Exploring Black Portraiture: Self-Representation and the Black Female Gaze

About the Workshop

Led by photographer Breonna T. Collier this program explores the evolution of Black women in photography — from being photographed to claiming authorship behind the lens.

The session begins with a brief historical overview examining how Black women have been represented in portraiture. Participants will consider how image-making has shaped identity, visibility, and cultural narratives over time.

The workshop then moves from conversation to practice. Through a live portrait demonstration with a model, attendees will observe lighting, composition, and direction, followed by the opportunity to take their own photographs of the subject.

The session concludes with a guided editing walkthrough in Lightroom and Photoshop gaining insight into how visual narratives are constructed — and how self-representation becomes a powerful form of agency.

Please Note: All equipment and software will be provided for the session. Participants are also welcome to bring their own cameras and/or laptops if they prefer to work on personal devices. We recommend having a method to save your work at the end of the workshop, such as access to Dropbox or Google Drive, or bringing an external hard drive.

About the Instructor

Breonna T. Collier is a selftaught photographer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is known for her refined visual language that merges fashion, beauty, and portraiture through intentional composition and emotional depth.

Her work balances technical clarity with timeless elegance, transforming simple moments into striking, editorial imagery. Guided by precision, minimalism, and a deep appreciation for detail, Breonna’s photographs evoke sophistication and authenticity in equal measure.

Select Clients and Publications: Vogue Arabia, Teen Vogue, South Coast Music Group, Forbes, Surreal Magazine, WOE Magazine, Charlotte Lately.

See more of her work here.

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Host or Publisher Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture