I was at the now-closed Vapiano’s pasta restaurant on 14th Street in Manhattan with good company. Around that time, I wore my hair in its first iteration of the Frederick Douglass afro, paired with an early 2010s-style fade. Adem, also enjoying an evening meal with a friend, stopped to compliment the style. An impromptu double date broke out as we shared conversation about the diverse people and looks found across New York City.

From that pleasant exchange came a new connection—and a sequence of creative collaborations. This portfolio entry captures our first studio session.

I coordinated a portrait session with Adem soon after. I managed the booking and logistics, and Adem arrived with two looks he wanted to capture: a mix of bright black-and-white edits with the option for color. Using my strobe flashes and trusted camera, we set up an indoor stage for Adem to shine as an artist.

While this was an indoor studio shoot, my favorite image of the day was taken just outside the studio, using only natural light—my preferred style. Here is that portrait with @ademtesfaye.