Meet Mandelious Mcneil

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mandelious Mcneil a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mandelious, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by constantly feeding it and drawing inspiration from everything around me. Rather that be my peers, interactions, my emotions, or other mediums of art besides my own. New experiences and implementing the use of new tools also play a vital role in keeping my creative spirit afloat.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a film photographer and creative director from North Carolina, with a passion for portraiture. My work revolves around capturing the essence of Black love, the beauty of community, and the boldness of fashion. My creative journey began at a young age when I received my first camera in middle school. From that moment, my love for storytelling through images took root and blossomed into the career I have today.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities or skills that have been most impactful on my creative journey are collaboration, vision, and adaptability. Collaboration has allowed me to form new ideas and broaden my approach to my work. Maintaining a clear vision has helped me create pieces that feel intentional and meaningful. Lastly, my ability to adapt whether by working with new tools, exploring different techniques, or photographing from unique perspectives has made my work stand out. The best advice I have for people early on in their journey is stay consistent and form great relationships with other creatives you never know how much the both of you will benefit from each other’s presence.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m always looking for new faces to collaborate with— Models, Hair Artists, Wardrobe Stylists, Set Designers, etc. Feel free to connect with me via Instagram @antiisoulcial!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antiisoulcial/profilecard/?igsh=anp6N2lhZzd3OTd3
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@antisatelier?_t=ZT-8sM1Wiig3Vm&_r=1

Image Credits

Mandelious McNeil