She Turns Your Vision Into Reality

My first Sol Spotlight is dedicated to one of my sisters: Joeyannie Etienne, otherwise known on Instagram as @certifiedvisuals_byjoey, which is her photography business "where your vision becomes reality."

I have witnessed my sister's growth in many aspects, but specifically in photography. It all started as a hobby, a creative outlet to express herself. She would come up with concepts and create them from her vision, utilizing her friends as models and networking to make connections during her time at USF. She taught herself how to retouch photos and properly use a camera by learning its mechanics through YouTube, experienced photographers who shared tips and tricks, and simply through trial and error.

My sister has created numerous projects and collaborated with other photographers, videographers, and artists. She developed multiple series including: "For Colored Girls," "Black Power" for Black History Month (inspired by the Black Panther Party), "Black is King," and "Koulé" for Haitian Flag Day. She highlighted the beauty of black hair in all its forms. That reminds me...... she also created a series called "Different Shades of Us."

She secured paid gigs from the African Student Association (ASA) to photograph events and captured images conveying joy, vibes, and blackness at tailgates with D9 sororities and fraternities. Her current photography focus centers on graduation photoshoots, portraits, wedding engagements, and baby showers.

The list goes on. It's extensive, lol.

I've seen the ups and downs, the challenges, and the moments where she felt she lacked direction and didn't know what to do next. While I've been there to encourage her and remind her of all the great work she's created, I can't take credit for her continual decision to keep going and never give up. She's always making shit happen and using all her resources to make the best of what she has.

All this to say that witnessing her tenacity—from photography as a hobby to building a business where she creates concepts and materializes them in the physical world, crafting something she can call her own and using it to express herself and impact others' lives—played a significant role in me creating this website.

The medium my sister uses to create, tell stories, and express herself is photography. I, on the other hand, have chosen writing.

I distinctly remember my maternal grandfather "Papi Res" telling me (in Haitian Creole) that as the eldest and only son, I should always position myself between both my sisters to provide support and protection. What neither he nor I realized until recently is that just as much as I've been a pillar for them, they have both been pillars for me.

They're my lifeline.

I can't wait to see what medium my other sister chooses to express herself. In the meantime, I want to honor mi hermana, Joeyannie, because her very existence has impacted me for the better.

She is an innovator, creator, full of positive energy, and just REAL—authentically herself. She played a role, whether she realizes it or not, in turning my vision of creating a blog into reality.

When you finally read this, seester, always know te quiero mucho.

Until next time,

Tricky Sol