Today we’d like to introduce you to Latrice “Phoenix” Rose.
Latrice “Phoenix”, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I didn’t know I would be a photographer, I just remember having a very vivid imagination as a kid. I can recall playing outside with friends or having a family outing and making time stop with my eyes… it was like I seen the “perfect” photo everywhere. When in those moments, I would say to myself; “Wow, somebody should take a picture of that”…That’s where I discovered photography. I then lost all my photos from childhood after my guardian (great grandmother) passed away and my family was evicted from our home when I was just 10 years old. I learned later in life that was the inspiration that I tapped into when shooting.
My personal and intimate sessions allow my clients to tap into a part of themselves that have either been denying or never knew they had. As an Artist I love that I can take someone’s self-conscious mind and explore it, expose it, and ignite within them a new love for it.
I also use nude photography along with poetry and stories to evoke an emotional response from my audience and build the conversation around black bodies in America.
My first series “Disclose” was featured in RAW Artist Pittsburgh Showcase in 2013, select pieces from my second series “For Colored Girls: A History of Black Bodies in America” was featured in several galleries around Pittsburgh including the University of Pittsburgh the following years and I am currently working on two series “For Colored Girls Who Have Cheated Death” and “For Colored Boys: This is America”.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It absolutely has not been a smooth road! It’s been the hardest trying to figure out how to truly turn my passion into a money making business! Although I’ve been shooting since 2012, I didn’t know how too truly to build a sustaining photography business. Needless to say I “failed” when I seriously tried to do that. In 2016, I received a crowdfunding loan from KIVA to take my photography business to the next level. I put my business out there to my social media networks and the lending platform and within days I was fully funded. Business was great and I got a lot of support and bookings and then….life happened. My photography is ART and its true when they say life imitates art and art imitates life. My life was affecting my work and I couldn’t even look at the images I was producing. This side of entrepreneurship they don’t mention is the entrepreneur work/life balance or how to sustain when you get overwhelmed in your personal life. With a job you can use PTO, take a LOA, FMLA or just quit! With entrepreneurship that is not an option. So life happened for me and, I got behind on my loan repayments and I quit. I didn’t pick up my camera for a whole year. I just came back to it recently in 2018.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Latrice Phoenix Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Photography is my business, but I consider myself a “Healing Artist”. I specialize in nude photography and intimate sessions, portraits, maternity and events.
I am known for my nude work and exhibits Titled” For Colored Girls”. I am most proud of my exhibits and intimate sessions called #TheePhoenixExperience.
What sets me apart is how I use my nude work to approach serious racial, social and community issues. Also what sets me a part is my mind and my mission with my photography business.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The biggest change is to my mission of Latrice Phoenix Photography, the year I took off from shooting allowed me to tap into the true purpose of my work. Instead of focusing on the business and making money to survive I focus on the art and how I can use it to help people heal.
I am now putting more energy into the healing aspect of photography and helping clients and communities capture memories that will last a life time. I am focusing on using my photography to advocate and promote mental health awareness. I have so many things in the works!
My business motto is “Memories that live, Photos that Narrate, stories that captivate”. My future clients will be able to look at their photos and feel and relive that exact moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.latricephoenixphotography.com
- Phone: 412-235-2800
- Email: info@latricephoenixphotography.com
- Instagram: @theelatricephoenix
- Facebook: Latrice Phoenix Photography
- Other: about.me/latrice.phoenix
Image Credit:
Latrice Phoenix Photography
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