Meet Toni Bacon

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

Hi Toni, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
When things start to get hard for me, I pray about it and go to my mother for guidance. Giving up is never an option for me. I try as hard as I can to reach my goal and if I fail, I take another approach. It’s just a matter of trial and error until you get to where you want to be.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is more than just a photo on social media. It reflects how I feel and expresses the aesthetic of each image through color, background, clothes, facial expressions, features, and movement. I am very proud of where I am now because back then, I never knew what I was going to do with my life. Nothing was ever easy, everything was a challenge. From coming up with an idea, to gaining support, and being able to have the confidence to show others how I can express who I am and what I do. The biggest lesson I learned was that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what others think or say about what I do and what I want to do, as long as I feel good about it and know what I want, then that’s all that matters. I want the world to know that I am young, black, and talented. I have a lot to offer and share. I want everyone to know that one day, I’ll will end up on the cover of a magazine or maybe just become a well known photographer. Either way, I will be successful. There’s no doubt.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d honestly say The Bahamas would be the way to go! Trying different foods ands fruits, experiencing the Bohemian Culture, music, clothes.. and the blue water beaches and white sand!! I love it. There’s nothing specific that I’d point out. The experience there is overall beautiful.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out my mother, Tara King. She first gave me the idea to be a model ever since I was 13, and it never left my mind since. I would also like to shout out one my best friends and brother, Xzavier Williams. He was there for me from the start when I wanted to start a modeling career and started my photography. I would also like to shout out someone that I met a year ago, Azariah Shakar. I met him during a photoshoot with and very talented photographer, DJ. Azariah inspired me to start being more open and out with modeling and photography and connect with others who has the same passions as me. I was on my way to college and that became the start of a new upbringing to my career. That’s when I finally met Gabriel Stewart, Christine Dean, and Rebbeca Jenkins. They all have inspired me to move forward and become more than someone who’s behind and in front of the camera. They showed me how to be more creative and brought my confidence up to an exceptional level. I really wouldn’t be where I am today without all of these people making a huge impact on me.

Instagram: @mainlyytc

Youtube: @mainlyytc

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me.