A Conversation with kendrafilmz: Photographic World Building, Music Lover & Self Assurance

It’s around 2pm and I (Elisha) have walked through the maze that is Canary Wharf to get to ‘Black Coffee’ and have a conversation with kendrafilmz. As I wait, I get a terrible lychee drink to show the people who work there that I do plan on staying a while. Not long after, Kendra walks in, with her signature green braids and winged liner smiling and greeting me with a warm hug. At this moment I knew it was going to be a great conversation. 

kendrafilmz, is a young black photographer who’s work I have been keeping up with over the past year. She is able to explore the beauty in black people, being one of the photographic voices of the current ‘Undergound’ music scene. Most notably, Kendra shot the ‘GHANAMUSTGO’ cover. A cover that accompanied music that we will be dancing to for many years to come. This year she had her first solo exhibition called, ‘Eternal Solace’ where she displayed many of her prints over the past couple years. The room was lit, with bright colours, love and friendship. Something that she explores a lot within her photographic work. The beauty of Kendra for me, is her kindness and self assurance. There is a confidence that isn’t quiet but very open. It was clear in this conversation that she regards herself and works very highly. And you should too. 

What was the first instance where you picked up a camera and thought you could begin a career out of this? 

The moment, when I thought I could make this a career was not necessarily by me picking up a camera. Because I have always been interested in documentation. I knew that I was always going to do something media related. Where it started was because of my mum always having photo albums around the house and I would look at them and wanted my youth to look like this. 

I didnt realise at the time, but it cemented this idea inside of me that I want my teenagehood to be fun without thinking of documenting. But looking at how much fun my mum was having with her friends in being herself I was like I want to have fun. 

When I was 6/7 I would go to my bestfriends house after school and she would make me watch music videos that were popping at the time. All the early 2010s, videos. We would watch the BTS aswell, because they would release it a week after. We were on our zoom and that's what inspired me. I thought, I want to make stuff. From there I was in secondary school in year 9 and I got a disposable camera and brought it into school, took pictures of my friends and that's how it started. 

What was the music video that your bestfriend showed you that sparked your interest in this world? 

‘Wide awake’ by Katy Perry. That music video, BTS video is insane! When she has purple hair and she's pushing the walls away. There were so many different aspects of that video like the VFX is crazy. There's a scene where she's walking down the hallway and the floor is breaking. They showed how they made that. 

People tend to shit on having a traditional way into art via school. They think it tends to strip away your creativity. So do you feel like it has helped or done something negative to your creativity going to film school and studying that? 

I would say going to film school actually pushed me away from the film industry. Not because of the course, the school I went to was very hands on and practical and focused on getting you connected. They gave you a lot of freedom aswell, the briefs were quite broad. Finding out about the UK film industry made me uninterested. It's not necessarily something I would like to tap into at the moment. I just found more love in music, and music videos. I realised that was more accessible to me. Me, going into this whole world of music photography, fashion photography feels more accessible to me so why not pursue this whilst I can. The film stuff can come later. 

You mention music photography, a lot of your photos have been a way for me to be introduced to different artists. 

That's interesting which artist? 

Probably like Brooklyn Lodovico. I remember his shoot for Avirex, and everyone was reposting it. That's when I connected the dots. Because we [Elisha and Kendra] crossed paths at the Olive Morris Ceremony (2024), and we spoke a bit in the DM’s but that occurrence was me seeing your work in real time. 

That was early, that was last year Novemeber. 

Your work is playing that pivotal role in music right now, in world building. What is your connection with music specifically that allows you to create images that capture the sound that these artists are making? 

Music plays a huge part in my life. Music takes me back to certain points in my life. I am also a serial playlist maker, I will make a playlist, no matter the occasion!

Would you DJ then? 

Yes! I would DJ, that would come down the line maybe like next year. But I dont want to fall into a cliche, photographer to DJ pipeline (laughing)

You could do a one off set, like a surprise set!

