Today we’d like to introduce you to KELECHI.
KELECHI, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started out in College, it was my third year and I had just transferred to Georgia State from Southern because of their film program and I had met these super cool group of people in my Theatre production class. The year was 2017 and the group of us, like ten in all if I’m being honest. We were all interested I curating the most beautiful, aesthetically pleasing Instagram pages to align with our personal vibes. It was four of us in particular, Nimay Ndolo, Xavier Moscova, Brandon Smith and myself, we all liked the same-ish things, we were aiming for the same-ish goals – to become working professionals in the performing world. I wanted to be a Director & designer, they wanted to perform and we all had an iconic fashion sense. I remember we’d sometimes plan our walks to and from class so we could get scenic locations for our shoots which is actually more complicated than it sounds because we had wildly different aesthetics.
I was dating this guy was also super into street photography and I had just bought my first camera, a Canon t6i cause I wanted to make shorts for my YouTube channel. Now to set the scene of when I realized, “Oh my goodness, I want to do photography too!” – We were on set of a student production, that I was helping produce and I was taking candids of the cast and crew and they were these raw images without real context and something inside me just lit up like it did when I first walked onto my first set ever or when I talk about fashion. Then a couple weeks later I planned my first photo shoot with some of the members of that same huge group of friends.
The shoot was very premature and the editing was subpar and it was freezing but I was high on adrenaline and so a lit with passion and I’ve had a concept shoot every year since. I still make film but photography has become front page in my interest and in my business because it was my way to combine my two loves – fashion and film.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh my it’s been anything but. My biggest obstacle in my work I would say has been my mental health. I tend to push myself really hard and take the wrong things personally and over think myself after sessions are done and I am slowly learning to accept that I can’t change things but I can apply what I’ve learned to the next shoot and make the next shoot better.
I am also really bad at marketing myself – I let my inferiority complex get the best of me. I feel always feel like I don’t deserve things or I haven’t worked hard enough to put my name into the hat and let others see my stuff. Xavier Moscova, who is the best person I could ask to meet, and forever my muse, keeps encouraging me to just post it or I should send him the raws and he’ll just post it.
Then there’s my boss, Adam Koplan, Artistic Director of the Flying Carpet Theatre, who takes the time to give me feedback and improvement techniques because he also loves photography. I am so grateful to them; they’ve helped my confidence in my craft and inspire me to just go for it.
The Red Girl Company – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company the red girl, specializes in production design and photography. Founded in 2017 and originally called bleu images, I believe the company is known for photography but I created it to be very pro woman, pro black. I am obsessed with regal and editorial photography – photographers like Lakin Ogunbanwo and Kelechi Amadi Obi have influenced my work greatly; I am also inspired by Tyler Mitchell and by renaissance paintings.
As a company, I am most proud of the growth we’ve experienced over the past few years. The skills I’ve acquired and the way I’ve learned to present my business.
As for what sets me apart from others, I believe my creative eye and my willingness to do whatever it takes for me to achieve the vision that comes with it and make it a reality. My work reflects a lot about me; it’s femininity, it’s needs to be seen and to take up space while still showing fragility. I am a huge fan of escapism and my work has elements of mania in its color palette and vibrancy. Basically, I am never afraid to let in whimsy where it’s needed.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To me, success is a little girl who looks like me, feeling appreciated, valued, seen in my work and if I’m really lucky, she’s inspired and continues the flame where I fall short. Does that make any sense?
It’s never been monetary for me, and my family says that’s no way to run a business, and they’re right but the inferiority complex that I developed from liking and wanting to be in rooms and spaces not designed or not welcoming to people who look like me is something I don’t ever want anyone to feel.
Representation matters and the motto and reason I founded the red girl company is and will always be, “it is will be my honor, to get to tell your story”. I think every story is important and I think everyone is important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theredgirlcompany.com
- Phone: 6788305561
- Email: kelechi@theredgirlcompany.com
- Instagram: instragram.com/kelechi.img
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/theredgirlcompany
- Other: https://linktr.ee/theredgirl
Image Credit:
The Feminine Mystique – with T’shauna Henry & Manan Jasmine
3 Muses – T’shauna Henry
Icons Living: Xavier Moscova
1.08.20 – Justin Laryea
1.08.20 – Nasaan
The Feminine Mystique – Manan Jasmine & T’shauna Henry
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