#BlackExcellence365 Spotlight: Dee Williams
We’re back with our third spotlight of the year: @shotbydee, a Brooklyn-based photographer. We sat down with Dee as she discussed her creative process and how we can continue to support Black female photographers.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. When did your passion for photography start?
My name is Dee Williams, and I am a portrait photographer with an emphasis on documenting Black and LGBTQIA+ life. My overall goal is to disrupt the white male gaze within the photo industry.
My passion for photography started in high school. I was influenced by my uncle, who had a point and shoot film camera and took photos of EVERYTHING. The joy that I saw in his face whenever he showed me his developed film is what sparked my interest. In high school, I was that girl who always had a camera on me and had thousands of photos on my Myspace and Facebook pages.
Black female photographers have been pioneering our creative industries but are still hugely underrepresented. What have you found that works in increasing that visibility?
Social media will always be a free and easy way to increase visibility. Consistency works, and the luck of that one huge follower RT’ing your work also helps (LOL). Entering online contests is a great way to get new eyes on your work, from photo editors or curators. Lastly, submitting your work to sites that center and uplift photographers of color. A few examples are Diversify Photo and Women Photograph. I have gotten many bookings via being seen on these websites, or a specific editor recommending me for a gig.
Your particular shooting style is portraiture. What kind of beauty do you find in portraits?
I love getting up close and personal in people’s faces. Black people are so beautiful! It is honestly a blessing being able to capture the essence of a person’s existence in a photograph. Skin texture, blemishes, eyes, jawline, etc.—I find beauty in everything, to be honest.
How do you embody the mission of #BlackExcellence365 in your everyday work?
I embody the mission of #BlackExcellence365 by waking up every day and doing one thing that brings me joy. In a society with systems in place that want to see you fall down, focusing on your internal joy is excellence in itself. Sharing that joy with others around you is the next step in keeping that going for the whole 365.
How has Tumblr enabled you to showcase your work and connect with other Black creatives?
Aside from being my safe space and favorite social media platform, Tumblr is where my photography gets the most views, reblogs, and comments. I get so much love on this platform. It is my mood board, my getaway from other toxic platforms, and a place in which I have found work from some of the most amazing Black creatives. I’m in my own Black creative world on Tumblr, and I wish everyone could enjoy what I do on Tumblr.
Thank you, Dee, for sharing your talent and your love of portraits with us. Make sure to check out and support Dee’s work, Tumblr. What are some of your favorite portraits of Black people? Use the tag #BlackExcellence365 for a chance to be reblogged to Action.
This interview has been condensed for clarity.
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