JAI LENNARD NOW

More from my big story with @fastcompany featuring Scott Galloway 📈🌍📲 @scottgallowaynyu who is a marketing and business guru, speaker, author and runs one of my favorite podcasts, Pivot. After him is the every inspiring Porter Braswell 🙋🏿‍♂️💻🙋🏽‍♀️ @porterbraswell who has the leading career platform for Black, Latinx, and Native American students and professionals. Then Siggi Hilmarsson 🍦 @siggi_hilmarsson , founder of the incredibly successful @siggisdairy which is now stocked in Whole Food's, Target and Starbuck's across the country. Such an amazing innovative and world changing crew for the 2019 Impact Council. Huge thanks to @msjeannegraves for the assignment ❤️🙏🏿📸 #fastcompany #fcimpactcouncil https://www.instagram.com/p/B4KkSl_gDZE/?igshid=490b6el9vpix

So this happened. I'm still in shock. Of course it was only a few minutes but I got a stunning photo of @michellepfeifferofficial in this story with @fasctompany and like--omg, somebody pull me back down to earth. 💥💁🏿‍♂️💥 • •Along with Miss Pfeiffer, who just recently launched her new environmentally conscious, ingredient-transparent and genderless perfume line @henryrose, are an amazing group of designers, founders, CEO's like Imran Chaudhri ( @imranchaudhri ) , formal apple designer now helming his own business @hu.ma.ne and designer, as well as partner at @pentagramdesign , Natasha Jenn ( @njenworks ) 💫 Such a brilliant group coming together 📐🌍🔑 #FCImpactCouncil https://www.instagram.com/p/B4DdkZ9Avv5/?igshid=1m76rbl0ctu91

I preach persistence is key, but it's still strange when it pays off. The long short of it is that @fastcompany has always been a magazine client I've wanted to shoot for. Especially coming from Silicon Valley, I love seeing whose got their finger on the tech and innovative button. After emailing for over two years CONSISTENTLY, and getting no response, I decided to keep on it. All you can do is continue to make work and stay on top of what you want 💪🏿 Then I got an email this past spring from the absolutely wonderful photo editor 📸📝 @msjeannegraves (note that editors do change over the years) asking if I wanted to shoot a large portfolio of leading entrepreneurs and game changers in the field. The answer is "duh--I mean, yes!" 😂✅ • •Fast forward to this amazing gift of an opener/TOC image brought to you by the fabulous Forest Young ( @emcray ) followed by a 12 page story by yours truly featuring the Fast Company Impact Council of 2019. Industry leaders, disruptors, innovators and more coming together under the idea that they can all change themselves and the world for the better and help each other do so. • •I shot about 40 subjects of who's who in business and am so honored by the opportunity and pleasure to work with the fast co team. This is my biggest story yet and am so grateful it's about industry change and impact fulness on this earth 🙌🏿❤️🌍📸 #FCImpactCouncil https://www.instagram.com/p/B4DYjkygEje/?igshid=px13up6rr43n

Recently had a shoot that touched my soul and solidified my place in the photo world. By that I mean, I walked out of it feeling more confident and grounded than I ever have. Last week I posted that having strength requires vulnerability and seeing as how I was my most vulnerable self, I guess it’s no surprise walked off with images I haven’t felt so proud of in a long time. Probably won’t be able to share for several months to a year—it’s been like that with a lot of projects and jobs this year—but looking forward to when I can. For now, here’s @iamnataliepaul channeling that inner strength that pokes it head out in unexpected places ✨💆🏾‍♀️✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/B22B_yFAvL5/?igshid=1igldyxvkgm0x

Bobby Martin and Jennifer Kinnon of @ocdagency for @fastcompany 📐🖋✨ They are changing the way clients and the rest of the world see and interact with design. They don’t just design brands but reshape how we think about space. In Memphis , they renamed parks and outdoor areas, enhancing awareness for the people who don’t realize they have access to beautiful public spaces. It was sincerely a pleasure to sit with them, on my birthday actually 🎉, this past July and snap some photos at their offices in the East Village. Huge thanks to @msjeannegraves for the assignment and @mikahala for being my eyes on set 👀 🙌🏿❤️🙏🏿📸 #designmatters #ocdagency #fastcompany https://www.instagram.com/p/B2hAWdHAdOa/?igshid=1gz5centzcpqm

To top off another great assignment for the @nytimes, my images made it to the paper!! ✨ 📰 ✨ Out in today’s issue 👋🏿 HUGE thanks to @acelii and @giadk for the opportunity 📸❤️💫 #nytimes #speakingindance https://www.instagram.com/p/B2SRfPeAo4i/?igshid=1n59fjslrgtgf

I’ve been lucky enough to work with more than a handful of top models and A list actresses in my career so far—many in which I wasn’t shooting but assisting because I just started getting major talent 2 years ago. In all my experience none come close to the poise and elegance that @therealtraceyafrica has. She’s from a time that we don’t hold as close and it makes her so damn special. It’s a time where grace and elegance were the only option and there were so many examples but she still broke through because she exudes it. I couldn’t choose just one so swipe into elegance 💎💫🥂 #traceynorman #posefx https://www.instagram.com/p/B2E2FX4ALdN/?igshid=hqfew3gprxy6

