Phyllis Iller

Spent the first half of the year quietly working with some of the most genuine people in Atlanta. ✨ For this summer season, I’m opening my calendar to connect with more of y’all. We have some beautiful things to create. ✨

https://phyllisiller.as.me/summersessions
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Client: Will Ford, Jr.

Amanda () reached out about photographing her husband, Will (), prior to his debut solo exhibition, At Second Glance, with an emphasis on documenting their twins, as well. Had no idea Will was super nice wit the brush. His work is nostalgic, revolutionary, and playful. Told him it reminded me of Barkley Hendricks. Then! The twins were a (very active) joy to photograph. We had some good laughs on set. ✨ It was also really nice to take a looser approach to family photography. More of this, please?

We photographed at Sota Studios in Atlanta - Jordan Viision curated some beautiful sets that had me brainstorming my next visit soon as I walked in. The space complemented Will’s work perfectly and you can see a piece of that in these photos.

Baby’s first rodeo didn’t disappoint! The Bill Pickett Rodeo () was as beautiful as one could imagine. I shadowed Miguel (), a bull rider, and he told me from jump: “This ain’t no Cowboy Carter.” 🐎✨ Wasn’t nothing sparkly about horse doo-doo on the ground, nevermind the boots. A sista was behind me was clacking her fan, the song ain’t even on. I turned and looked at her like Laurence Fishburne. 🐎✨ I saw an elder cowboy get on a younger cowboy because he didn’t have a hat on while riding. Issa code to it all. 🐎✨ We got an undeniable rhythm and I love that for us.

Even while working, my gaze gon always find children, women, and the shadows that my dear Caravaggio loved so much.

First self portraits in the new studio with the fellas. ✨ Shirt made by my cousin B Y S U L I!! “To be” is one of the strongest things a person can do.

They say a woman who cuts her hair bout to start some s**t. Externally, without question. Did that every time I cut my hair before. 💅🏾This time, though, I’m really focusing on doing the work to embrace the fly parts of me, to sift through and lighten my shadows. Sound mind, sound health. Wholistic type tings.

Cause, baby, I’m almost 40 years old and I don’t have time for my own bulls**t, much less someone else’s. 😂 🔪 I’m taking book recommendations, too! Flux just gifted me ’s Little Book of Big Lies. I’m ready for more.

lowercase g and her cousin were gifted tickets to see by - and now you can’t tell her nothin. 😂 Children was talking 17k miles a minute when they got in the car. “We rapped all the songs, word for word, bar for bar”

Thank you Auntie Taj for giving her this experience! She’s over the moon, still. ✨

2 things:

1. I love being her mama. Thanks for this pic, !
2. Watching my girls become young women is absolutely fascinating. The laughter, the arguments, how they resolve them, what matters to them, how they express themselves. It’s like a documentary in real time and further doubles down the fact that I love being a mama and an auntie.

Jax Day always brings out the best in everybody. ✨ I only knew Jax in passing, but it’s easier to understand the caliber of man he was through so many of the people I love. A true force. We celebrated him well on his bornday at !

Always a good time photographing the fam, too. Me and was gonna have a portrait booth, but he was (safely ✨) riding out the storm in TN and it was mad windy here. Kept it smoove and photographed the fam in another way. 🩷

Last two pics by and ! So used to documenting, I forget it’s okay to be documented, sometimes. 🩷

Radhiya is a librarian and we support librarians round these parts. 📚 A sweet spot is a good book, a comfortable seat, and time.

My Libra brother Will came through for the ✨✨

A moment with ✨

They said he be actin’ up now, I told them stop talkin’ bout my godbaby like that. 😌

A young family full of love is a beautiful thing to witness. I seen a piggy back ride, an arm wrestle, and play fighting - this was the parents. Kason watched. From my vantage point, I see two youngins with a baby, having fun and figuring life out together. Praying that sweet abundance always surrounds them. 🩷