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Jillisa Lynn

Ahhhh, Jillisa Lynn. This is the type of work I’m shooting more of these days. I refer to it as “creative youth culture portraits.” It showcases their personality and work in an interesting and meaningful way. There is an element of fashion worked into many of these photos, as it’s a big part of many creative people’s lives. I tend to shoot surfers, skateboarders, street artists and models. This shot of Jillisa came together last minute when I was returning to Los Angeles – where she lives – while at the end of a vacation in Yosemite National Park. I texted Jillisa asking if she wanted to do a quick portrait shoot for our Instagram profiles and she said, “Yes, come over!” Jillisa is a popular model, singer and actress that I’ve been friends with for a few years. We grew up about a decade or so apart, in nearby towns in upstate New York. She has like 50,000 followers on Instagram, has an upcoming role in a movie with Luke Goss, RZA and Bokeem Woodbine, and writes and produces her own songs and videos.