We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sheree Swann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sheree, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken recently was deciding to step away from the stability I had built and move to Ghana for a year-long fellowship. On paper, it probably didn’t make the most practical sense. I had a recurring contract that provided steady income, and I also run a business, Wild Seed Butik, that was beginning to find its rhythm. Choosing to come here meant turning down that contract and accepting that my income would change for a while. It also meant putting parts of my business on pause while I stepped into a season of learning and exploration.

But the truth is, the opportunity felt bigger than the temporary sacrifice. My work has always been rooted in storytelling, culture, and preservation, and this fellowship offered me the chance to immerse myself in a place where many of the traditions I’m interested in are still practiced and passed down through community. I wanted to learn directly from artisans and elders, especially when it comes to traditional textile practices and cultural knowledge that doesn’t always live in books.

So I made the decision to trust the process. I packed up my life and came to Ghana knowing that things would look different financially and professionally for a while. My business is in a bit of a pivot right now because I’m learning, observing, and rethinking how the work I do connects to heritage, sustainability, and craftsmanship.

What I’ve gained from taking that risk has been far more valuable than what I temporarily stepped away from. Being here has allowed me to see culture, creativity, and community through a completely different lens. It’s deepened my understanding of the work I want to do and the stories I want to tell moving forward.

I am a proponent of taking risks, trying something new and embracing discomfort. This experience has reminded me that stepping into the unknown can birth possibilities that I didn’t even know were there.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a photographer and visual storyteller. At the heart of my work is a deep curiosity about people, culture, and the everyday moments that shape our lives. I’ve always been drawn to stories, especially the ones that don’t always get the spotlight. Over time, photography and film became the tools I use to capture those moments and preserve them in a meaningful way.

I started my journey in visual storytelling through videography, eventually expanding into photography and documentary work. What began as a creative outlet grew into a multimedia practice where I could combine storytelling, community, and culture. I founded my creative company, Cultrcliq Collective, formerly Lens Of Life Photography, as a space dedicated to highlighting the beauty in people and documenting life as it unfolds. Through photography, film, and visual media, I work with individuals, organizations, and communities who want their stories told with care and authenticity.

Alongside that work, I also founded Wild Seed Butik, which grew out of my interest in textiles, sustainability, and cultural craftsmanship. Wild Seed Butik is shifting to focus on creating one-of-a-kind apparel and exploring natural dyeing and textile traditions. Right now, my work is evolving as I spend time learning traditional textile practices while living in Ghana. Being here has given me the opportunity to study the cultural history behind textile production and understand the artistry that goes into it at a deeper level.

The common thread in everything I do is storytelling and preservation. Whether I’m documenting a person’s life, capturing a community event, creating visual content for an organization, or exploring textile traditions, my goal is always the same: to honor the story and the people connected to it.

What sets my work apart is the way I approach it. I’m not just interested in creating images or videos that look good. I’m interested in creating work that feels honest and rooted in real experience. I take time to listen, observe, and understand the context behind what I’m capturing. That approach allows people to feel comfortable, and it often leads to more meaningful storytelling.

What I’m most proud of is the fact that my work continues to evolve while staying connected to purpose. Over the years, I’ve been able to use my creative skills to document communities, support cultural preservation, and create visual narratives that celebrate people and their stories.

For anyone discovering my work for the first time, the main thing I want them to know is that everything I create comes from a place of intention. Whether through photography, film, or textile design, my work is about honoring culture, documenting lived experiences, and creating something that will still hold meaning years from now.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, there is definitely a mission behind the work I’m doing. At the core of my creative journey is a desire to create one-of-a-kind artistic apparel pieces that are rooted in culture, tradition, and sustainability. I’m deeply interested in the stories that live inside textiles. Fabric isn’t just material to me. It carries history, identity, craftsmanship, and cultural memory.

Through my brand, Wild Seed Butik, my goal is to create pieces that reflect that deeper connection. I’m especially drawn to natural dyeing, traditional textile practices, and techniques that have been passed down through generations. I want the garments I create to feel intentional and meaningful, not mass produced or disconnected from their origins.

Part of what drives me is the idea of preservation. Many traditional textile practices around the world are at risk of fading as fast fashion and mass production dominate the industry. I’m interested in helping to preserve those traditions so that they can continue to live on.

Sustainability is also a major part of that mission. I want to create clothing that respects both the environment and the cultural practices behind the craft. That means thinking about natural fibers, plant-based dyes, and slower methods of production that value quality and artistry over quantity.

Ultimately, my creative journey is about honoring the intersection of art, culture, and sustainability. My hope is that the pieces I create through Wild Seed Butik not only look beautiful, but also carry a story and a sense of connection to the traditions that inspired them.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is the ability to document, preserve, and share stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether I’m working through photography, film, or textiles, I see creativity as a way to capture moments, traditions, and experiences that carry meaning. There’s something powerful about being able to translate what you see, what you learn, and what you feel into something tangible that other people can connect with.

I’m especially drawn to the idea of preservation. A photograph captures a moment in time. A video can carry someone’s voice and perspective. A textile can reflect generations of knowledge and craftsmanship. Being able to contribute to that process feels meaningful to me because it allows culture, memory, and artistry to continue moving forward.

Another rewarding part of the journey is the opportunity to keep learning. Creativity has taken me into spaces where I get to meet people, listen to their stories, and learn skills and traditions that I might not have encountered otherwise. Right now, for example, spending time learning traditional textile practices definitely deepens my appreciation for the patience, skill, and cultural knowledge behind handmade work.

At the end of the day, what makes being a creative fulfilling for me is knowing that the work isn’t just about making something that I feel looks good. It’s about creating something that carries a story, reflects culture, and leaves a meaningful record of the people and traditions that inspire it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cultrcliq.com
• Instagram: www..instagram.com/wildseedbutik
• Other: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reeswa