Meet Geneiva Weeks | Creative| Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Geneiva Weeks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Geneiva, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
The creator industry is a growing one and “creative” is a term that encompasses many different gifts, talents, and titles all under one hub. Creatives in the art and entertainment industry should be valued for their contribution to the overall fabric of society. It can be mentally exhausting to constantly push ourselves to generate cool, fun & interactive ideas for our audiences and fan base; most times we use our imagination daily.

Creating also takes time, just like any other form of art, formulating and executing the idea the way you see it is a process that requires external support at times. I’m really excited to see it evolve, especially here in the Caribbean; the talent is immense and being able to express this through art and entertainemnt is one way to entertain and educate people.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think of myself as a visual storyteller, everything I capture through my lens is a representation of where I am physically, mentally and sometimes emotionally. Like they say a picture can say 100 words. I aspire to continue capturing Caribbean stories from real people in a way you don’t see represented on mainstream media. People have told me that what sets me apart from others is my humility and authenticity behind my work and I’m humbled my the love and appreciation for my art and what I do. I’m blessed to be able to express this way because this is really just me sharing my world and my experiences; I hope to continue to connect with others through art as well.

Growing up, “creative” wasn’t an actual thing, or job title. I want to use my growing platform to create opportunities and spaces for more creatives like myself, a space where they’re valued and understood. Created for creatives by creatives.

I’ve never had formal training in this industry, I’m self taught photographer. So what am I proud of? I’m proud of my growth: growth in a passion that I didn’t expect to consume me as much as it has over the years, growth to become the kind of person that can deliver a vision in hopes to impact and connect.

Looking back on my childhood now, I can see the signs that would lead me to the creative I am today. Whether it was my love for art, manifested through drawing or my love of music, manifested through writing/rapping… creative expression has always been a huge part of my personal evolution, whether I was aware of it or not.

I always enjoyed taking photos but didn’t take photography seriously until I opted for more storage and bought myself a camera. Doing this created a safe place for me to hoard my work and this simple start was the beginning of my growing passion. I didn’t pretend to be a professional photographer; I just did what I loved… which is capturing moments and highlighting the things I’ve seen or the people I’ve met and surround myself with along the way. My camera was like a secret key, to unlocking doors that I didn’t knew existed.

As I grow into making my creativity a profession, I am definitely faced with personal challenges. Some days I feel as though I could be doing more and working harder but I’ve learned that throughout every journey to give myself grace. I find ways to motivate myself and push through the inevitable down days and disappointments. Were’ human, giving up has crossed many minds. But what if you don’t see yourself doing anything else but this, then what? Then you keep going! Nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Externally, it’s extremely challenging being from a small island that lacks a solid creative / entertainment industry. There aren’t many opportunities for people like me who are interested in this growing field but I am committed and i hope to help build the vision for the generations behind myself.

I’m just a little island girl with a big dream and a bigger heart. I’m fascinated with the talent and people of the Caribbean and I want to take my camera throughout these islands to capture the very essence of creatives, creative entrepreneurs, artists, & musicians alike. My camera has been the key to unlocking many doors. I can’t wait to see where else it takes me and how I can use it to create space for other creative individuals to be apart of as well.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was in town the first thing we’d do is go get something to eat! There are many local cuisines throughout St. Thomas and sharing a good meal is always a great way to start off a trip. The weather is usually warm so throughout the week I picture us heading to the beach as often as possible and engaging in the various water activities. We would more than likely make a stop at the local bakery and market to get fresh bread to last all week. Taking a day trip to St.John or Water island would also be a fun adventure that includes local sights to see, water activities and food spots as well. Evenings would be spent chasing the sunset, or at least finding a good spot to take it all in. During the night, we can head down town to the local bars and clubs to socialize ,listen to music, and dine. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, this is the place.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my home, the Virgin Islands. My environment has influenced and shaped me into the being I am today, and I’m beyond grateful for the support and love I receive from those around me. I know a place can be very broad, but I’ve loved, I’ve lost, I’ve experienced and I’ve overcame a lot of things in this place. I plan to experience a lot more in more places. But as cliche as it may sounds, there’s literally no place like home.

Website: https://linktr.ee/fodehculcha

Instagram: @vibew.neiva & @fodehculcha

Facebook: Vibew.neiva & Fo Deh Culcha

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3bNYe6aGf5P53qLP_VT0wA/featured

Other: You can follow me on social media @vibew.neiva , be sure to check out the @fodehculcha as well a Media platform created to highlight Caribbean creatives/artist. -Vibew.Neiva -Fo Deh Culcha

Image Credits
All photos were taken by myself: Geneiva Weeks. From various photo shoots, films, and cultural events. The photo with the graphics is a flyer created for my web series that I put in to show what the web series looks like.