Jackie Photography

I’m Jackie McGriff, a published portrait, event, and documentary photographer and award-winning documentary filmmaker. 

My artistic practice is a form of counter-narratives, using both intimate portraiture and public protest art to challenge the monolithic and destructive stereotypes imposed on Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples.

I operate with a dual mission: to celebrate these communities and to tell our multifaceted truths through a decolonized lens. Whether through curated portrait sessions and installations or photojournalism, my work serves as a focal point for intersectional and cross-racial dialogue, aiming to build bridges of understanding and spur action towards collective liberation. 

My methodology is rooted in community and solidarity, not observation. For portraits, I sit with people—getting to know them through conversation and engaging in both shared and unique interests—to portray them in a light that they love and recognize. For protest art, I document and curate moments of public truth-telling, capturing the defiance and demand inherent in liberation struggles. In both forms, I often pair images with words to sharpen the intention behind the work. 

Projects like Black Alt Undefined stem from the alternative community of which I identify with, creating spaces of celebration for those facing dual marginalization. This work also exists as a form of protest that honors both the internal truth of identity and the external fight for liberation. Ultimately, all of my work seeks to disrupt ingrained narratives, asking viewers not just to see, but to question, and to move forward together. 

Outside of client work and projects, I enjoy getting lost (on purpose, of course) with my camera on photo walks, building community, and watching movies.