We were lucky to catch up with Kristi Woodard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kristi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I came up with the name of my company during my undergrad years at LSU. I was an on-air personality at KLSU and went by the name “mahogani”.

That moniker came after my original name (Athena) was panned by a former co-host. I was watching the film “Mahogany” and Anthony Perkins’ character (Sean) told Diana Ross’ character (Tracy) why he chose that name for her.

He said it was the only way to describe something so “rich and dark, beautiful and rare”. As a Black American woman, I loved the meaning behind it. But I ended mine with “i”, like my real name.

In one of my Mass Comm classes we worked on plans for our future endeavors, after graduation, I knew I wanted to do media, and not just broadcast (as I’d minored in Film), so I named my future company Mahogani Media.

When I decided to become a full-time creative, in 2008, it all came full circle and finally used that name I’d come up with nearly a decade prior.

Kristi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

How you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft:

1. I’m a mutiple discipline creative, so I’ll TRY to answer this as briefly as possible (lol).

I’ve been a creative my whole life.

I wanted to be a writer at the age of 8. I wanted to be a filmmaker at the age of 14. And I was the family photographer much of my life, so I’ve always had an interest in the medium. Besides being a writer, I never though I could do any of those things professionally because I lived in Shreveport, Louisiana.

In high school, I got into the world of journalism. I ended up on the team for my school’s news station and was introduced to visual storytelling via news. I was able to write scripts, shoot for those scripts and then produce a show. I was hooked.

I ended up studying Mass Comm at LSU, where I also minored in Film and got to produce my own radio show as well as music videos and mini-docs for my classes.

Though I wanted to pursue radio after I graduated, I ended up back in news. I produced local TV morning shows for 5 years and then produced a local morning radio show for 1 year.

When Hurricane Katrina happened, the film industry moved north, and landed in my backyard. I secured my very first film gig as a PA, and my longtime love for film and wanting to be a filmmaker was reignited.

I ended up taking classes in digital editing, then later became a full-time creative, under Mahogani Media and started providing photography/videography services.

In 2014, I started my MFA program and gained more time on set by working as a Script Supervisor for short and feature films shot in Shreveport.

10 years later, I’ve written and directed nearly a dozen shorts, and a web series, and am eligible to join IATSE. I also curate two local film showcases — one for Black filmmakers and another for Women filmmakers — as I am a constant advocate for more diversity on set.

Above all, I believe my purpose is to be a Storyteller, and every step of my life has been about that.

2. What type of products/services/creative works you provide?

Through Mahogani Media, I provide videography, film production, editing, creative writing, creative consulting and social media management services. [www.mahoganimedia.com]

3. What problems you solve for your clients?

I help clients who may not be media savvy by taking creative burdens off their hands. For those who may not be good writers, good photographers or videographers, good editors, or just don’t have the time to do those things — they can outsource through me. Through consulting I brainstorm with clients and help them focus on objectives/goals and create a plan of action to help them reach those goals.

4. What [do] you think sets you apart from others?

Well when I first started back in 2008, 2009, I was the only person in my market with the name “Media”, which let potential clients know that I was more than a photographer and they could come to me for multiple things. I was also the only one offering things like mini-shoots or consulting, and one of the few who shot outside of the studio. Over the years those things have changed and many media types have followed my example, and I’m happy to see that!

5. What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the fact that I never quit. When things were hard, when clients weren’t booking as much, and when the market was flooded with beginners, I stood strong in my purpose. Even when personal losses happened, I took care of myself, but still did my best to take care of my clients. I adapted and overcame!

6. What are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work?

That my work is a reflection of my purpose and that all of the things I’ve experienced, all the education, all the interactions with fellow creatives is in my work. My brand is about unique and timeless imagery, and telling stories that are relatable and/or spark conversation.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The biggest pivot I had to make was during the pandemic! Even though I did photography session mostly outdoors, I lost a great amount of income in other areas. Weddings and Events (photography and videography) were postponed or cancelled and Film sets were shut down (including my own web series), which cost me a good chunk of revenue. I booked more outdoor shoots and started focusing more on the services I could do virtually — social media management, virtual assistance, consulting — to keep my head above water. Once things opened back up, I continued those services and they have saved me during a lot of down months since.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is when people connect to your art. Whether it’s a client squealing or sending a note of praise when they see their images, or someone reacting the way you hoped they would when watching one of my films or episode of my series. Getting the emotion I wanted lets me know that the message I conveyed was received … and that’s the whole point of doing media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mahoganimedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahoganimedia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahoganimedia
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kjwcreates/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mahoganimedia
• Other: You can also find me on Facebook on my solo creative page (mostly for film) — www.facebook.com/kjwcreates

  And I’m on tiktok as @mediadiva

Image Credits

images 1-5 : photos by mahogani media
images 2 and 4: styled by mahogani
image 4: hair and makeup by valencia sneed

image 6: photo by willie boom (from the set of my short film “siren song”)
image 7 by aj hall (from the set of our web series “#Situationships”)

can’t remember who took the last image (from the set of my thesis film “Confessions”