Hi! I'm Dani, and I'm a student photographer. I love taking portraits, and I've recently become interested in self-portraiture. In this blog, I will be deep diving into my favorite photographer, Tyler Mitchell.
Tyler Mitchell
I first discovered Tyler Mitchell when I visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Fall of 2025 and saw the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition. Mitchell's photograph, Portrait of the Modern Dandy, was used as the promo for the exhibit, and it had stood out to me. The softness of the background and the model is very unique, as I've never seen anything like this before. The backdrop is almost like an oil-based painting, and the model is evenly lit with light. The model has a very serious pose, from the facial expression to the body language, making it very different from the fashion photography that I have seen.
Mitchell is a Brooklyn-based photographer working with themes of everyday life, blending the past and present together. He reimagines how Black life is portrayed in photographs, steering away from the idea of struggle and showcasing happiness, calmness, and determination. He uses fashion, outdoor settings, and extravagant backgrounds to create intimate scenes, allowing him to create a sense of understanding between himself, the camera, and the model.
Making History
In 2018, Mitchell made history by becoming the first Black photographer and the youngest to shoot a cover for Vogue Magazine. He photographed Beyoncé in the September 2018 issue. This moment was a huge advance for his career, and it also pushed the boundaries between culture and fashion in mainstream media.
Final Thoughts
Mitchell's work inspires me because he has my dream job. I love editorial work, and I hope one day to work for Vogue. Further, I appreciate his ability to tell a story in a single photograph. As I continue with my own work, I plan to incorporate some of his ideas, such as storytelling and setting, to elevate my work.
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