Deontae Wilson

School: Wayne State University 

Year: Freshman

City: Detroit

My magazine spread explores fashion as confidence, identity and self-expression from the controlled environment of the studio to a more casual street setting. I chose this theme because this was my first time photographing fashion portraits in a real studio, and I wanted to push myself beyond the type of photography I usually do. The first part of the spread uses corporate-inspired outfits, structured poses and dramatic lighting to make professional clothing feel bold and editorial. As the images move into couples portraits and casual streetwear, the story opens up to show another side of style: more personal, relaxed and expressive. I used directional lighting, deep shadows, close-up portraits, full-body images, negative space and selective focus to bring attention to the models’ features, clothing and mood. My goal was to create a magazine-worthy series that shows fashion is not just what you wear — it is how you carry yourself.