I had the pleasure to speak with the incredibly talented photographer NaBrayah Jones. This creative was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and shared how she got her start in photography as well as tips and tricks for aspiring photographers. NaBrayah currently attends the NYU Tisch School Of The Arts and The Los Angeles Film School where she studies film. This photographer is not only someone very dear to me but an artist I truly admire. By the end of this interview I hope to have given you a new photographer to look out for, without further ado here is NaBrayah Jones.
Jalyn Green(JG): What initially sparked your interest in photography?
NaBrayah Jones (NJ): Well, when I was 14 I always had an iPhone, I started with a hot pink iPhone 4. Apple was the leading camera phone at the time, iPhone photography sparked my interest in photography as a whole. I had to prove to my dad I wanted to be a photographer using my phone, so I always had to take pictures. One day my dad got me a camera, and I started shooting away.
JG: What was the first camera you used and is it the same camera you shoot with today?
NJ: A Canon 3Ti was my first camera and I eventually upgraded to T5i, which I currently shoot with today.
JG: Do you have any camera suggestions for aspiring photographers?
NJ: I think the rebel series cameras are good to start out with, a T5i and above. Advancing a little more you have the Canon 5D Mark IV, that’s the camera that I want, but the R series are super dope cameras. Those are the newest cameras that Canon has released.
JG: If someone’s not able to get access to a DSLR camera and all they have is an iPhone, what tips and tricks would you tell them?
NJ: Learning about composition, you can use the grid on your Iphone to practice using the rule of thirds. You can mess around with the exposure on your camera by tapping your screen. Depending on the Iphone, its different lenses you can utilize, like the wide angle lens and telephoto. Apple also has free classes called Today at Apple that teach you the fundamentals of Iphone photography.
JG: What are some of your inspirations when planning a shoot?
NJ: I develop a mood board. Nothing is original, other artwork sparks my creativity and I base what I want to create on things I’ve already seen but make it my own.
JG: Who is your top three dream collaboration?
NJ: Kendrick Lamar and his production company PgLang is very inspirational to me, Chloe X Halle and Beyoncé.
JG: In five words or less what would you tell someone looking to get into photography?
NJ: Pick up a camera today! That doesn’t mean pick up a thousand dollar camera today, but use your resources and what you have. Start with your phone or hit up someone who has an old camera somewhere.
The soon to be 21 year old not only inspires myself creatively but various others where she has at times mentored other photographers. To see some of NaBrayah’s work, check out her website, I promise you won’t be disappointed. You can also follow NaBrayah’s instagram to keep up with more of her content. If you’ve had dreams and aspirations to get into photography, “Pick up a camera today!” It doesn’t get any more straightforward than that collegiettes, the sky’s the limit you got this!