Janet Mock and Tracey Norman for @hollywoodreporter ✨🎥✨ // Finally finished season 2 of @posefx and didn't think I could be even more grateful for meeting these two women and having so many amazing pics from this shoot. What Janet does with story telling in that show is beyond. There is so much love, fear, pain, support, drama and courage within all the characters. There's so much to learn about the trans community, yes, but also about being human. For those who don't know, Tracey is the inspiration for the character Angel Evangelista played by @indyamoore. Tracey's life story is nothing short of amazing and I suggest you read about her in an amazing NY Times article that came out last year. This is the show that reminds me know matter who you are, NO ONE accomplishes anything alone and you are truly blessed to have a group of close friends not just backing you, but FIGHTING for you. It's easy to say you support someone, but what are you really doing to make sure your people get what they are working for? So stoked I can finally share some outtakes from this shoot. Just want to add that Janet Mock is a BOSS and the energy she brings is fierce. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't very scared setting up for our shots, but by our last setup we were sharing laughs and I am deeply grateful to her and Tracey who brought it all 💫🌇😍🙌🏿🖤 #posefx #janetmock #traceynorman #houseofevangelista https://www.instagram.com/p/B2CNg62A50f/?igshid=1dyyqe5w3hb36

Sending out bday wishes to Tarriona Ball (@thinktank20 ) who came out from backstage after her @afropunk performance to give me 30 seconds before the crowd consumed her. Her band @tankandthebangas is so DAMN good. Despite how colorful her outfit was, I couldn’t help but do a B&W treatment to create something a bit more timeless ✨🎉🖤✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/B19B2pHAs1E/?igshid=o4svj94c1oxu

The Black experience is something I live, but also something I have to seek out. There is this huge spectrum of identity, love, talent, compromise, pain, art and so much more within. We are a very special people, despite how much American culture would like you to think otherwise and I say this because it takes vulnerability to take part. It takes a vulnerability even for me to step into something unfamiliar ( I grew up in a Black household within a very white community). It takes vulnerability to approach someone different, to have open conversation, to dance, to laugh, and to love someone whom is unlike you. Wether they be gay, trans, non binary, Black, Chinese, etc––and for all my male friends who don't have close female friends––a woman. Open yourself up to other marginalized groups. Be vulnerable for a moment because you will gain so much from it. To be vulnerable is NOT weak but to be human and embracing that is to be courageous. There's not a human being on this earth who doesn't deserve, love, attention and to be heard. 🖤💜❤️🧡💛💚💙 #afropunk #afropunkbrooklyn #afropunkweseeyou (at Afropunk Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1tk8lQAV84/?igshid=tfoiessif12y

“Black girls are disproportionately disciplined more harshly than their white peers for dress code violations in schools. Our natural hair is criminalized to the point of needing legislation to spell out that his against it is unacceptable. Places where Black women can show up as ourselves, feel seem and affirmed—and have fun—are as critical to the culture as they are radical in this day in age.” 🖋@bridgetmarieindc for 📖 @instylemagazine with photo gallery by me 🙏🏿📸 ✨👰🏿✨ #afropunk #afropunkbrooklyn #afropunkweseeyou (at Afropunk Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rlJF3AeYC/?igshid=1hmenancgtk5u

I just really loved this look 🌼🌷🌸🌹🌺🌻❤️✊🏿🔥 Shot for @instylemagazine ✨ #afropunk #afropunkbrooklyn #afropunkweseeyou (at Afropunk Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rPnuhAG2-/?igshid=5h8uitb9on47

Alexa, play 🎶 Send Me An Angel 🎶 by Real Life 👼🏾😎👼🏾Shot for @instylemagazine 🖤 #afropunk #afropunkbrooklyn #afropunkweseeyou (at Afropunk Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1qs9i6gVbL/?igshid=fxnzkwtl2quh

This is my 3rd year at @afropunk and it never disappoints. Even better, you can tell this is a festival that puts their money BACK into the festival. I love seeing all the creativity, brown bodies and hearing, “NO HOMOPHOBIA, NO TRANSPHOBIA, NO AGEISM, NO SEXISM, NO FAT-PHOBIA...”, because it really sets the tone. As always, this is really special for me. I grew up in a very diverse city but my community was very white. I’m still exploring my Blackness and that will never stop. I’m incredibly grateful for Afropunk and the space it provides 🖤💜❤️🧡💛💛💙 Shot for 💖 @instylemagazine 💖 #afropunk #afropunkbrooklyn #afropunkweseeyou (at Afropunk Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1pBALRAvHh/?igshid=r3j07sxcb488

Orange ya glad we’re back!!? @afropunk for @instylemagazine with huge thanks to @kellychiello for having me ✨🙏🏿✨ I’m gonna post my favorites here on insta but you can find a full gallery of images on instyle.com ✊🏿🔥🧡🔥✊🏿 #Afropunk #afropunkweseeyou #blacklivesmatter (at Afropunk Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1o1LWNAwAh/?igshid=honb03gzdasp

A few images from my first outdoor campaign ever!! It’s for @queenvlife ✨🐚✨ which is an awesome brand for the ladies to make wellness a whole lot easier. Extra special because all the amazing ladies from @doubledayandcartwright agency made this one happen and chose me to shoot it 😊 HUGE props to @alelli for art directing and @tatidon for making all the skin look soooo good ✨💌✨ • 🎨 - @alelli • 📸 - @Jai Lennard • 🎥 - @shortwave • 💄 - @tatidonaldson • 📋 - @sydneyia • 📋 - @jasminmalek • 📋 - @colleen.baisa • 💰 - @kateperkns • 📐 - @farahsofia • 👩🏾‍🦱 - @imanfree • 👩🏻‍🦰 - @janebelfry • 👧🏽 - @chuckrosie • 🐱 - @st.valentinomartinez (at Dean Street Studios - Brooklyn) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1bpZy1Br9D/?igshid=caywkbzjgyzg

@_van__van_ channeling my Monday mood: Long Lunch 👜🥃. It’s been 3 months since I shot her and @mahershalaali for @hollywoodreporter and my life has been so blessed and busy since. Finally able to share this outtake I love ✨💚✨ (at Delilah Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz8xDeKlR1h/?igshid=7cgvuuw5vz27