RESPECT THE HUSTLE

I’ve always had a deep respect for entrepreneurship—it runs in the family. My grandmother was the queen of side hustles: she was the local candy lady, the cleaning lady, and I’m pretty sure she also ran a daycare out of her living room. Watching her juggle all those roles with grace left a mark on me. So, when I started my career in IT, it wasn’t long before I felt the pull towards entrepreneurship myself.

After some time, I decided to leave the corporate world behind and dive into photography. At first, it wasn’t about creativity; it was about making money. I joke that I was out there hustling rolls of film like my grandma hustled candy. But as I grew in my craft, my vision for myself expanded. It became about more than just the hustle—it became about creativity, storytelling, and leaving a legacy for my family.

In 2022, I launched a portrait series called “Respect the Hustle,” an ode to the spirit of entrepreneurship that’s alive and well in minority communities. Through this work, I’m capturing the faces and stories of those who, like my grandmother, are out there making it happen every day.