Sioux Falls Photographer - Shades of Beauty Photography Project - Mekdelawit Sweets

In my work as a photographer, I have photographed all sorts of people from all kinds of backgrounds. I started my career photographing mainly children and went into families, commercial, and in these last few years have made a niche for myself photographing both young people and strong women in our community.

From that, sourced a project that was truly dear to my heart - the “Shades of Beauty” Photography where I could marry my love for taking inspirational portraits of women in our community and making young women feel empowered through portrait photography. For this project, the specific scope was celebrating all of the different “shades” that we come in. As an immigrant to this country, a woman and as a photographer, I couldn’t ask for a project that hit closer to home.

This photoshoot was a collaboration with my amazing team, Tonasha at Beauty by Tonasha who provided professional hair services and Danica at American Beauty, SD who provided professional airbrush makeup for all of the models. Tonasha, Danica and I work on so many sessions together in the year that this project was the perfect collaboration that celebrated all of our passions.

As soon as I confirmed all of the details for the session, I put out a model call searching for 9-10 different models of high school age and from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds within the Sioux Falls community. The response was beautiful as submissions came in and was saddened I could only choose such a small group.

For this session, all of the models wore skin toned tops and jeans for a causal, yet editorial look. I wanted all of the girls to feel like their pictures were soft, yet trendy and could definitely be in an issue of Vogue! When session day came, I could not believe how everything came together as I photographed the girls individually with their headshots and then in a group.

I was so honored when this project caught the eye of Renee at Keloland who came over while we were doing the session and interviewed myself, Tonasha and a few of our models. That night, after the amazing session was over, I was able to come home and see our project aired for the community to see. (Link Blow)

My heart is full, my creativity ignited and the relationships I have built through this session are unforgettable. I am not sure what the future holds but I hope that it will be filled with more projects like this continuing to celebrating and uplift others!

Shades of Beauty - Keloland Feature: https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/local-photographer-celebrating-diversity-with-shades-of-beauty-photoshoot/

Leave a comment

2 Comments

Mar 26, 2022, 11:19:05 AM

Maggie Sweets - Thank you so much!! Your words mean a lot!

Mar 25, 2022, 11:40:09 PM

Winadapooh - Ah-mazing! This is exactly what the world need to see and love. Theses photos are absolutely gorgeous! Excellent concept.

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