I Can Make You Feel Good

Even before becoming the first African American photographer to shoot the cover of Vogue in September 2018 with an iconic portrait of Beyoncé, Tyler Mitchell was making a name for himself as a photographer and video director focusing on youth culture and racial identity. Now, in his first book, Mitchell brings a utopian hopefulness to his images of African Americans, both famous and not. Vibrant, candy-hued palettes and glowing natural light are the hallmark of Mitchell's work. His subjects appear mostly outdoors, in idyllic natural settings or on gritty urban streets. Among the photos presented in the book are those he shot in Cuba, where he traveled to document Havana's emerging skateboard scene, as well as collaborations with Marc Jacobs, American Eagle, and Converse. A sought-after portraitist, his subjects include Amandla Stenberg, Ashton Sanders, Aweng Chuol, KiKi Layne, and Stephan James. In speaking of his work, Mitchell cites an ''affirmation in blackness and a unifying visual text of hope.'' This joyful collection is evidence that Mitchell is well on his way to accomplishing all that and more.