I love the thought of using this platform to amplify voices and bring you new and different insights. So I wanted to try something new this week.
I reached out to Bria Woods, one of my former students from the Mountain Workshops, after she told me how excited she was to attend the New York Portfolio Review. So I asked if she’d be willing to share a few takeaways, so we could all learn from them.
Some things you should know about Bria: she’s young, talented, and hungry. She cares — a lot — not only about her work and her friends and family but also about her larger community. She loves art and we usually end up exploring a museum or gallery whenever she’s in DC visiting family (the pic of Bria below is from the National Museum of Women in the Arts). And what impresses me most is that she has her hands in so many cool, creative projects. She is on staff at a non-profit online newsroom in Texas. She’s the host of Women in Jazz on KRTU 91.7 FM. She’s the creator of The Herstory Project, which combines her love of audio and photography, where she’s documenting women’s lives in both mediums. And, her growth has been exponential in the year and a half that I’ve known her.
Oh, and she loves olives — I guess no one is perfect.
In Bria’s own words:
“MOM GUESS WHAT?!,” I yelled from my room after reading the email informing me of the good news: I have been selected to participate in the 11th annual New York Photo Review. After much rejoicing, my mom asked me what that meant. Out of an applicant pool of more than 2,100 people, I was among 80 folks chosen to participate in the virtual version of this coveted portfolio review.
I just started my third year as a working photojournalist at the San Antonio Report, and while I feel lightyears away from where I started, I know there’s still so much to learn. As an early career photojournalist, portfolio reviews like this are crucial checkpoints for constructive feedback and opportunities to meet editors and photographers I wouldn’t otherwise have access to. What a gift to learn from some of the best in the industry.
Reflecting on two virtual portfolio reviews I was able to do during my first year as a photojournalist, thanks to Black Women Photographers, I can see how much I’ve evolved as an image maker and journalist. I have cut my teeth in the field, completed the Mountain Workshop, published my first long-form photo essay, joined the NPPA board, and participated in a mentorship program. These experiences have better prepared me to make the most of the New York Portfolio Review.
And, thankfully, the team putting this event together saw to it that we didn’t go in on a wing and a prayer! During the first weekend in April, they hosted a virtual orientation to show us how to prepare for the portfolio review and shared guidelines on how to make the most of the time we will have with the editors and photographers volunteering their time and energy to help us.
I took four pages of notes during orientation. Here are the lessons that stood out to me:
Photographer Kiana Hayeri taught me that even when you are documenting or spending time with people who live a life vastly different from yours, we all have a few things in common: “food, family, and humor.”
Brent Lewis taught me that the editors are our friends. Well, the words he actually used are, “We are your Flavor Flavs!” They are here to teach, guide, inspire, and be our hype man.
Dudley Brooks taught me that “a lot of the best large stories are told in very simple and small ways.”
Eve Edelheit taught me how to write a pitch email to editors and not to get hung up on what I think editors might be looking for. Follow up, be concise, and don’t assume silence is a no.
Sarah Leen, oh Sarah Leen. At the end of her talk about how to edit and sequence our portfolios, I asked her, how do I begin to build a structure for my story and organize the story elements if I don’t quite know what the story is and suspect that it might change drastically as the weeks unfold? In a grounded tone that makes you feel like everything is going to be okay, Leen smiled and said to me, “As a photographer, we’re always in a situation of responding to what’s happening. The story is telling itself to you as things evolve… You have to get comfortable with not having all the answers, not knowing what’s coming next. Let go. Let the story just take you… It’s a wonderful feeling to let go and let the story take you. You say “yes” all the time… Take the yes and let it take you and you’ll make a wonderful story.”
What a gift. I’m always in awe of more sage creators and doers who take the time to look back and light the way for those of us starting our journey. It makes each step feel less scary.
This is my first time applying for the New York Portfolio review and it’s not lost on me how blessed I am to have been chosen. I’m so thankful for this opportunity, not only to learn and receive important feedback but also to meet new people who I hope to build relationships with as we all navigate this unique (and sometimes crazy) profession together.
I know I'm a bit of a lurker, but I always enjoy getting your newsletter in my inbox. It's a challenging profession, and I love seeing people pay it forward.
Thanks for sharing. I look forward to exploring her work. P.S. I’m in total agreement with you about olives.