We recently connected with KENYA TAY and have shared our conversation below.

Hi KENYA, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Yes and no. I spent a good four years after graduating from my Master’s overthinking and second-guessing myself, which I regret immensely. I was overly concerned with what other people my age were doing and measuring myself up to them… which was very unproductive. I psyched myself out of great opportunities, thinking I wasn’t good enough. I remember in 2017, a month before my graduation, I got an offer to be a photographer’s assistant in NYC (my dream job) and I turned it down because I didn’t think I was ready. I also listened to my parents a little too much. I should’ve gone for it, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Instead, I chose the safe route and worked for my dad’s company in social media… which was not my passion. I still learned some valuable skills but I often think about all those years I could’ve poured into my craft; I would be way ahead in the game right now.

That being said, I also believe in divine timing… I still found my way back to photography, and I’m really loving where I’m at right now. I just wish I had put my fears to the side… they weren’t helpful and I gave them too much power.

KENYA, 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?

I’ve always had a creative streak, ever since I was a young girl. I had this obsession with collecting things – my movie ticket stubs, glass coasters, letters from family members, rocks, and shells from a beach… I think I was heavily influenced by my late grandfather, Arij Luwema, a wonderful Dutch painter and teacher, who had similar habits. My mother is also very creative; she loved to photograph and record our childhood and made scrapbooks and collages, framing our memories for us to keep. This is where it all started.

I am the daughter of a Ghanaian man and Dutch mother, born and raised in rural France, in a predominantly white neighborhood. I had your typical “mixed child” experience, i.e., never feeling like I belonged anywhere, struggling to fit in. I became a natural observer, always watching from the sidelines… I developed a natural sensitivity towards those who were like me, often marginalized and overlooked – the outcasts. In high school, I would make little movie montages of our day-to-day lives at school, and I think that was my way of finding my place in spaces.

I went to college for Economics but ended up switching to Motion Picture studies at the University of Miami and then pursued a Master’s in Visual and Digital Media in Madrid, Spain, at IE Business School. After graduating, I spent a couple of years working as a content creator for McDonald’s in Paris, and in my free time, I photographed my new surroundings in Paris.

In 2017, a guy on the street handed me his old film camera, and I took it on a trip with me to Ghana, with my father. I began photographing everything and everyone around me. Photography became a way for me to connect with my family, my culture, and my dad, who really enjoyed driving me around and telling me stories from his childhood. My little cousins became my favorite subjects to photograph, and we had such a fun time creating images together… These experiences ended up being way more profound than I had ever imagined and intended. Something magical happened during that trip when I saw the effect it was having on everyone… seeing images of oneself, being represented in a certain manner, feeling seen… the power that it gives back to people and oneself. I love making people feel seen, honoring their beauty, revealing their strengths, telling their layered truths through my lens.

I never viewed my practice as a political tool; I just naturally focused on what spoke to me and what stories and images I wanted to put forth. I am highlighting women of color because I am a woman of color, and I firmly believe that representation matters and holds immense transformative powers. Transitioning from documentary photography to fashion photography while maintaining my core approach is an exciting evolution in my creative journey. While the genres may seem distinct, my commitment to reflecting the authenticity and essence of individuals remains unwavering. In fashion photography, I see an opportunity to elevate the representation of diversity and celebrate the unique identities of each individual. Rather than adhering to traditional beauty standards or superficial trends, I aim to capture the true essence of my subjects, amplifying their personalities, quirks, and stories. Through this shift, I hope to expand the boundaries of fashion photography, infusing it with the same sense of purpose and meaning that drives my documentary work. By celebrating the diversity of human experience and amplifying the voices of those often marginalized in the industry, I aspire to redefine beauty in a way that is inclusive, empowering, and truly reflective of who we are as individuals.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being a creative has been instrumental in providing meaning to my life. It’s more than just a vocation; it’s a lifeline, a means of navigating the complexities of existence. In times of difficulty, I find solace in the creative process. It serves as a powerful tool for introspection, allowing me to deconstruct my experiences, emotions, and struggles, and then reconstruct them into something new, something beautiful.

But the true magic happens when I share my work with others. Art has a remarkable ability to bridge the gap between individuals, fostering connections and sparking meaningful conversations. When someone resonates with my work, when it touches them on a deep and personal level, I know I’ve done something right.

In a world that often feels fragmented and isolating, art has the power to unite us, to remind us of our shared humanity. It reminds us that, despite our differences, we’re all bound together by the universal experiences of joy, pain, love, and loss. And in that shared recognition, we find comfort, and most importantly, we find strength.

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

I speak from personal experience when I say that I regret allowing myself to be deterred by feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. There were moments when I hesitated to seize opportunities because I felt unworthy of the title of “photographer.” I encountered spaces where my lack of technical knowledge was met with disdain and condescension. But in those moments of doubt, I failed to recognize the inherent value of my unique perspective, my creative intuition, and my vision.

I’ve come to realize that technical skills can always be learned and honed over time. What cannot be taught, however, is the innate ability to see the world through your own lens, to capture moments of beauty and truth with sincerity and authenticity. Your eye, your sensitivity, your vision—these are your most valuable assets as a creator, so don’t let yourself be intimidated.

Also, don’t put it past people to want to scare you off. A lot of people will recognize your genius before you even see it for yourself, so there may be individuals who actively seek to undermine your confidence and deter you from pursuing your passions because they view you as competition, not because you’re not good at your craft.

This has happened to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kenyatay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkenyatay/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenya-tay/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artfilmsbykenyatay2857

Image Credits

1st photo added (me running with camera): photo taken by Oscar Rodriguez

2nd and 3rd photo added (picture taken from behind a fan) features model Miriam Turkson
(https://www.instagram.com/_ohemaab/)

4th photo (picture of woman in red on couch) features model Eugenia Otoo (https://www.instagram.com/eugeniaotoo_/)

5th and 6th photo (picture of a girl with orange corset standing in front of plastic bags and portrait with sliver of light) features model Alimatu Yussif (@https://www.instagram.com/imalimatu/)

7th photo (picture of a woman with black and white hat and orange top) features model Tasia Cobbinah (https://www.instagram.com/tasiacobbinah/) styled by Neal Davids (https://www.instagram.com/neal__davids/)

8th and 9th picture are my little cousins, Senam and Awo

10th picture is of model Alimatu Yussif again

11th picture is of my little cousin Worlanyo

12th picture is of model Ambre (https://www.instagram.com/blackmoonshining/)

13th picture of couple Nandy (https://www.instagram.com/nandyncdm/) and Rubens (https://www.instagram.com/les.bouclettes/)