Photographer Interview:
Poochie Collins
BIO
Poochie Collins, is a Richmond, Virginia bred, Brooklyn-based visionary, writing love letters with light. By creating these visual time capsules, she illustrates her journey through reflections of her many subjects.
Documenting life is her chosen path of self-awareness, and it is grounded in the unwavering witnessing of the day-to-day. Poochie invites her audience to experience the Black community from a different vantage point.
Tell us a little about yourself? Where you’re from, where you’re based now?
Richmond, VA born, Brooklyn based. NYC was a happy accident. I was laid off from my job as a Fraud analyst and spent a year back home looking for jobs when I received a random call about an interview for contract work here. What was supposed to be six months turned into three years.
Tell us a little about yourself beyond the what/where and bio info?
I have double rooted teeth. It’s not uncommon, but it isn’t normal either.
How long have you been shooting for?
Since 2004. My official first camera was a Kodak Easyshare CX6200 2.0MP Digital Camera. Before then it was disposables.
How has your photography evolved since when you first started?
My photograph has drastically changed. I started from documenting my friends and family and a picture diary, to documenting nature around me on my long hikes, to now portraiture.
Did you buy your first camera or was it a gift? Who gifted?
My very first camera was gifted to me by my grandfather, who also named me, Poochie. I don’t know where the name came from, that’s been my name and I never asked.
Does photography run in your family? If so who shoots?
To my knowledge, no one else is a photographer. My family does have mountains of photo books. My grandfather was something like the family historian, always taking pictures.
Any specific moment stand out where you knew you wanted to pursue photography?
January 1, 2018. That’s it. That’s the moment. I decided to take a random day trip to NYC because I wanted to document the aftermath of the ball drop. At the time, photography full time lingered in the back of my mind, but I was still holding on to the corporate world. That day I met my future friends and mentors and everything else that happened that day revealed to me that I would be leaning more into photography that year.
Does your environment influence you as a creative?
Life imitates art imitates life…right? Or something like that..My environment influences me for sure.
Most of your photographs are taken outdoors. Do you prefer the outdoors over a studio space? Why?
Now that you say this I am realizing you’re right! Ha! I don’t have a preference really, I typically document people whenever and wherever it feels right. I’d be open to shooting more studio work if the space was accessible to me.
Do you take part in styling your shoots? Where do you draw inspiration from?
I don’t style any of my shoots personally. If it’s a planned shoot, I always tell my subjects to wear what makes them feel most beautiful if they don’t have an idea already in mind.
Inspiration comes to me from songs, or a smell, anything really, but I will literally see a vision in my head from melodies of a song I can’t get out of my head.
Are you a self taught photographer? What advice do you have for beginners?
I am a self taught photographer. My advice for beginners is do it anyway.
What message do you want to share with the world using your art?
“It will always be love.”
“Creating a visual time capsule of my life moves me to shoot.”
What are some changes you would like to see in the creativity industries?
Hire Black Women and pay us our worth.
What's one thing that you want to do with photography that you haven't done yet? Why?
Large format. I saw an exhibit of the Hamilton cast shot on large format some years ago and was completely blown away by the photographs. The images were huge and it looked like the persons were going to come through the frame. I literally stared at the pictures for at least thirty minutes. After that I was like yeah, I gotta see what that’s like.
What is the most rewarding factor about photography?
The memories. Looking back at my photographs I can recall exactly what I was feeling that day and what made me document the very frame.
You are all about analogue photography, what has been your favorite shoot done on film?
My favourite shoot done on film?? I can’t even answer fairly lol I love all of my work.
On Set…
What camera would you want to be your last?
Anything medium format.
Candid or posed? Flash or no flash? Why?
Candid, no flash. I have always been fascinated in documenting my subjects as they are to reflect their truest selves. I say no flash because I don’t own one. However, if I ever figure out which one to settle on it’ll probably change my life!
What mood/vibe do you like to curate on set? And how do you do it?
The mood is always home. I let the subject decide how they’d like the environment to be (unless I have something stuck in my head).
During the selection process what makes the final cut? What details do you usually look for in the images..
If I look at an image and feel something, that’s the shot. It’s never about the look, it’s the feeling for me.
Any upcoming projects we can expect from you?
I create when moved so it’s all at random. Stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath lol.
When it comes to photography what moves you to shoot?
Creating a visual time capsule of my life moves me to shoot.
Is there any particular element of shooting you would like to tackle or explore that you haven't?
Food photography. It’s a win win (:
What would you like people to take away from your work?
It is always love.
Interview by 35s & 45s
04.29.21