AMBASSADOR DIGITAL MAGAZINE Editor Musa Jackson goes inside the mind of what it’s like to be young, gifted and Black & a woman with our latest cover star FLO NGALA, a Harlem born daughter of West African immigrants. In just 4 years as a professional, at only 25 years old is one of the industry’s rising globetrotting celebrity photographers. Shooting today’s hottest celebs like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Gucci Mane, Teyana Taylor. Published in NY Times, Billboard and Rolling Stones magazines and working for major brands like Nike and Reebok to name a few.
ADM: You were born and raised in the village of Harlem to West African
immigrants. What was that like?
FLO: I had a very African upbringing here. Where the restaurant Corner Social is, that’s the exact location I grew up. We had a store there. So I would double Dutch outside, then run inside and ring people up on the register. But with all the culture that comes with that. Like hair braiding and African women in Harlem. That is what I grew up around. I have like thirty aunties, you know. ( laughs). And that kind of atmosphere and environment was really very interesting. I grew up with their kids. Went to parties, the pool in Marcus Garvey Park, the library on 124th. It was all super local. And that access to fun and having three siblings was a blessing.
ADM: Where are your parents from?
FLO: My Dad was born and raised in Cameroon. My Mom was born and raised in Nigeria. So West Africa.
ADM: When did they come to America? And what did come here to do?
FLO: They came here in 1992. I was born in 1995. My Dad was a really gifted individual. He had a double masters and he pursued a PhD at NYU. So that’s what he came here for to get a communications degree. Due to family situation he couldn’t finish it. Actually I found some documents, my grandfather wrote on a typewriter. He said, “We can’t sell enough cattle to put you in school.” I was like damn I really come from some shit. That’s how things were, that’s how they are still. That always humbled me. My Dad came here for a degree but went into entrepreneurship afterwards. He had a calling card center on 125th and 8th Avenue over the former legendary Harlem Record Shack.
ADM: When did you decide you wanted to be a photographer?
FLO: It started with me picking up the camera in eight grade. I was thirteen, it was an elective in school. I went the private school Horace Mann. My parents were really adamant about us getting a quality education. They saw at a young age, I thought and talked really fast. Always a sharp kid. I took photography through High school and got really passionate about it. And when it was time to graduate I didn’t want to major in photography I felt like didn’t want to learn about it anymore. The things I valued in photography I knew I wasn’t going to learn in the class room. I went to SUNY College in Albany, then to City College. So I majored in advertising and design. So that’s where my eye for curation and creative production came in. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a creative director. So creative directing and photography merged together.
ADM: When did you become a professional photographer and get that first check?
FLO: In late 2016 I was at Atlantic Records and I got to work with Gucci Mane. I was also flown out to Senegal for the first time. I was a junior in colllege. I was like to my teacher, “Hey, Ms. Jones I got to go to Africa on Thursday I hope it’s cool.” That was when my double life started. People in school would be checking my Instagram and seeing I did all this cool stuff.
ADM: Tell is about your relationship with Cardi B and how that came about?
FLO: In 2017, it started at Atlantic Records. It was a trust thing. The people who are on her team. Her A&R and marketing team I got to know more of them. They began to give my opportunities. Like her stylist, her publicist got me to shoot her at her first Met Gala when she was pregnant, her behind the scenes for her videos, her at Jimmy Kimmel, all these little moments. This was right after she blew up. That was a big summer for her. She was performing at the Hip Hop Awards in Miami. My second time being flown out but my first time for an artist. I’m really excited, and bubbly but I had to bring it in because I was kind of nervous but slowly but surely when you’re in those spaces your sixth sense kicks in as a photographer. So I was really proud of the work I was able to create. Three years later, I’m still getting those calls, getting those hit ups now. Getting flown to LA. I shot campaigns for her with Reebok, and Thom Browne. So it’s been cool to see the intersection of what started off as a personal photography thing and see other big brands and companies hire you on to work because you already have this relationship with her, she knows you, trusts you. That’s been a blessing.
ADM: So what are some of the major brands you’ve worked for?
FLO: Reebok was a huge one. They have a store on 14th street and I did their campaign there it was with Cardi. I also worked with Nike. As far as publications I’ve worked with New York Times, Rolling Stones, my first Billboard magazine cover was such a blessing.
