Today we’d like to introduce you to Skyla Jenkins.
Hi Skyla, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story begins being a junior in college for a science major unexpectedly, realizing that everything that I have accustomed to doing for artistic expression was me being an artist. Summer of 2018, I was invited to a fashion show that I accompanied with my mother, who was also within the art realm as a model. I caught myself, helping her with her poses, and ensuring that everything around her was aesthetically up to par to ensure the picture was captured correctly by the photographer. That is also when said photographer inquired if I ever have done photography or thought about doing photography and never in million years would I have ever thought that I would be in something like that or even have a business as an entrepreneur. I knew I had a lot more to learn, but if you don’t try and put yourself out there, how will you learn? Therefore, instead of shutting out the idea or not being open minded, I took heed into it and ended up accompanying the photographer to another fashion show that she invited me to and actually captured pictures of my own on my own camera and from there, “Thee Unique Identity” was created, and the rest is history.
I started doing Headshots,
graduation pictures, and birthday photos for students at my school and once I officially moved back to Atlanta, I decided to invest into myself and put myself out there as a photographer. I then was very consistent with networking, found a studio home where I was able to grow my brand and really learn a lot of what it really entails to being a photographer, but not only that also the business aspect of being an entrepreneur. Shout out to all the creatives in Atlanta who helped me along this journey and my family and friends because I again would have never thought I would be this far with a craft like this, especially as competitive as it is in 2025 in a male dominated industry. I just allow the people who support my brand and what I stand for as an artist to keep me going, and I’m now a 7-year self-taught creative/ photographer who’s been expressing themselves artistically since 11 and I couldn’t be any more grateful for the experiences, the growth, and the lessons along the way.
As of lately, I had to rebrand due to a two year hiatus to get my personal endeavors intact, but to also regroup and really find a niche that I felt like would be more of a pivotal growth point for my business. With that being said, I decided that I really had to sit and think about what type of aesthetic really spoke to me the most, and I found that fashion photography,
portraiture and shooting musical artist or brand shoots was more of what I found more satisfaction and appreciation within my element from.
So starting the beginning of the year 2023 to now, I have been rebranding and finding new ways to market my brand and put myself back out there and network, even in the most random settings just to build my clientele and audience backup, and I now reference this phase as the “New Era” era because it feels like I’m about to embark a new chapter within my craft that I haven’t been able to reach yet and I’m excited and intrigued and ready to work with new artist and new creatives!
Within the last six months, I’ve been working closely with new faces, new aesthetics, and have also utilize this long hiatus to work on my editing skills and the way I capture my muses to elevate my portfolio and my expertise. I also have proven to myself that no matter the setbacks, needing to regroup or reinventing yourself; always stand toes on what you feel aesthetically and creatively helps you feel like the best you.
I firmly stand on that as an artist, but also as a woman who has embarked a lot of change and growth within life and I use my art as a way to show people that being photographed is more than just about vanity or looking good in clothes. it’s about what’s within and I always try to promote that because without knowing your true identity, it could never be perceived or depicted within its true uniqueness.
“Thee Unique Identity” has been a remarkable treasure that I will continue to share with my loved ones, all of my supporters, and the creative realm; but because art is an important aspect of Black culture but also feeds the minds of those who may not know how to find their voice.
To all my artists out there keep going and don’t let anything stop you from reaching your true highest potential!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an artist is the most freeing and rewarding aspect of my life. However, being an entrepreneur teaches certain lessons and obstacles that allow you to understand and develop more boundaries and understanding for other people’s needs. I’ve learned the ropes of considering people in a more professional stance rather than personally, which allowed my brand to flourish a lot more because it allowed my clients or whoever I did collaborations with, to feel more comfortable with trusting me with their vision. Not only that, being able to get people out of their comfort zones and not making the other person in the room feel even smaller than they already feel being in front of the camera.
I’ve embarked my fair share of negative feedback , lack of business etiquette, having to stand up for my brand and the type of professionalism that I display, and also having difficult conversations regarding profit. A lot of of these situations allowed me to understand what comes with being a business owner, but also understanding that with having such a huge role with creating memories for people, it is my duty to ensure that I uphold a certain type of service and professionalism, and always represent “Thee Unique Identity” in the highest regard. So no, it has not been a smooth road, but it has been a memorable, gracious, and humbling journey and I wouldn’t change anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a creative, I feel like I now fit in the category of being a ‘versatile artist’ or a “jack of all trades” due to my many interest, not only in photography, but music, poetry, painting, customizing/designing, and acting. But what I’m mostly known for is my photography and I now want to incorporate all of the different components that I am good at within my brand as well. Therefore, it’ll be a lot more fashionable/ creative ideas being utilized and added to my brand to really represent “Thee Unique Identity” professionally but also making a statement that hasn’t been seen or heard of before.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love the best about being in Atlanta is one, I’m born and raised here, so this will always be my home, but more importantly, we’ve always been a city who knew how to express and confidently showcase our culture. Especially artistically, and now in this time period, it makes me even more inspired and intrigued to put myself out there and see where my art takes me.
What I do like least about being in Atlanta is being in a city where it’s many other creatives who may have the same craft and passion as you and having to figure out ways to stand out and be your own entity.
Not to mention, being a woman in a male dominated industry; It’s extremely important to promote your brand that sells art in a way where it speaks to people and make them gravitate. Therefore, I found out while going through my journey, that your energy can speak to peoples strengths while simultaneously giving them the experience that they are seeking for as well.
Pricing:
- $150 an hour for Studio Sessions
- $175 an hour for Outdoor Sessions
- $750 for an all day event (candid shots for 5 hours; the price increases if inquired about more time)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/theeuniqueidentity/
- Instagram: https://theeuniqueidentity.square.site/
Image Credits
Captured and edited by “Thee Unique Identity.”
