
06/27/2022
When you finally (and maybe fully) understand the lesson…what a beautiful moment. ✨
Thankful for my sistas and sharing their stories of self worth and self love, and their journeys of fully loving themselves. ✨
The place where love reigns supreme and growth is key. We specialize in photography, videography, an achieving and recognizing your best self is the goal.
PHYLLIS was conceived on a night when high vibrations and laughter met in owner Melissa Alexander's apartment in Atlanta, GA in 2007. PHYLLIS would grow from a nickname into a company, phyllis.iller, in 2013. dedicated to the daily mantra, "love your dope," PHYLLIS makes a point to inspire people of color to immerse themselves in self love and self acceptance, never letting society determine their
PHYLLIS was conceived on a night when high vibrations and laughter met in owner Melissa Alexander's apartment in Atlanta, GA in 2007. PHYLLIS would grow from a nickname into a company, phyllis.iller, in 2013. dedicated to the daily mantra, "love your dope," PHYLLIS makes a point to inspire people of color to immerse themselves in self love and self acceptance, never letting society determine their
Operating as usual
When you finally (and maybe fully) understand the lesson…what a beautiful moment. ✨
Thankful for my sistas and sharing their stories of self worth and self love, and their journeys of fully loving themselves. ✨
Weekend work. ✨
Photoville been on my radar for a lil minute now. It’s a major major activation for photography in NYC - so imagine my surprise when of Black Shutter Productions] reached out to invite me onto the Behind The Shutter panel!
Super grateful for the opportunity to run my yap a likkle bit more with him, AND with , , and !
If you’re in NYC (or anywhere around), come thru! Especially if we ain’t never met. ✨
Repost from Black Shutter Productions]
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Peace Family. We are excited to share that The BlackShutter Podcast will be presenting opening night at Photoville 2022. We will be sharing the work of some of our guests, then jumping into a live conversation with Laylah Amatullah Barrayn , Jeffrey Henson Scales , Keith Major and Melissa Meli-Mel Alexander. It is an honor to kick off Photoville this year and share the work and stories of so many amazing Black photographers. Come through and spread the love. Details in the link in bio. Pull up.
The Festival returns this summer as an immersive hybrid experience, featuring over 60 public art exhibitions, inspirational walking tours, in-depth panels, and interactive workshops.
📅 June 4 – June 26, 2022
✨ Learn more about all that’s in store:
Thanks to the Marquee and Exhibition Venue Partners:
As part of the Flourish Fellowship, we were tasked with doing a deep dive into our companies, to understand them, from bottom to top and in between. I, of course, thought about the foundation of Phyllis Iller, but it was ATWD () that had me in a headlock for a few weeks.
In true Virgo rising fashion, I was ✨overwhelmed✨ with thoughts. It’s really cute to almost obsessively think about something, do hella research, and still not know how to formulate the thoughts juuuuuuust right. Sleep gone, one track minded - I found myself simultaneously jazzed up and terrified.
Because I knew, in my heart, this joint is gonna bang. Hard. And if I’m not clear from jump about why I’m doing ATWD, how can it succeed? Like, succeed with longevity and honesty?
With guidance and folks listening to my pitch (word to , , ), encouraging me to go deeper (word to the God ), I was able to figure out the purpose:
Around the Way Dreams is a documentation of the Around The Way Girl who has grown up, the Black and Brown woman that commands respect because she knows her worth. Further, the future generations of Around the Way Girls are coming and in need of guidance. We are the women of their Dreams and have answers to their many questions.
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Ask yourself or ask your lady or your mama or your sister or your homegirl:
Did you dream of the woman you have become? ✨
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I’m jazzed up, y’all. No longer terrified. Simply open to see how good, how sweet, how incredible, how joyous it can get. And with some incredibly talented ladies (.nichole, , , , and more) by my side, it ain’t s**t we can’t do. Even while figuring out how to raise $67k to make the first tour happen….😅
But f**k it! A number is just a number and can’t nothing stop the shine of an Around the Way Girl on a mission. ✨
On Wednesday, I shared my dream of taking Around the Way Dreams () on a multi-city tour. It took vulnerability to share my dream, it took courage to stand in front of all those folks to ask for help.
And what do you know? My dream got some funding to bring it to reality. 🙌🏾
I’m proud of myself and ALL my fellow cohort members!! We laughed, cried, and worked our asses off for 12 weeks! Yes, it all led to a competition, but I would just as happily seen another in my place.