ADM: Who are your biggest influencers?
FLO: So many. But I’m really a technically sound photographer. You have to know how images work from a technical stand point. You may have the best vision but if you don’t understand the way the camera functions you’re not going to be able to execute it. So for me it’s photographers that when I look at there work they have strong composition, great lighting, great color, great use of line, motion, expression. Two photographers that come to mind for sure is this young person Kato, who was Diddys’s personal photographer. He’s my age but he started working with him personally then he started shooting album covers. He’s had so many iconic images of like Jay Z. Just off the proximity of being Diddy photographer. Obviously you get a Naomi in there, you get all these amazing moments. He posted this photo after Kim Porter died for example. Of Diddy alone in the room just looking down. I feel like he understands the visceral importance of image making. So I’ve always admired his work. Someone I reference all the time is the great photographer Gordon Parks. Or Roy DeCarava, he is another great one but he sort has been in the shadow of Gordon Parks. But he’s shot so many great jazz musicians and places like the Cotton Club. I’m trying make sure my lexicon and references are sharper. Over quarantine I watched this documentary called Through A Lens Darkly, which specifically talked about the history of the African American gaze and how photography was actually used as weapon against Black people. Used to make us look worse or to exploit. Try to paint negative pictures. But through that film I was inspired by so many names that I’m going to make a point to learn about so I can reference them over and over again.
ADM: How has 2020 been a pivotal moment for you as Black female photographer?
FLO: I think for me it’s helped remind me of my purpose. One thing that is so beautiful about about photography is that all those major events that have happened Kobe, Covid, Breonna, George Floyd, the riots, Kamala Harris. There are images that need to be shared behind all of those things. Think about when Kobe died we saw all these iconic photos, him by himself, him with his daughter, with his family. Chadwick Boseman just passed think about the photos shared of him. George Floyd protests and the Breonna Taylor protests and Ahmaud Arbery. Think about the images that were used to literally show the mobilizing of this country. It just reiterated to me my passion. How important it is to use my voice use that perspective to see things the way I see them as Black woman but also someone who is the child of two African immigrants. I feel all these different senses of self. I was raised by parents who do not have the Black American experience. They grew up in a space where they were the majority. They did not know prejudice or racism in this way. The come here they send me to school with white people I come back to Harlem and I’m being told I sound like this and that. Me trying to figure who the fuck I was then and then now trying to save my sense of self, my personality. Me finding out I was this quirky artsy person. Fast forward I’m 25 and George Floyd is killed around my birthday and remember not even watching the news. I don’t want to feel that burden now. I was like let me just get three days to turn 25. So I think it’s a culmination of feelings but in general I’m really grateful I’m really thankful to have a platform. To have a purpose and a passion I love so much. To use my voice, my education to speak on things. I’m humbled by that. I don’t want to be pigeonholed as a celebrity photographer. I shoot celebrities but that’s not something or all I’m interested in. I was in LA when Kobe passed and I was like man I wish I could take photos of what was happening. So I think perspective is everything. I hope I’m able to photograph things as accurately and as authentically as I see them.
ADM: What would you say to the young Black Girls out there?
FLO: It sounds so cliche but you really do have to love yourself. The more you embrace yourself, you get to own it. The easier things get. I almost thought it was the other way around. Like once I got my skin perfect, learn how to talk to brothas better, get a little more hips, a little more this then I would be happy. But that never comes. I may get closer to it in my thirties, or forties or wherever God willing. But that may never come. So how many days, how many years am I going to waste trying to be this unobtainable person. Just waking up every day and being joyful. And not complaining and just trying to overcome adversity and overcoming stress is the best version on myself. So to the young Black girls, I would say you’ll only be as young as you are right now. So the time wasted dwelling on whatever it is you feel that you lack is just time wasted. That anxiety that stress it doesn’t make things better doesn’t make things faster it just stresses you out. So just be patient with yourself be honest with yourself to make sure you are looking to the right resources. I’m obsessed with self help podcasts. YouTube videos and books. To be solution orientated instead of problem based. To remember we all have a purpose.
FLO NGALA: @flongala
Cover Photo & Editorial: @courtneydouglasphotography
Founder & Editor:
Musa Jackson
@iammusajackson
Creative Director
Paul Morejón
@paulmorejon
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LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH PURPOSE!
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