I took a stroll through the South Side community of Hyde Park here in Chicago, alongside my friend Erin. We talked about our current struggles of being artists/creatives here in the city, relationships, style, and our latest Netflix obsessions. We finally stumbled upon a tennis court that seemed befitting for Erin’s personality. Erin was so effortless in being the perfect muse in front of the lens, it was a privilege to capture her spirit. A beautiful black older man, who instructs at the tennis court even offered us his basket of tennis balls to use as a prop. He seemed to also enjoy the spontaneity of our activities and had a nice chat with us afterward.

I’ve always had a deep appreciation for lively, captivating and fierce black women. I often think about the landscape and reality of what it means to be both black and a woman in our current society, and the pressures that come with it. Capturing Erin was a reminder of the beauty, carefree sensibility, and ultra magic of being a black girl in our current moment.