Marvelous Newborns: Photographer's Creative Series Adds a Wakandan Twist to Baby Portraits
Kennisha Fisher, a renowned newborn photographer, has recently unveiled a captivating series titled "Wakanda Beginnings," which presents an amalgamation of cuteness and strength. While the existence of a nursery in Wakanda remains speculative, Fisher's latest work features nine newborns adorned in attire reminiscent of the iconic costumes designed by Ruth Carter for the Black Panther movie. These heartwarming images exude a unique charm, evoking a sense of wonder and admiration.
As a mother to five Black boys, Kennisha Fisher shared with Because of Them We Can her deep inspiration and pride upon witnessing the powerful representation depicted in Black Panther. Recognizing the absence of newborns dressed as citizens of Wakanda, Fisher saw this as a chance to fill the void and celebrate Black culture and identity in her photography. This meaningful endeavor allowed her to capture the essence of Wakanda's spirit and showcase the beauty and strength of Black infants in a remarkable and empowering manner.
Amidst the multitude of creative images reflecting contemporary culture, Kennisha Fisher noticed a distinct lack of representations from Black Panther, despite its immense popularity. While babies dressed as superheroes, Disney princesses, and various cartoon characters frequently grace her screen, the absence of Black Panther-inspired content caught her attention. Determined to address this disparity, Fisher embarked on a mission to bring the power and vibrancy of Wakanda into her newborn photography, offering a refreshing and much-needed portrayal of Black excellence in this genre.
After Black Panther was nominated for an Oscar, Fisher began to ideate around what a series featuring newborns would look like.
“I drew a sketch of what each character would look like as a swaddled baby and shelved it for a few weeks, realizing it was a massive undertaking. After the movie both shined, and in my opinion was snuffed, at the awards show, I pulled my notes back out.”
While Fisher tells us she isn’t a seamstress, it might be hard to believe as she handmade each of the costumes pictured.
The final product is a masterpiece. Anyone who has ever photographed a newborn knows how much of an undertaking it is to get the right shot, but Fisher did just that times nine.
She hopes that her series helps people to reflect on the messages in the film and the opportunity we have to create our very own Wakanda.
“Wakanda might be imaginary but it’s a beautiful image of what could have should have and most definitely would have been if the narrative was different in the beginning.”
