We recently connected with Jianna Cousin and have shared our conversation below.

Jianna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with inspirations and heroes. Are there any historical figures you look up to?

I consider Gordon Parks one of my most prominent creative inspirations. Parks had such a talent for photographing people in a way that others could not. As a native Kansan, I grew up seeing and hearing his name everywhere. He spent time intentionally photographing and sharing work depicting the Black Midwestern experience. This is an experience that is often historically ignored and uncovered. Seeing his work from my home state and region reminds me how important our stories are, and showing the world that my people are still (and always have been) there.

Jianna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I left Wichita, Kansas, where I was born and raised, to pursue a career in media. My interests include social justice, photography, and volunteer work. I’ve been able to shed light on numerous groups through my work. In my work, I portray joy while also examining social, political, and cultural themes. I’m on a mission to tastefully and powerfully showcase underrepresented populations. I specialize in portraiture occasion shoots. This includes maternity photos, graduations, birthdays, etc. One of my strongest clientele markets recently has been headshots–specifically student headshots. Everything I create is done with the intention of making things simpler for the Black women photographers that come after me, both deliberately and unconsciously. I photograph them so they can see themselves in these settings and never doubt who they are.

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

I feel as if I say this often, but my upbringing and my hometown community fuels me every single day–specifically the Northeast and North sides of Wichita, Kansas. I grew up on the Northeast side, but I’m a fifth-generation born Kansan and have strong ties to the North side also. Going to school in Atlanta and now living in New York City–for a lot of people, I’m the first Kansan they’ve ever met. I am so proud of the history within where I come from, and I’ve made it a goal to go back home and document and share the stories of the people who helped shape me into who I am today.

The Black Midwestern experience is a story that isn’t told very often, or buried by preconceived notion people have of the plains. My desire to showcase this joy, history, and progress is partially why I consider Gordon Parks one of my inspirations. Despite his time as a globally known photographer who traveled far and wide, a large portion of Parks’ work was taken in his hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas. As a Black woman photographer, I aspire to show young young black girls that it is possible. Whatever “it” is for them–consider it attainable.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the narrow-minded barricade commonly known as ‘artistic choice.’ I don’t think anyone instilled this into me intentionally. I believe the concept is something many artists have to unlearn because it’s societal. Just like monetizing your hobbies, there’s this pressure to make a ‘choice’ to improve your branding. At the high school level I went to a interest-tailored magnet school, and my chosen magnet was art-centered. During my time, I tried everything–videography, sculpture, photography, drawing. Then senior year came, and it was time to make a choice. I chose photography/visual art as my concentration and never looked back. Of course, I don’t regret my decision, as it allowed me to blossom into a successful photographer. However, when I got to college, I started looking back on those old hobbies, those old school projects and paintings, and I couldn’t help but wonder where I would be had I chosen differently. I made the subconscious decision to start working as a more all-around creative. After that, I began to expand my reach. I filmed my two videography and photography projects: More Than Just A Letter and Testimonies of Texture, showcased work in the Kansas African American Museum, and began practicing graphic design. Since I broke out of the barriers of my ‘choice’, my work has been published on a number of websites, I have created graphics for various nonprofits and organizations, and continued to learn and grow in the videography field. When I became a business owner, photography was all I saw for a while. I constantly remind myself that although I am a photographer and own a business, I can title myself as so much more should the opportunity present itself. Concentrating on one avenue of creativity doesn’t mean you cannot wear multiple hats.

Contact Info:

• Website: jcousinphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jcousinphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jcousinphotography
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/jcousinphoto

Image Credits
Personal Photo Credit: Gabrielle Darko (@shotbyeliza) All other photos taken by Jianna Cousin