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

Sequoia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

As a photographer and director, one of my favorite things to do is to connect with people that I am working with. It’s even better when I have repeat clients and we develop an ongoing relationship and grow our work together.

One of the most meaningful projects I have been working on is with my best friend Daniella. We met when she hired me back in 2010. At the time, she was creating beautiful headdresses and she hired me to shoot a campaign for her.
I became a repeat photographer for her company and we developed a friendship. We eventually traveled to Paris and Italy together, where we became best friends, over our love for travel, fashion, music, art and our true silly nature, as we called ourselves “The Stooges”.

Daniella was also making music at the time under the name Maxilla. Not only were we doing photo shoots, but we shot our first music video together in Magical Joshua Tree.
Years continued and we kept creating together for several projects and as our friendship grew, we also both grew as artists and inspired each other creatively and helped fuel each others growth in our careers and passions.

Now in 2023, we have done so many photo shoots together that I couldn’t even count them. We have traveled together many times, for her current music project, I have been her creative director for most things visual, including the majority of her photos and so far, I have directed all of her music videos.

The most beautiful thing about this journey is that we have been on together, is the true love and support we have for each other. Everything we do together is meaningful and special to us both. We know each other so well, and have continued to push each other and keep going bigger and better with everything we do. Together we create with depth, meaningful passion and purpose. I love to see her success and I know she loves to see mine. I feel so grateful to have found such a unique and bonded creative partner with Daniella.

Sequoia , 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?

My name is Sequoia Emmanuelle. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN to a family and community of unique artists. I have been raised in a household of Photography, costume design, performance art, fashion, as well as healing arts and metaphysics.

I have been creative and passionate about art for my whole life and I couldn’t imagine doing anything really.
I love all things to do with art and design, and I have been on most sides of all creative industries in some ways or another.

I am focused heavily in Photography, film and video and I creative direct/direct most of the projects I work on.
I love beauty, magic and story telling. I love to take people on a visual journey. My work continues to grow and expand beyond the still image and I am excited to keep developing my directing and writing skills as I am interested to move further into TV and Film.

My work is often colorful, vibrant, creative, psychedelic and otherwordly. I have always loved to capture the essence of people and bring out the beauty and empowerment in everyone.
The work I create is heavily in the entertainment industry. I work with Models, actors, musicians, entertainers a lot, but also anyone who is inspired by my work, and wants to work with me, I am always open to everyone. I work with a variety of clients such as musicians, brands, labels, cosmetic companies as well as health care companies and banks. I am always open minded and love to keep expanding in my career and never be put in a box or pigeon holed.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

This question just stood out to me because as someone who has been in the creative industry for so long, I feel one of the most important things is to VALUE our artists.

So many people take advantage of others and ask them to do things for free or for very little budgets. Of course there is a time and place for trading, offering, giving and sharing. Some things we do for free in exchange for learning or connecting. This is part of the business and there is value in doing this as well.

However, I just feel we are in a place in the world where talent is less appreciated and valued and there is more expectation and entitlement. People want a lot for free or for less.

Many of us dedicate and devote our lives, time, money and education on our crafts, which is very expensive and takes years of creating what we do. I feel that it is so important to pay people their worth and show appreciation, share, promote, uplift and give to our creative community. I understand sometimes the budget may not be there, but there’s always a way to create offerings and show how much you value the work of others.

I encourage all of us creatives to know our worth and stand by that.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I would say that I came from a life of beauty and hardship. I went through a lot as a kid, lots of amazing things but also a lot of trauma.

When I was younger, I believed that I had no future and would never amount to anything. I didn’t think that I was the type of person that had opportunities or would be successful. Imposter syndrome was became a real struggle for me.

At some point I was able to rework my mindset with the help of spiritual teachings and books and my support system that discussed the power of thought and mindset. I eventually became so inspired to change the course of my life and that it was all up to me to create the life I wanted to live in.

At that turning point, it gave me a feeling of, “If I can do it, you can too” and I wanted to be an example of that for others that had also been in a similar mindset as me, of not feeling that they could be what they wanted to be.

I started to believe in myself and set out to follow my dreams of being a successful artist and creating like the people I looked up to and aspired to be like.

My mission is to be an inspiration. Not from ego but from the heart. If I can do it, you can do it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sequoiaemmanuelle.com
• Instagram: @sequoiaemmanuelle
• Facebook: facebook.com/sequoiaemmanuellephotography

Image Credits
Image 1: Music Artist YellaCatt @yellacatt.music Photography by @sequoiaemmanuelle Photo assistant @harpdigitalmedia Styling @melvinstyles Hair @pavyartist MUA @rosharofficial Fashion @houseofharryhalim Image 2: Photography: Sequoia Emmanuelle @sequoiaemmanuelle Model: Guetcha @guetcha Styling: Melvin Sanders @melvinstyles Hair: Tre Major @themajorlook_productions Makeup & Creative Direction: Yvonne MacInnis using The Creative Makeup @yvonnetheartist Earring /Shoes by @pr_solo private collection Sleeves by @deliseana_fashiondesigner Bodysuit by @blacklickorish Image 3: Music Artist and Actor @serayah for @basic_magazine Photographer: Sequoia Emmanuelle @sequoiaemmanuelle Editor-in-Chief: Viktorija Pashuta @viktorija_pashuta Producer/CFO: Jackson Chong @jacksonchong_ Stylist: Ambika Sanjana @styledbyambika Makeup Artist: Gilbert Soliz @gilbert_soliz Hair Stylist: Tre Major @themakorlook_productions Fashion: Bodysuit: Green Latex Bodysuit : Vex@vex Dress : Floral Kaftan: OTT@ottdubaiGold Hoops: Mahrukh Akuly@mahrukhakuly Gold Heels : Enrico Cuini@enricocuini Image 4: Petit Ermitage Hotel @petitermitagehotel Collaboration with designer @Juliaclancey⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Photography @sequoiaemmanuelle Photo Assistant @jpiccari Make up @rosharofficial Assisted by @elainakarras_ Hair @theanaestela Model @irinaroshik Image 5: Model Nicole Casillo @nicole_castillo published in @xioxmagazine Photography & Creative Direction: Sequoia Emmanuelle @sequoiaemmanuelle Production Design & Creative Direction: Isaac Aaron @itsisaacaaron Make-up: Fidel Gonzalez @muagrapher Hair Lorenzo Diaz @lorenzodiazhair Image 6: Model @shreya.chaudhary Make-up by @rosharofficial Assisted by @shoichiro_kashibe Image 7: Model @bryona_ashly⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Photography @sequoiaemmanuelle ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stylist @melvinstyles ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Makeup by @shablamgela ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hair by @hisvintagetouch ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Video/photo assistant @ohduuuuuu ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Dress by @albinadylaofficial Image 8: Brie & Nikki Garcia (formerly The Bella Twins) for @basic_magazine Talent: Nikki Garcia @nikkigarcia & Brie Garcia @brie Photography & Art Direction: Sequoia Emmanuelle @sequoiaemmanuelle Photo Assistant: Mariangela Quiroga @mariaqphotography Styling: Melvin Sanders @melvinstyles Styling Assistant: Nina Yun @ninagiyea Hair: Paul Norton @paulnortonhair Makeup: Eileen Sandoval @honeybeileen Location: Zevarra Lofts @zevarralofts by Zevarra @zevarra_ceo Fashion: Outfits: @giyeabynina Sunglasses: @rabbanilabel Earrings: @anayah_jewellery BlackShoes: @gianvittorossi WhiteShoes: SamEdelman @sam_edelman