nike and The New York Timesshe said these jobs came a few months after she changed her marketing efforts. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dana Scruggs for your next private or corporate function. Contact an All American Speakers Bureau booking agent for more information on Dana Scruggs speaking fees, availability, speech topics and cost to hire for your next live or virtual event. Dana is from the Southside of Chicago but has been living and working in New York since 2013. Set up your online access now. Dana Scruggs @Fotografiska. Severe Weather You cant shoot every now and then, or shoot every other month or every couple months or even every couple weeks when youre starting out and expect to be able to learn and grow at a rate that will allow you to move forward. Its definitely very hurtful and disconcerting when those things happen. In Nude the body isnt just an object of desire, but a vessel for strength, wisdom and intimacy; a marker of transition; and a site of history and violence. Her clients have included Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Apple, Banana Republic, Glossier, Nike, SK-II, Chromat, GQ and Essence Magazine. Often they just rely on people who are happy to shoot models for free. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Before film was invented, early portrait photographers first discovered the titillating pleasure of exposing images of nudes on silver copper plates. My goal is to make space for Black women in these spaces where were either ignored or not thought of. But she was like, I actually have something for you and its for the cover. When she said that, it was very hard for me to process because, once again, I dont have a long history of people offering me jobs. Then I asked them to check their archive because I thought I might be the first Black person to photograph the cover. Saatchi Art eGift Card. I didnt know anything about the industry at all. Bowie, a sprinter who also models, suited Scruggs skills. People were like, okay, yeah sure. Ultimately, I just want to create a legacy. On December 9, HYPEBAE and Converse joined forces to host a virtual panel discussion as an extension of The Creative Come Up, a dynamic content series amplifying the voices, journeys and experiences of Black female creatives, and gender nonconforming people of color . I would ask people, Can we meet for tea? Her raw approach to both her art and her life inspires . I started taking photos of clothes on hangers with a terrible little point and shoot. To get such a rare opportunity was very surreal, but still in that moment I immediately knew that I was the first black person to shoot the cover. Dana Scruggs currently lives in Waterbury, CT; in the past Dana has also lived in New Haven CT and Raleigh NC. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent. Advertise | American photographer Dana Scruggs focuses on the beautiful subtleties of dark skin and the elegance of the naked male form, both of which are less seen in fine art and editorial imagery. One thing that Im making sure that Im doing, now that I have a platform, is letting everyone know: this is how I went about it and this is what changed everything for me. The magazine was her way to create editorial and creative content because none of the magazines she approached would hire her. Chicago-born photographer Dana Scruggs is one of the great photographers working today. American photographer Dana Scruggs focuses on the beautiful subtleties of dark skin and the elegance of the naked male form, both of which are less seen in fine art and editorial imagery. The New Black Vanguard features 15 international Black photographers contributing to a new vision of the Black figure and reframing representation in art and fashion. How did you first carve your niche in what was already present and existed here? Our premiere educational content channel. Published April 18, 2018 at 8:08 PM CDT. They checked and verified that I was. Her unique vision of the human form is utilized by brands and publications globally. Whos in decision making positions AND can actually hire me? I think its important to talk about it when these milestones occur within society and also within black culture because its something to celebrate. I didnt really want to shoot black people because I felt like I wouldnt be taken seriously. Especially when I finally started meeting people that were peers and even a bit ahead of me. After self-assigning for almost six years, Dana was offered the opportunity to shoot ESPNs Body Issue, which was her first breakthrough in the industry. Left Ken Browar and Deborah Ory; Right John Paul Caponigro, Who Ive Hired: Amber Venerable, Cond Nast Visuals Director, How a Food Photographer Markets Her Skills in Motion and Art Direction, Erik Almas on Whether an Agent is Needed (or Helpful) in Todays Business, An Immersive Experience: How Renowned Photographers are Captivating Audiences with Prints. Youre developing somebodys book and that models booking jobs and making money off of the work that youre doing, but the agency cant pay you $250.00 or $300.00 for a test? The Brooklyn implant has taken the tenacity shes picked up from growing up in Chicago to push her towards marking major milestones off her client list. Dana Scruggs is 35 years old today because Dana's birthday is on 05/09/1987. All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. Its very surreal to go from nobody knowing who you are and/or not giving you a job to all of a sudden getting three emails in one day offering you dream jobs and shit. I thought to myself, I cant leave my house to show places and apartments, so let me just try to sell all the stuff that I have on Etsy so that I can pay my rent.. There are installations, videos and works around performance too, the last of which includes photographs of Nigerian artist Jenevieve Aken, who rallies against violence and injustice toward women by taking on the spirit form of La bella Elvira, a 22-year-old Italian girl who was murdered in a village near Pisa 75 years ago, and whose case was never solved. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Eunique Jones Gibson, Joshua Kissi, Charmaine Bey, Jay Ellis and Kwame Onwuachi. I just started recently having more of an understanding, because honestly a lot of other photographers werent interested in giving me any information. Dana will celebrate 64th birthday on February 27. your own Pins on Pinterest Dana Scruggs currently lives in Waterbury, CT; in the past Dana has also lived in New Haven CT and Raleigh NC. Shoot an athlete for the Body Issue in its 10-year dana scruggs birthday afraid youre going to take jobs... Taken seriously behind the camera let me reach out to some agencies and see I... My work with the model as a collaboration Daybook / April 20,.. White people through a white perspective, she launched Scruggs Magazine a print publication dedicated to her vision the! Thinking about moving to Amsterdam because I thought if I had to do within... 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