To the Village: it’s hard to explain exactly what y’all have done for us, but there’s nowhere I will go that your name will flow out of my mouth without high praise. I’m SO thankful y’all took a chance on us. 💐🙌🏾
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The Entrepreneurs didn’t come to PY to play! After 12 weeks and 24 sessions of intense business education pushing them to work ~on~ their business not just in their business, rounds and rounds of pitch practice, mentorship from some of the city’s most successful entrepreneurs, a community market, and off the support of a cohort that feels like family - 13 Altanta business owners left it all on the stage, presenting the vision, accomplishments, and investment needs for their business to a community-love-filled crowd and 4 distinguished judges , each ending the night ✅ We are so proud, congratulations to all! 💛💐🫂🍾
CONGRATULATIONS to the Pitch Competition Winners, , , .iller, and vine who each secured the bag! 💰💰💰💰🎉
Defining motherhood is hard for me. I kinda wanna say…if you care bout these babies, you’re a mama or an auntie (which is just a mama by another name).
So, in the spirit of that, shout out to us that hold, love on, nurture, guide, and kiss on these babies. Our calling is a sacred one, not to be treated lightly, but always to be celebrated. 💐💐
To the folks who came for the mini-sessions, y’all the best. So grateful to share space n laughter! Praying y’all’s day is exactly as you want it to be. 💐💜
Had the opportunity to photograph the incredibly dope isawstephen] - I could say more about our interaction, but it’s maybe more important for you to read some of his words:
Repost from isawstephen]
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I’m a Black man with cosmopolitan preferences, soft textures and lavish breakfasts. And that don’t even begin to reveal the extent of my orientation towards indulgence.
It used to be that I would share these things then everything became content. So I made it a business.
Now it’s my job.
Really it’s really just part, but everytime I’m loggin on, I see it’s all of ours!
Coming into prominence during covid made me a strange person to myself that I am just beginning to know.
After “The Show” I knew I would have to share more about myself, which i was not wild about. “Making it” is definitely better than not, but mostly it seems like you get more visible and people just wanna know how much money you holding and
who your SO is.
Oh, and, grow your audience. Monetize the following, but keep the content authentic — just like the founder. Remember: more of YOU!
Okay, but what if I don’t want to? Or I don’t know who that is? Or I’m still tryna find out. And I was raised not to talk to strangers.
“Build in public” so everyone can watch you stumble. It will humble you and make you more relatable. Or they may just fixate on your success and totally omit the fact it took decades. And that everything that is not secure is tenuous. So no missteps!
Who is it for?
It’s so much dancin all up in the videos,
I feel like Suge Knight.
Should I broadcast my cynicism too?
Nah I ain’t gon do it, cuz you gon say I’m hatin hard. Which, I get, because we are all just looking for attention to leverage for money. So, increasingly my commentary is for my kin, even though I know a spicy take is one of the easiest ways to shake the algo.
I need you to move your feet to the beat. I’m on the 3k diet —
I need bread cheese and dough.
I knead to be recession proof.
Cake can’t hold a candle to this inflation. It be gone like p**f.
MAMA’S DAY GIVEAWAY!! 💐
Tag a mama who inspires you and tell her (and us) why she’s important! Two will be selected!!! Winners will be announced Monday morning.
Requirements:
*They must be ready to stand in the fullness of their light!
Get to tagging! 💜💐
Last year’s mini sessions were so lovely, I thought we should do it again.✨
All us mamas are different, but, the one thing for sure we have in common, our growth is wild abundant. The theme for this year’s sessions is Wildflower Simplicity. Understated, but our gardens are overflowing.
Looking forward to celebrating with you! Visit the link in bio to join us on May 1st.
The very dope Alfred Conteh (). Good conversation is key. 🙌🏾✨
If you’re not familiar with the good brotha’s work, I suggest you stop sleeping! He’s nice wit it!
Jack came through the other day. ✨
Back in 2018, Rome schooled us.🤣
Filmed this was back when my home was my studio. I thought it might be cool to film folks who came by for sessions. Cause those be the best conversations. Very honest, very truthful conversations. If you let em be. ✨
🤣👌🏾
Soon Me. Michelle. Monica. Michelle. Sarah. ✨
It was a bittersweet experience photographing these women, considering why we gathered. I cried with more than one of them. I laughed with all of them.
Their inspiration was clear: We are more than our trials. ✨
After photographing Robert Peterson for last year, it’s not lost on me why the spa shooting story came back to me, even if through another publication.
Very thankful for the assignment.
