‘For My Daughters’ By Kaci Merriwether-Hawkins

Self Portraits by Kaci-Merriweather Hawkins

“Shooting black women is the most rewarding feeling,” says photographer Kaci, 23, “but I also feel the pressure to create something that my daughters can be proud of, something I can hang on their walls, and something they can see themselves as one day.”

Kaci Merriweather-Hawkins for Beats by Dre

“Growing up I always had a camera,” says Kaci. “My grandfather did photography as a hobby. I was always really inspired by how every time we were out or just inside with family, he always had a camera.

“I’ve always created with my hands. It started with creating sounds on a piano, then putting stories and experiences on paper, which turned ultimately into capturing images of what I’ve always seen as the most beautiful art— Black people.” The multifaceted artist discovered her love for photography after picking up a camera and documenting her time at Tuskegee University before graduating in May of 2021. Although her major was Animal Science, Kaci found herself inspired by the community of Tuskegee which jumpstarted her career in photography.

When speaking about her work and what she gravitates towards the most she says, “Really I just kind of do everything right now but my passion work is mostly just portraits and lifestyle. Theres definitely a difference between my clientele work and my passion work.” Kaci hopes her work will make a positive impact on how children view their beauty. Her work displays the images she wished she could look to while growing up.

In the future Kaci would like to merge her love for photography with philanthropy saying “I look forward to taking my projects beyond the screens and prints and using them to build and organize for different organizations and programs in my community. I want to find ways to mix art with activism and organizing and make things happen beyond the portfolio.”

Keep up with the photographer on Instagram and view a collection of her visuals on her website, here.