Yes! Music overall is important to me, growing up my mum would play different genres of music. I was always around music, she used to manage French artists

and she had a creative side to her. Though she didnt fully pursue it, seeing her hard work and dedication within that field showed me that music is really important. 

What connects me is the artist, visuals, literally everything. The sounds, every part of music captivates me. It was such a natural thing for me to work with artists, I always knew I wanted to work with artists eventually. World building is very important too, so to be a part of that is everything. There is definitely a duty and responsibility that I have to carry out.

That's beautiful, and made me a bit emotional. Responsibility is actually a very beautiful way to describe that. Everyone who is involved in music, we all have a responsibility. 

Absolutely! People dont even realise how many songs have been written about them, without them even knowing. Artists write songs about different people. Or something that reminds them of someone, music connects every single part of that. It connects everything.  

What was the music your mum was playing to you growing up? 

She would play a lot of french rap, classic RnB like Lauryn Hill, Tracey Chapman. When I think about my mum I think about the ‘Mideducation of Lauryn Hill’ and Tracey Chapman. French rap especially though because we lived in the South of France. 

Really? Did you like it there?

I think the South of France is lovely and beautiful but the mentality that the French have isnt the best. That is why my mum moved here because she didnt want her daughter growing up around that, even for herself aswell. I am very grateful that we moved, it's nice to visit and go on holiday. In terms of opportunity and work aswell, is not the one especially for what I'm doing. 

Je parle francais? 

Oui, oui je parle francais!

I dont know how to speak french, I just wanted to do that (laughing)

I was going to say the rest of the interview will be in French now! 

I’m half Congolese so I grew up around it.

Oh, I’m not a British citizen, I have a french passport!

Omo…..

No,no  they’re not going to deport me. I have indefinite leave to remain (laughing). 

She got her papers, okay!

One thing I have noticed is that your film and digital style are very different. Outside of film and digital being different mediums. I will say the feeling you have in your film is very different. The way I see it, your film is very familial and I think now that you mention the photos of your mum growing up. I see that, though I havent seen the photos you're referring

to. I see where you're getting at. Especially Kendra with friends at events. It feels like a family photo. Your digital style is very mature, it's like two sides of the same coin. Is this something you're doing intentionally? 

When it comes to shooting film versus digital, obviously film is what I started with so it's what I'm most comfortable with hence why it probably has this familiar sense to it. The account kendrafilmz, started to put photos of my friends in school. It was nothing professional at first, it was literally so my friends could have the pictures. 

It took me quite long for me to figure out my visual style with the digital photos. Because at first when I started seriously shooting digital I would try to replicate the film pictures. Then I was like I can't do it because it's not the same medium. So I dont know if it's intentional or not, but I guess if I dont know then that means no. I would say my digital style is starting to come together, it's starting to feel solidified slightly but I always try and make sure that even digitally my pictures still have a comfortable, homey feel to them. Because with film, it being shot on film does half  the job of making the picture feel familiar. But shooting with both (film and digital) is intentional. I wouldnt go to an event and shoot digital. 

Why?

For me, I think it's because I started off shooting on film and there is a lot more pressure on digital to make them look good and make them stand out. Especially in this scene where you got 100,000 shooters at the same event-

No shade

No shade, no shade, hence why I dont shoot events. Even when I shoot events I’m just taking pictures of my friends. I dont edit my film pictures as much as I edit digital pictures. Because the film one’s im trying to keep that feeling, unless its to do particular tweeks that only I can see. That makes it a kendrafilmz film photo. 

Okay so…why dont you shoot events? 

