Life & Work with Mamesarr Seck

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mamesarr Seck.

Hi Mamesarr, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
Art satisfies, in my opinion, the human need to escape from reality. I am a dreamer. Simple. The essence of who I am has always been reliant on imagining and actively placing myself in beautiful and freeing spaces. Whether that be mentally or physically, the concept of being “free” is an everlasting feeling that I am fueled by. Everything that connects me to my art has everything to do with my story. I was born into a fairly artistic family where both of my parents were heavily involved in the art of music and dance. My mom has danced her entire life, with West African dance and culture being her first introduction to the wonderful world of movement and African diaspora. My dad is originally from Senegal, West Africa, and moved to the United States to pursue African drumming and dance professionally. Here in the U.S., my parents both shared their passions and love for dance, and they created an even more passionate kid! The arts quite literally flow through my veins and have manifested a beautiful career for me. As mentioned above, the love of art runs deep and has never stopped in one form. I am a professional dancer/choreographer and photographer born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but currently residing in Phoenix, Arizona. A multifaceted being who has always been intensely imaginative and creative. I have always had a huge personality, an attractive aura, a humorous sense, and radiating energy as a child. Two of my biggest philosophies as an artist and, most importantly, as a human is preserving “the child” in you and honoring the self. These two concepts have unwaveringly remained the driving inspiration for my art and creation. A snapshot of my story and how I connected so intensely with dance and photography, started all just from the influences of my surroundings, my upbringing, and life’s experiences. This is where the idea of the child and the self plays such a huge role in my life because, just once, I was a naive kid who hadn’t fully experienced how influential the world could be. How detrimental it could be to our child self-turning into our adult selves. As a little African girl growing up in America, I faced and am still facing the unfortunate events of hatred towards dark skin. Growing up with dark skin, natural hair, and features that are not welcomed nor appreciated in this society wasn’t easy. I suffered with self-identity, I suffered through bullying, I suffered with low self-esteem and confidence, and over time I lost the concept of honoring “the self”. If anything, I ultimately lost myself, in a world that thrives on conformity and rejects individuality. What went from a few grueling years of being insecure, then turned into a lifetime of trying to find myself again. That little girl was no longer as innocent, imaginative, as confident, beautiful, and bright as she once was. Humans seldomly take the time to reflect on how critical our adolescent years are. These years truly shape us into the being we are today, living merely off of the production of our environments. Time passed, and I began to dim my own light, and as expected, I fell in tune with the constructions of society. I shrunk. I talked quieter, I wasn’t confident in my abilities to achieve goals, I stayed in the shadows, I was unsure of my steps, and I soon began to build what would, unfortunately, be the kind of adult I turned into. I soon began to enter spaces with uncertainty, which then morphed into how others treated and viewed me. How could others see me when I couldn’t see myself? Of course, lying dormant, there was that deep part of me who still believed and who still loved. I one day picked up my old iPhone and allowed myself to imagine again. I allowed myself to free that girl of all the insecurities the world introduced to me. I began to wonder, question, admire, and fascinate myself with what I could make my own. How could I rediscover and take back what I so drastically let go of? I started with just myself, learning to spend time and love the contrast and variability that I attained. I played with makeup, I played with flowers, I played with leaves and trees, and most importantly I started to play with the idea of embracing myself. I would set my phone on irregular surfaces that were once my tripod. I spent countless hours jumping, dancing, and capturing who I was behind a camera. I laughed and giggled while all being with myself, without knowing that I was beginning a beautiful journey of self-love and honor. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, absolutely not! As I teased a bit previously, I have struggled immensely with my self-image, confidence, and identity, which then bled into the results of my efforts. I wasn’t producing nor functioning at my fullest potential; therefore, I was unknowingly holding myself in what felt like a timeless loop of struggle. It acted as a domino effect. I had gotten so used to shrinking myself that it then caused me to prioritize making sure other people were comfortable instead of myself. I learned very quickly that I had to be “too nice”, “too empathetic”, “too safe”, and “too understanding” so that I wouldn’t upset or bring any more unwanted attention to myself. As I’ve grown up and become wiser, I learned the hard way that my “acts of kindness” were simply people-pleasing characteristics. All this to say, it acts like a little seed and eventually grows into a grapevine that finds its way into different areas of your life. It’s wild how crazy just one thought, one action, one mindset could change so much. I’d say the “outside world” has been one of my biggest obstacles. And as an artist, that is why we mostly use our art to escape the world. With that being said, as artists, dancers, and photographers, we want to naturally impress and please others. But at some point, you learn to understand that at the end of the day, your art is essentially for you, and whoever attaches themselves to you and your art will soon become a part of your tribe. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am, as mentioned, a dancer of many years and various techniques, but recently I have been pouring heavily into my photography business. What started as “Seck Photography” is now “ShootingSarr Studios,” and I’m so excited to share more about my photography and my work! 

I specialize in photography as well as videography, and this all simply started with the love of capturing effortless moments that we can cherish more than once. I have always been a lover of memories and nostalgia, as I resonate a lot with my childhood. I have often found myself reliving memories simply through pictures and videos, even sometimes embodying the emotion of the picture/video. I have my mom’s old picture albums to thank for that. Naturally, as an observer and what some say, “a person who just has an eye for it”, I have always enjoyed capturing the “little things” in life. Usually, the “things” we overlook and underappreciate. That could be the memory we were in that we weren’t fully present in or just the small detail of a smile. I believe everything tells a story, and being able to capture just a fraction of that story is really powerful. Experiencing another reality other than your own, if you will. 

As a photographer, I am a great listener with the ability to adapt to change as it occurs. I have great attention to detail, and I am enthusiastic, patient, and communicative. I believe this sets me and my business apart from others for many reasons. We live in a progressive world, and nowadays, you rarely find people who are into the arts for art’s sake. It usually is money or attention-driven. Another main reason my business is set apart from others is that I have a deep appreciation for “the self”. I appreciate my clients as individuals. My clients feel comfortable and confident when they are shooting with me because, as a photographer, I never make people feel like they need to change anything about themselves to get the “shot.” I simply use their own personal image to build the essence of the shoot. It speaks for itself. 

Our mission is simple. To appreciate the artistry of life through the lens of a camera. To always supply an unforgettable experience, as well as lasting memories that you will always be able to revisit. And, of course, wanting to come back and book again haha! 

What was your favorite childhood memory?
OMG, I have so many! To keep it simple, anything dealing with traveling with my parents, being able to go outside and play with my friends in my neighborhood, and experiencing all the fun field trips that I’d go on as a child. I also miss recess; I wish that gave us recess as adults! WE NEED IT! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootingsarrstudios/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeckPhotography
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeckPhotography

Image Credits
Polo Gibson
@ShootingSarrStudios