Today we’d like to introduce you to Uno.
Hi Uno, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For the first 20 years of life, I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was blessed to live in state that had a rich love for music. I got to attend multiple hip-hop concerts at Prince’s first ave venue downtown and go to the Soundset festival (huge 1 day hip-hop festival) for a couple years in a row. Seeing great performers such as Travis Scott, Wu Tang Clan, Tyler The Creator, Playboi Carti, etc. I began intertwining music with every aspect of my life, and fully absorbing the culture and everything surrounding it. Having no musical talent myself I dove into the fashion aspect of the hip hop industry and developed a love for streetwear/ high fashion.
I went to college in Alabama to get an accounting degree and was absolutely miserable in the process. I had a huge test I needed to study for and when I went to look at my notes, I realized that all my pages were only drawings of clothes. I made the decision at that point to transfer to Atlanta and pursue a fashion degree. At first, I started developing my own clothing line and began coming out with one of one samples for my brand. To elevate my brand I began learning the basics of photoshop and loved the aspect of being able to create amazing designs and graphics all from my imagination. I started making album covers for artists all around the country and as of now I have 15 album covers on all streaming services that have been seen by 150k plus people around the world. But something was still missing when I would make album covers and I discovered it when I realized that all the pictures people sent me to edit were trash. In my head, I thought “I could take better pictures” and thus I bought camera.
Leading to now where I am a photographer in Atlanta for various hip-hop artists/ models in the city. I started making connections and after 4 months of working the scene in Atlanta, I was able to shoot for big artists, get into VIP events at New York Fashion Week 2021 and studio shoots for clothing brands. I have been able to shoot at some the most exclusive spots and get amazing photos in my own style. Starting the wave of having raw digital photos that are edited to look like film cameras. Through all of this work, I was able to get pictures of Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem, runway models and underground Atlanta rappers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. It has been a long journey for me to get where I am today. I took a risk of leaving a stable career like accounting to be in a creative profession. If my work was bad no one would want to hire me for studio sessions and I would be without work. Through it all I believed in myself and knew that the way I looked through a camera lens and edit is different that everyone else and it proved to be that way. I never gave up on my dream and worked hard to make sure I could break into this industry that I have admired since I was a child.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a hip-hop photographer in Atlanta. My style is having very clean and raw-looking images, that have a film aesthetic to it. My style is very unique when it comes to traditional hip-hop photography/ photography in general. Having lots of graphic design in my educational background I am able to have clean photos or make crazy photoshop edits without the pictures that. I have taken.
I am most proud of being able to attend NYFW 2021. I was able to get some picture of Kendrick Lamar and Baby keem as well as be invited into VIP runway events. The fashion week is a very coveted and hard event to be able to attend, let alone be able to shoot at. I am very blessed of the opportunity and connections that I made while in the city.
My photos set me apart as my style and creativity of my shots are different than a lot of what I’ve been seeing lately. Working with big artists and creatives is amazing as they allow me to use creative freedom when it comes to my shots and not be constructed to their schedules. Most people get paparazzi pictures of these individuals and that has never been my style. For me it’s about getting to understand them at a personal level through talking with them and then I can develop a plan of how to shoot them based on learning their style. Highlighting their talents through my vision when it comes to me taking their pictures.
What are your plans for the future?
My future plans are continuing to work with bigger artists and change the world in the process. I write out plans constantly with people I’m connected with and currently moving in a lot of directions. Through my whole process of being a photographer I have also been continuing to develop my own clothing brand and that will release when I feel the time is right.
Pricing:
- For me, pricing is different for many reasons, Depends on legend, style of editing, location etc. Reaching out to me through my Instagram and talking through everything will get you exact prices Instagram: UnoTheOutCast
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unotheoutcast/
Image Credits:
Photos shot by myself (UnoTheOutcast)
