by

Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins, MFA, PhD

The Scholar with a Camera!

When I step into my studio, I feel it. The presence. The purpose. The power. This work I do—this image-making—isn’t just photography. It’s ministry. It’s freedom work. It’s joy.

Portraiture called me because I believe in our beauty. I believe in our light. Frederick Douglass knew it too. He understood that portraits could be a form of protest, a declaration of dignity. A way for us to be seen as God sees us—Black, bold, and beautiful.

That’s what I’m after every time I pick up my camera, the presence and power of the Spirit. I’m not just snapping photos. I’m co-creating sacred moments with the people who walk through my doors. I’m capturing the divine spark in each of us—the Imago Dei.

I feel it when we connect in the studio. When the music plays, when the laughter bubbles up, and when the nerves melt away. I feel it when I look at the screen and say, “Yes, that’s it!” Not just because the lighting is right—but because the light in you showed up.

That’s why I do this. I do it to see God. To honor the legacy of our people. To celebrate every curve, every smile, every strand of silver hair with reverence. I do it for love—of the craft, of the culture, and of you.

And then comes the moment—the moment we pause and look at the images together. The room stills. You see yourself. Really see yourself. And the spirit rises. The breath catches. Because in that moment, you see what I see: beauty, strength, holiness.

That’s when I know we’ve done it. We’ve made more than a portrait. We’ve made a statement. We’ve made a memory. We’ve made art that says, “I am here, and I am worthy.”

That’s what portraiture is for me. It’s a love thang. And I’m grateful to do this work with you—because when you walk into my studio, you become family.