Hmm, why dont I shoot events? That's a good question. In this particular scene that is what I started with and I feel like that's kind of a right of passage. Because going to events, you meet people, shoot them, send the photos to them, then they start messing with you ect. It got to the point where I just didnt like shooting events, it got repetative. There is a difference between events and  concert photography aswell. Even for those two, I'm not a big fan of them because it feels like such a rat race enviroment with the shooters especially. Especially in that one moment when all the shooters are surrounding the artist trying to take that one photo. I dont see myself in that category at all, I’m not in a rat race, I'm in my own lane doing what I’m doing and I dont compete with others like that. And that is just an environment where I'm made to feel like I have to compete with other people. Like physically competing for the photos. 

But everyone is different, some people love shooting events because they love the energy that it comes with. I would rather be backstage shooting there. 

Do you feel like it lacks creativity? 

1000%. I made a tweet about this the other day saying that event photography is not that impressive to me. Because when I think about the shoots that have stayed with me, it's never an event. It's either a magazine cover, or fashion week or family photos, or a cover art. No one has taken a picture at an event and I’ve thought ‘oh my gosh this is a picture of the year I’m never going to forget that’. (laughing) They’re going to cancel me for this. 

No, no, no its honest (laughing)

I just really dont find it that impressive. At events these days there are 100,000 photographers on the stage all trying to get the same picture and it's just a lot less creativity. You're all working with the same light set up that you can never control. You're not going to tell the light technician to do this and that for the picture. You can edit it if you want, but overall it's just a lot less creative to me, than other forms of photography. But each to their own, for me it was just a right of passage. For others that's their carear. 

Do you feel like with event photography it's in real life vs the photo type of situation? Because the way media pits look in real life can be bizarre, since they take up a lot of space in events. When you're there at the event it's not always enjoyable to be around so many photographers. So is it worth that? 

It's not.  Maybe they realise it, maybe they dont. But a lot of people use event photography to shoot whoevers bait at the moment and think that would make a good photo, just because you shot so and so.

You're saying everything I think too. 

Like the pictures are not good mama (laughing). If the most striking thing about your photography is your subject, then-

Chop!

Yep, chop! Is it really photography? 

As a young woman within this industry what is something you didnt expect to experience? 

It's a bunch of things, there is a side of me that doesnt really deep it that much because me being a woman in a male dominated industry doesnt stop me from doing anything. The only thing is I didnt realise how much it can define me. And that's something I have learnt especially this summer. 

People have said to me ‘No one else is doing things the way you're doing in our scene’. And I’m like what are you saying? Someone came up to me at an event the other day and said ‘it's really cool to see you do your thing because no-one else that looks like you is doing what you're doing’. I guess theyre saying it because I am a black woman in a male dominated scene.

It sounds like a back-handed compliment

Yes and no, but I think it leads back to the responsibility thing. But for me it's like, why would I not? Especially this scene that is based on black art. Why would a black woman not be at the forefront of it? In terms of something that shocked me.. People will look through you. Intentionally, it's strange until they realise you're with certain people. They will try to use you as an ‘in’, and try to think that you're silly. And, I'm very smart, I'm very smart. The beautiful thing is connecting with other black women creatives within this. 

I will say that's something, this year I was glad I was able to do. Meet a lot of other black women in this. Men really over-shadow everything. 

They really do, and they encourage bullshit. 

What is your creative process?

This is a question I think a lot about how I’m going to answer because it still feels like I'm shooting friends. But now I'm in the habit of going to shoots and setting up lighting. My creative process differs from actually being on a set vs editing. In my editing creative process I have gotten the hang of more and a lot better. But then with shooting I always do whatever feels natural. 

Okay so, the ‘GHANAMUSTGO’ cover, how did that come about? 

So, N4T and I have been friends for a while. I shot a cover for him and his song, ‘Dont Sweat’ and the print was at my exhibition. I knew that he had been working on a tape and then he asked me. It was actually very quick, he shouted me and said I want to shoot this cover and you're going to shoot it for me and I was like say less. One of his friends, Joy, had drawn some sketches which were really cool. And he had a bunch of different photo references of old school and new ghanaian and british staple images. The shoot itself was super fun as well. Then Retz, the guy that edited it, he's literally a magician. The way he comes up with his designs, he did my sticker logo too. It was really and truly a team effort. It's the best thing I have shot so far, it's amazing seeing a sketch drawing come to life. It's done a lot for me too, I feel like people are taking me properly seriously. 

