Tyler Mitchell
At just 23 years old, Tyler Mitchell not only shattered age barriers but also broke significant racial boundaries in the world of fashion photography. His work for American Vogue’s September 2018 issue, featuring Beyoncé, marked him as the first black photographer to shoot a cover for the magazine in its 126-year history, a monumental achievement that underscores the evolving landscape of fashion imagery.
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Mitchell’s initial fascination with photography blossomed during his teenage years, with skateboarding culture playing a pivotal role in his early creative explorations. His journey to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, fueled by a passion project—a short horror film—set the stage for his subsequent foray into music video production, notably for rapper Kevin Abstract and the indie collective Brockhampton.
Eschewing the traditional route of representation, Mitchell leveraged Instagram as a platform to showcase his burgeoning talent, a strategic move that led to collaborations with esteemed brands like Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, and Converse. A trip to Cuba in 2015 inspired him to self-publish a book on Havana’s skating culture, further establishing his penchant for narrative-driven work.
Mitchell’s Teen Vogue cover on gun reform in March 2018, featuring young activists, caught the eye of Condé Nast’s corporate creative director, Raul Martinez, culminating in the groundbreaking commission to photograph Beyoncé for Vogue. This milestone in Mitchell’s career has since been followed by contributions to British Vogue, i-D, AnOther Magazine, and The Guardian, cementing his status as a sought-after photographer for brands such as Calvin Klein, Prada, Nike, and Moncler.
In recognition of his impact and innovative vision, Mitchell was celebrated among the British Fashion Awards New Wave Creatives in 2018 and featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Art & Style in 2019, highlighting his influential role in reshaping the aesthetic and cultural narratives within fashion photography.
