The Recess Bell's Black History Month campaign, Celebrating Black Creatives, looks to do just that: celebrate and collaborate with artists who are empowered by their blackness and let it reflect in their work.
Today, we present to you Godlee Sainvilus, a talented & young photographer based in New York. She recently sat down with The Recess Bell's Gina to share more about herself and her work.
Meet Godlee!
Gina: Can you share a bit about your intro into photography? What first inspired you to pick up a
camera?
Godlee: I've always known that I had an eye for taking aesthetic photos on my phone. But once Covid hit,
there was a lot of time to dive into my creative interests. Just like many others, I was on TikTok a lot and saw videos on how to do mini-photoshoots at home. I had started doing the shoots on my phone, but after a while I wasn’t satisfied with the quality of my photos. So, I bought my first camera. I took it with me everywhere, asking my friends & family if I could take pictures of them with it and it became a passion. Something about getting the perfect shot just gave me butterflies.
Gina: How has your identity and personal experience shaped your artistic vision?
Godlee: As a child, I was always into the arts. I loved to draw, dress up, preform, all of it. I loved books like Fancy Nancy, where a girl named Nancy would dress in the most outlandish and elaborate outfits and I absolutely adored them! She would use items that weren’t even clothes to decorate her beautiful outfits. Her freedom of expression was something that really stuck with me, even to this day.
The 'Fancy Nancy' book series birthed by Jane O'Connor boasts over 100 titles along with sales of over 50 million volumes -- numbers that speak to the series' immense influence.
When I go shopping, or even when I put outfits together, I always try to find unique ways of accessorizing. I was very confident as a child, but around age 6-7, that drastically changed. I started to see things about myself as a problem and was heavily influenced by others' opinions of me. Eventually, I started to experiment with the way I dressed and how I styled my hair. I used it as a creative outlet.
I strongly believe that being Haitian-American also had a huge effect on my passion for the arts. I didn’t know it as a child, but as I grew up and did my own research, I realized that art and creativity was in my blood. The artistry of Haitians is something I’ve never seen before: the vibrant colors, the medal work, the scenic photography -- those were all things I implemented into my work naturally. It bleeds through everything we do, from the way we speak to the way we cook -- there is always a creative spirit present when we do pretty much anything.
Gina: Do you have a favorite photo that you’ve taken? What makes it special to you?
Godlee: I have so much love for all of my pieces, but my favorite has to a piece from 2021 that was inspired
by Doja Cat’s release of Planet Her. This piece was one of my first real challenges when it came to editorials. This is the first piece I show people when I tell them I'm a photographer.
Gina: Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited about?
Godlee: I just recently released a shoot that I am extremely proud of. It was inspired by my inner child
and her imagination. I also have a photo series in the works that I plan on completing in late-April. It is a series that I am very excited about, centered around the bare back posed and in motion. It’ll be my first time doing a project like this and I can’t wait to see how I execute it!
Gina: For someone seeing your portfolio for the first time, how would you explain your work?
Godlee: My work is definitely a mix of everything. I don’t like to put myself in a box, especially when it comes to my work. You’ll find traditional photography, editorial, landscapes, etc. I have an appreciation for all forms of photography and it shows through my work. But if I had to pick one type, it would be my editorial work.
I like to use editorial photography to create worlds for me to escape in as I am creating them. I also love to use editorials as a way to give a visual representation of my emotions. Using lighting, props, makeup, posing and wardrobe to create these images of worlds and emotions is how I would describe my work. It's a look into the many emotions and worlds I possess.
Gina: What does Black History Month & being black mean to you?
Godlee: Black History Month and being a Black Haitian-American has been something that helped me find confidence within myself. The older I got, the more I was able to explore my communities, the culture and the expression that came with being Black and Haitian.
This major part of my identity has blessed me with so many connections and opportunities that have shaped me into the woman and the artist I am today. I remember when there were times that I wished I was something else, or looked different, but finding appreciation for the community has helped me find the love for who I am, and today I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is both an honor and a blessing to be able to call myself a member of both the Black community and the Haitian community.
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