They werent taking you seriously before? 

You know when you have that feeling that people see you at a more elevated level? I feel like that shoot did that for me. There were events I was going to after, where countless people were coming up to me and saying how much they loved the cover. 

The thing about N4T’s music and the tape itself is that it's very feeling based. He’s always talking about bringing the feeling back so I guess the cover just had to do that. 

How do you balance passion and pressures of economic gain? 

For me at least, compromise is a huge thing. Trusting the process too. Sometimes you have to be willing to make the sacrifice. Being okay with saying no to things aswell. Understanding when something that doesnt align with me. Standing on that helps you to balance out that passion. Though sometimes you do have to say yes to those things because of resources, bills have to get paid. 

Why was it important for you to do your own art exhibition? Typically artists wait for gallerys to take their work and curate for them? 

It got to a point where I felt too comfortable in what I was doing. I came up with the idea last November and it was like I want to do one next summer (2025). It was important for me because of tangible art. There is a real disconnect with understanding the importance of tangibl art in this day and age. People always feel like it has to be some grand thing like a huge painting or something, why can't a small local photographer do an exhibition? It was me thinking, what else can I do to separate me from the rest. But even growing up my mum would take me to a whole bunch of art exhibitions and stuff, making sure I was increasing my cultural capital. I wanted to feel fulfilled in my work. 

Friendship and community has come up a lot in this interview, why are they very important to you as a person? 

I’m someone who has had friendships for many years. One of my oldest friends is 20 years old and our mums were friends. Then I have my friends from primary school, my tightnit circle from secondary school. Those are real authentic friendships to me. I dont think length validates a friendship though. I think you can meet someone recently and the connection is just as strong. Having people who follow you, and see you through different eras in your life accept you for who you are. Obviously there are rips in the tide, but when you love and care for eachother it pulls through. Every single person I consider a close friend has taught me something valuable in this life, makes me up as a person. We all carry the people we love, know and hate. Everyone has an effect on us, and it's just beautiful that it has been able to translate in my art. 

In friendship one person's win is everyones win. When Hez, (HKliving) posts a sick music video I’m always very proud or when EHSI releases an insane song I'm like this is crazy! When my friend Joyce (Flowerovlove) comes out with her insane music or visuals it feels like I won. 

That’s so beautiful. Do you think love is the opposite of hate or do you think they co-exist with eachother?

They can definitely co-exist. Your hate for someone can be fueled by your love for them. I dont think they are polar opposites of eachother. I honestly believe everything in this world exists because of love or the lack of love. That's just the foundation of life for me. 

In regards to your photography, I love the way you shoot black women. You present them as very soft and glamorous. When I look at your work that’s something I have noticed. Especially the Gabriella Cole photoshoot, I just thought it was really beautiful. Is this something you're thinking about when shooting black women? 

I wouldnt say I'm activily thinking about depicting someone as ethereal. But it all comes down to the environment we create when shooting. When I shoot it's a very comforting enviroment, which translates in the camera. I am a black woman myself so I feel like I'm the best person to be shooting black women becuase it's like shooting myself. 

What do black women mean to you?

Everything and more. Black women are the foundation of everything in this life. It's hard to describe because it's a feeling more than anything. Black women, its love. 

What do you hope to do culturally with your work?

This is something I think about a lot, I definitely want to emphasise the importance of black women shooting in a space that is predominatly black. Putting black women at the forefront of things period. We are true pioneers. I want people to feel like they are not occupying space when they are spreading their message. The right people will hear it and feel it. Also true community, a lot of people will treat it like a gimmick, or a buzzword. I want to bring the true feeling of community and embrace that in my work. But this is just for now, I know it's going to change. 

