Brooklyn Photographer Empowers Black Creatives Through Studio Access

A Brooklyn photographer opened up his own photo studio to inspire Black and queer artists to pursue a full-time career in the arts. 

“Don’t give up,” says Antonio Jefferson, a photographer who opened his DUMBO studio in April 2023 in part to support up-and-coming creatives.

Jefferson said he encourages Black and LGBTQ photographers to use his studio, at 53 Bridge St., because there's a lack of support for minorities to be a full-time creative. The Black community isn't very supportive of individuals who want to pursue an arts career, which leaves many would-be creatives without the support and knowledge needed to tap into what makes them special, he said.

Though Black people are creative in nature, not many people pursue it to the extent of making it a full-time career, he said. Instead, many choose to only pursue their gifting as a hobby while working in other avenues. 

“In the Black community, when you go into arts, it's like, it's not safe, it's very scary,” Jefferson said. “It isn't that we don't have the support, it's that we don't have the knowledge. We don't have anybody that we know… Nobody was a photographer, and made it big to have a photography studio. 

Jefferson, who learned how to take photos while living overseas in a military family, said that while he enjoyed taking photographs of people, he noticed that he would have to continuously seek out studio spaces to bring his vision to life. When clients would reschedule or cancel their photo sessions, he would often be left to foot the bill.

In addition, Jefferson often felt discriminated against when booking a studio for shoots. Before he owned his own space, many studio owners wouldn’t accept the booking or would stand around while he used the space to monitor him, a habit they wouldn’t normally do for other clients, he said. 

“So, I was like, you know what, I want to give minorities, people of color and [the] LGBTQ [community], the space where you can come create in a beautiful environment,” Jefferson told BK Reader.  

With these issues in mind, Jefferson decided to purchase his own space to make everything accessible for Black and queer creatives. His studio includes equipment rentals and he often helps clients with artistic direction when needed.   

Jefferson’s space has even transcended beyond the usual studio for photography or video shoots. People have hosted community gatherings, baby showers, workshops and classes. Most of all, Jefferson hopes more Black artists take a leap of faith and pursue a full-time career in the arts. 

"You don't really know people that do stuff like that, so it's not necessarily a career to us," he said.

Though navigating entrepreneurship can sometimes be difficult, Jefferson said creatives need to learn how to diversify their earnings. As a photographer, he brings in revenue through his photo shoots with individuals and corporate clients, renting out his photo studio, selling merchandise and smaller print sales. 

“Never take a ‘no’ as a bad thing,” Jefferson said. “A lot of the time, God is just showing you that it isn't for you, or this isn't the time for you, or something else better is coming, or whatever the case may be, everything happens for a reason. Put in the work.” 

You can find out more information about the Antonio Jefferson Studio here.