Jambalaya
Where histories meet, and harmony is made. A cultural editorial that landed the cover of MALVIE Magazine, a cover interview, and the cover of Quadro's portrait issue.
Overview
Named after the Louisiana dish, Jambalaya brings different cultures, colors and textures into one frame: red sets, silk, fans, florals and sharp tailoring. It grew out of Keion's own story as a Louisiana native living in Los Angeles.
Approach
Saturated studio color with deep reds and cobalt blues, layered wardrobe and props, and portraits built with a full team: art direction, set design, two wardrobe stylists and two makeup artists. The story was published across two magazines, each with a cover.
Rooted in Louisiana, inspired in L.A.
In the cover interview, Keion talks about growing up in Louisiana, where storytelling lives in the music, the food and everyday conversation, and how those roots shape the people and stories he chooses to photograph in Los Angeles.
He also explains the name Steez: the drive and resilience it takes to keep creating, no matter the challenge, and how his years photographing concerts and festivals sharpened his eye for the human moment.
Open any page below to read the full interview.
Credits
- PhotographerKeion LeMar Hayes @steezmedia
- Art directorLili'uolani @liliuolani
- Set designerElena @artful_elena
- Set assistant / modelKJ @kjmvessy
- Male modelIvan Wang @ivantaged (Wilhelmina)
- ModelsChameleon Cooper @suphermodel, Joyce @joycehtet
- Wardrobe stylistsPhoenix Lu @missgoldheartedlioness, Andrea Simental @mz_lalas
- Makeup artistsKayla Arielle @kaylaarielleartistry, Itzel Berg @itzel_makeup_hair