Today we’d like to introduce you to Malik Gist.
Hi Malik, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up with an immigrant mother that was able to be successful because of her college education, and a father who has at most a GED (I think), I was always under the impression that college was a necessity in order to live my dreams. ever since my mother got breast cancer in 2007, I grew up wanting to be a doctor so I could “find the cure for cancer”. Although I was a naive young child, that sparked what I thought was my love for science and medicine. However, that wasn’t my true passion. My mother brother and father were all artists. My brother is a skilled graphic designer with a degree from full sail university, my mother hand-made ceramic dolls, and my dad could always draw. Then there was me, the kid who would get in trouble for daydreaming in class. I wanted to just create things, anything that would make my “daydreams” reality. I always had a fascination with cameras. I used to make YouTube videos, and take pictures of my friends. My close friend and I, Chris Leach (@shotbycozy on Instagram) both picked up the hobby around the same time and basically learned together. In bringing this hobby to college, I realized that the degree that I have been slaving over since 2018 isn’t even something I want. Here I was able to create and meet other creatives and finally realized this is what I wanted to do every day of my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road I’ve taken and am still on has not been easy. Throughout this journey, I had to make tough decisions for myself. Between school, work, and my art, I have to find time for all of them. Sometimes I’d find myself struggling to pay bills to buy new equipment, skipping class to take pictures, and even sneaking into another college to take pictures of a rapper. Some days I’d struggle with what I was doing with my life. If I was maki the right decisions if it was even possible to make my dreams a reality. But here I am, still fighting to make my dreams a reality.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an African American and Costa Rican lifestyle and portrait photographer. In my years as an artist, I’ve worked with multiple musical artists and brands, and I continue to freelance. I take pride in my art, striving to cultivate meaning and substance behind every piece of art I create. I focus largely on minority and African American culture because we are the most underrepresented people in America and I’m trying to change that. I don’t know what I’m best known for but I would hope it’s how authentic and natural I try to make my work look and feel. I’m most proud of my evolution as an artist when it comes to an appreciation for art and photography itself. I think what sets me apart is how my work conveys an organic and realistic feeling while still being majestic and unique to the eye.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I watch a lot of YouTube. A few of the creators I watch are the art of Photography, Willem Verbeeck, and my favorite photographer at the moment, Vuhlandes. I also study the work of other artists in other mediums, not just photography. Some examples would be the creators above, American painter Edward Hopper, film photographers, Zay Maverick and Gunner Stahl, and French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Pricing:
- $110 for 1hr
- $135 for 1hr
- $210 for 2hr studio session
- $85/hr for events (2hr min)
Contact Info:
- Email: squidlik@gmail.com
- Website: www.squidlik.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squidlik/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/squidlik
