Meet Micah E’Lahna” Jenkins | Sport and Freelance Photographer”

We had the good fortune of connecting with Micah “E’Lahna” Jenkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Micah “E’Lahna”, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I take risks almost every time I go out for a photoshoot. I’m a young 17 yo black girl working in a very busy city in the United States, but I do it because I love the work I do, the smiles I bring on people’s faces when they get their photos back. I take risks when I challenge authority. It’s hard to get what you need when you’re so young. I feel like sometimes I have to push my way through for people to see me. I take risks when I go out to shoot on the sport fields. You gotta get used to being hit by the ball when your’e a sports photographer, especially when you’re small and hard to see. These risks though, have made me want to work harder. I love a challenge!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been taking pictures since I was 8 years old. During high school, I’ve had the opportunity to have a 2 hour photography class at a special center in the Spring Branch ISD called the Guthrie center. It calls for students who want to broaden a certain skill like arts, cooking, welding, and many other jobs, to get certifications before they are out of high school. There I was able to get my Adobe Certification in Photoshop in 2021, meaning I am proficient in editing using photoshop software and skilled in other applications like Lightroom and illustrator. As well as photography, I vlog from time to time and use Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro to create my videos. Because of my teachings during high school, I was able to open up my freelance business in 2021 and currently shoot clients and sports for yearbook during the school year. I have a website elahnaimages.com I currently run and work under my father (Laurious Jenkins) of refinedreflections.com as his photographer for his business as well. I enjoy shooting sports the most though because every game is so different and plan to become a sports photographer as a full time job. I also plan to take more artistic shoots throughout the year to make myself stand out more. None of what I have done has been easy though, from staying up until 5am to finish editing, to getting rejection after rejection from clients, it’s easy to want to give up, but I have to stick my part and follow my path. Even when it gets tough, or boring lol.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I haven’t lived in Texas long, and because of covid my adventuring has been cut short. But I enjoy the Galveston area the most. I love walking the pier with family and watching the seagulls. The colored houses across from the beach are a statement piece I love taking pictures of. Overall it’s a great place to relax and soak up the sun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Cameron Perry! Another young black photographer I look up to in Houston. Found him on instagram a few years back and fell in love with his work. His style is so different and unique it’s hard to replicate that look. I feel our styles are very different but I admire the hard work he has put into his craft. I would love to see myself mirror just a fraction of his creativity.

Website: elahnaimages.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elahna_images/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-j-26a941236

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elahna_images

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicahElahna

Image Credits
Thanks to all my models! Archie, Jax, Bella, Julie, and Deiondre!