Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Asha Taitt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Asha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents are innovators in their own right. My mother is an author and a business owner who conducts life coaching. My father is a writer and a professional track coach who coached me throughout high school. So it’s only right that I came out a chronically creative kid, and I owe them everything for that.

Ever since 2nd grade, I photographed things around me and entered young author’s competitions. However, high school is when I took a keen interest in photography, and my parents wasted no time buying me my first camera (which I still use today). I even traveled across the country to different photo competitions to represent my state and get used to professional feedback. To this day, I use our home to shoot with my friends and strangers alike. Our home is my studio, and they’ve always been open to that. There were no limits to my creativity.

A huge part of my purpose in both the film and photo industry is my knowledge of the human experience and, more specifically the Black human experience. I remember in 6th grade geography, we learned about Pangea. My teacher told us that all the continents were one and that everyone is “African” which didn’t make any sense to me when I’m literally looking at white people. I came home ready to tell my parents how wrong my teacher was and to my surprise, I was not only the wrong one, but my parents were so ashamed of my ignorance that I had to watch a 2-hour documentary on how life started in Africa and as the continents separated: skin tone, hair texture, and culture did as well.

Since that day, I’ve remained curious about everything. I take nothing at face value, and that is what has made me a strong artist. You have to wonder, and more importantly, you have to risk being wrong. I’ve questioned myself: why was I a tomboy for all of those years? I’ve questioned my community: who are Black people without struggle? And I’ve questioned my art: who is this for and what happens if they don’t care?

My parents also bought me my first video camera, which I’ve only had for a year, and I have shot three short films on it. Film has taken my thoughts, which became images, and turned them into moving images with elevated feelings. It’s because of my parent’s investment in my craft that I continue to create and it will pay off tenfold.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Asha Taitt. I’m a 22-year-old self-taught photographer from Laurel, MD, and I am the owner of Muffy&Tom Studios, LLC which produces films and provides photography services to all.

I got my start in the industry through high school photo classes, where I was introduced to portfolios. I am actively building my portfolio, and it has taken me far. I would describe my style as eclectic and unpredictable. I like to give clients a new version of their vision and I like to keep consumers on their toes.

I’m most proud of my recent transition into film and how I’ve been able to cultivate a team to help me execute an idea. I like to work efficiently and pride myself in being a resourceful partner. I have shown work at the BWI airport photo exhibition, Drexel University, NAACP-ACT SO competition, and, more recently, at two MONAD exhibitions in Brooklyn, NY.

I’m currently working on a long-form film that will begin filming in April 2025 and I’m super excited to show the film at a premiere this summer.

I also am proud to announce the launch of my artwork site, where people can now place orders for some of my best print work. Go over to https://muffyandtomstudios.bigcartel.com/.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that you need a specific quality of equipment to be successful. Some of the best photographers didn’t have Nikons and Canons or DSLRs at all… and yet, they’re great. Unless you’re a camera connoisseur, you wouldn’t even know the difference. It’s truly about lighting, composition, and editing software.

I remember this person wanted to collaborate with me on a project. We planned everything out, and I could already tell he was more knowledgeable than I was (I’m self-taught, but I clearly didn’t teach myself much). They asked me what kind of camera I had and I told them a Nikon D3400 (a 2016 camera for reference). They automatically offered up a spare camera of theirs, which basically meant mine was no good. But the irony of it all is that they reached out to me so of course, I wasn’t offended, I stood my ground and said my camera would work just fine. My work has been admired by many and very few know just how old my camera is.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My main goal is to use both of my creative talents to work in many fields. I want to work in fashion marketing, music videos, print magazines, and beauty campaigns while simultaneously hosting global solo exhibitions and showing my films at world-renowned film festivals. I want my work to be recognized everywhere while also making a name for myself as an individual artist. I’ve always been an over thinker and that has turned into a passion to create and share.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashataitt.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashataitttt/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asha-taitt-bb705592/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MuffyandTomStudios

Image Credits

Asha Taitt