How has photography shaped your world-view? 

If you look on my photography page, it kind of explains how I see the world. There are super vibrant colours, beautiful black people. I love my feed purely because of the colour. It's kind of like Kendra vision when you look through it. That’s an interesting question. 

There is so much love in your photos! You definitely shoot people in the best ways. 

Ok, time for some fun questions… What's something people would be surprised to know about you? 

I really dont like cooking. When I'm rich and up I will not be cooking for myself. It’s giving personal chef. 

If you were to cook your best meal, and you know someone will like this, what are you making? 

I dont make any exquisite meals, probably rice and chicken. There is a french dish, where it's potatoes and you layer it with double cream and cheese. It sounds basic but it's banging. Also I make a really good risotto aswell. I had a baking era aswell. 

I mean if you can bake, you can cook because baking is way harder than cooking. Have you had tiramisu? I know everyones kind of obsessed with that right now. 

I had a tiramisu in Italy. Actually it was banging. I’ve never actually made one. I really love desserts though. I have a really big sweet tooth. 

What's your faviroute dessert? 

A good Eclairs, Creme bu le. A  lot of the French ones. Brioche french toast with maple syrup and extra chocolate chips. Oh my God. 

I feel like African people love brioche though. Once Brioche is in the house its gone in like an hour. Brioche bread is the best. 

It really is!

Who created a bread that is sweet, that you can eat with nothing on it, that you can eat at any point in the day. 

It's so perfect because you can eat with nothing or something and it's perfect! Wow, I’m going to crash out over brioche bread (laughing)

You can have the roll, the slices you can have it in a loaf. It's so versatile.

It's kind of underrated, people dont appreciate Brioche enough.

They dont! It's not even expensive aswell, you can literally just go and buy it. Okay films, what's your genre of your choice? 

I love a good rom-com. My comfortant films or shows always have a bit of romance. I had an era where I really loved fantasy films. As of right now, I love a cheeky romance. 

If you are directing, what is a perfect romance film? 

We’re not doing the friends to lovers trope, chop! I fuck with the invisable string theory, so it will be something like that. They get together, and they think that this is it. Break up, a couple years go by. And then they have to end up happily ever after. Or something completely gut wrenching, something like ‘One day’. 

Okay so, what's your favrioute love song? 

It's called ‘Is it a Crime’ by Sade. I feel like she’s so down bad in that song but its so necessary. She literally says ‘My love is wider than Victoria Lake, Taller than the Empire state.’ That’s such an insane metaphor to describe your love for someone. And Amy Whinehouse she definitely has some gut wrenching love songs. But that's what makes her, her. ‘Is it a Crime’, is the perfect love song to me. 

Are there any songwriters you really like? 

At the moment, Ravyn Lanae. Her new album ‘Bird’s Eye’, amazing. My faviroute songs on the album will have to be ‘Days’ and ‘Pilot’. 

It has such a beautiful message too. People dont take things from you for only a few days. 

There's this poem by Warsan Shire and she’s like ‘You can't make homes out of people someone shouldve told you that’. I feel like that poem relates to the song ‘Days’ so much. I feel like as humans we’re all kind of codependent whether we want to admit it or not. 

No, 100% definitely by nature. We need to be.

‘Days’ is about how you thought this person was your home and now they're not but that dont mean that theyve taken something from you, it just means that your days are gone. It just means that youve lost days and you'll be ok. 

The message in that song is so beautiful. 

What do you think is the biggest lesson that you've learnt from your early teens to now early adulthood? 

Patience is one of them. I grew up very impulsive but through the exhibition I learnt that you have to be patient. Because you can't curate the whole thing in one day. It took months to come about. When I was about 15, I started to lose the concept of everything being black and white, two things can be true at once, two things can co-exist. Being okay, with the grey area. And confidence. That is something I began developing in my late teens.