Into the Shadows – Photographing “The Darkness Dealt” by Karlye Alfonso Johnson
Some projects leave you inspired.
Others leave you changed.
Photographing Karlye Alfonso Johnson for her book The Darkness Dealt was one of those rare sessions that did both.
From the moment Karlye told me she was writing a book and what it would be about , it was clear this shoot needed to be more than standard branding portraits. Karlye’s book is raw, bold, and unapologetically honest—a journey through grief, resilience, and transformation. My job wasn’t just to take “pretty” pictures. My job was to create imagery that felt like her words. My goal with this was to make sure that every image reflected the same energy. After reading just a few chapters I immediately started envisioning the cover above. I started sketching it to flesh it out with so many versions until I knew exactly the photo I wanted to take.
So we built a session around mood and meaning. Every detail—the styling, the lighting, the locations—was designed to mirror the emotional weight of her story. We chose a palette of deep blacks, muted earth tones, and soft directional light to evoke a sense of both isolation and intimacy. The goal wasn't to simply capture Karlye as an author—but to capture the feeling of her work.
What I love most about working with creatives like Karlye is the level of trust they bring. She gave me permission to dig deep. To get close. To let me and my camera do what we do best when we let go of the pressure to perform—reveal what’s real.
As a branding photographer, I believe every image should be a reflection of the person’s true essence—not just a polished version for marketing. For authors especially, their imagery should be an extension of their work. For Karlye, that meant photos that held the same emotional charge as her writing—strong, intimate, and unforgettable.
Yes, these portraits will work beautifully for her marketing and promotion, but they also do something deeper. They connect. They invite the viewer into her story, even before they’ve read the first page.
Photographing Karlye reminded me why I do what I do. This wasn’t just a photoshoot. It was a collaboration, a conversation, and a creative translation of HER story from words into images. I want to keep telling these stories. The ones written in the lines of a smile, in the set of a jaw, in the way a woman meets the lens without flinching. Stories of women who have walked through fire and still choose to stand tall, even if they’re standing in shadows.
Because these stories matter. And as long as I have a camera in my hands, I’ll keep telling them.