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In the wake of last year’s spa shootings, Atlanta’s Asian Americans mobilized like never before. Seven community members share why this tragedy has implications for all of us. Tap link in bio to read their stories. 📸: .iller
Lynsey () ever so casually slid this into my inbox just now. ✨ And I’m in good company, too, with , , .insanity, and more.
Thankful for the platform that has created! And this especially dope because BWP has a summit going on literally right now. ✨✨✨
Also, Maiya () and her babies really help me shine and I’m so thankful to be in their cipher and love on them how I can. 💜💜💜
We on AfroPunk, baby! Thank you Tai () for the sweet write-up, your pen is magic. ✨ Full article via the link in bio.
Ellison
Trinity is…Minnie Riperton ✨
When Vee () told me baby Trinity was coming as the Perfect Angel herself, I was over the moon. Minnie is near and dear to my heart, so, to celebrate her in this way, it brought me all the feels.
Peep the other sweet children of the first annual Black History Babies via my link in bio. ✨✨✨
Trulee as….BOOGALOO SHRIMP!
From the beginning, Trulee was extremely committed to bringing Boogaloo Shrimp to life. She watched his documentary and was ready to spit all the facts!
Plus, Trulee ain’t new to this. She gots the b-girl flavor, extra seasoned! ✨
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When I say Black History Babies was a success, this is what I mean. ☺️ Everyone involved was ALL in.
I’m gonna share a few more pictures, but you can head to my link in bio to see more.
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Amir as….NAT LOVE. ✨
His moms () is truly a wizard with cosplay, so it was a pleasure to see Amir walk in, spurs up. ☺️ Give my little homie a belated born day shout!!
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When I say Black History Babies was a success, this is what I mean. ✨ Very thankful to the ways both children and parents showed up and showed out!
I’m gonna share a few more pictures, but you can head to my link in bio to see more.
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Haven’t done a black and white in a lil minute….
In frame:
Today was lovely. ✨ Got the chance to speak on a panel about Black joy with author Kwame Mbalia () for JetBlue (). To say the conversation was insightful would be an understatement!
Please go check out Kwame’s work - he makes stories for US, specifically our babies. 🥰
Countdown to the Pull Up Session at JetBlue’s JFK hub is in full effect…
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Back in 2018, Rome schooled us.🤣 Filmed this was back when my home was my studio. I thought it might be cool to film folks who came by for sessions. Cause those be the best conversations. Very honest, very truthful conversations. If you let em be. ✨ #PhyllisIller #ConversationsWithPhyllis #RomeAllen #SouthernVernacular #Atlanna #AtlantaAccent #Shiiiiiiit #Gahdamn #Talmbout 🤣👌🏾
Today was lovely. ✨ Got the chance to speak on a panel about Black joy with author Kwame Mbalia (@mbalia1) for JetBlue (@jetblue). To say the conversation was insightful would be an understatement! Please go check out Kwame’s work - he makes stories for US, specifically our babies. 🥰 Countdown to the Pull Up Session at JetBlue’s JFK hub is in full effect… #PhyllisIller #BlackJoy #PullUpSessions #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM
To say Black History Babies was a success would be an understatement. ✨ The parents and children showed up and showed OUT. I’m truly thankful and can’t wait to share the portraits with y’all. Special thank you to Will (@wfjrfilms) for this video and for documenting the day. I so rarely have BTS for my sessions, this was a welcome surprise! ✨ Thank you to my two assistants Nneka (@nneka.nichole) and Txt (@blctxt) for helping me bring the vision to life. Your encouragement and feedback helped shape everything. ✨ Black History is our future. ✨✨✨ #PhyllisIller #BlackHistoryBabies #WfjrFilms #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #AllBlackEverythang
I can’t eem believe it’s been a year since Around the Way Dreams was activated. Time flies when you’re growing. ✨ What stands out so much about this is the love love love I felt and shared with the women involved. Some things have changed…but so much has blossomed. Our group chat still goes hard 😂 We support one another, we cry with one another, we celebrate our wins. We dope, we fly, we fresh. We mothers, we aunties, we sisters. We soft, we take no sh*t. We growin. Always. THAT is the essence of the Around the Way Girl. And so much more. ✨ #AroundTheWayDreams #AroundTheWayGirl #PhyllisIller
Did a thing recently with @rretro.p and @rimdavillin of @porterhausproductions! I don’t usually do music videos, but this track was ultra hard. Peep “Avian Flu” featuring @skyzoothewriter @che_noir and @_eddiekaine, produced by @wavy_da_ghawd! There’s a few cameos from some of my faves in this flick too! @logan_lynette @keri.meawayy @berettascottking @penelahpes ✨✨✨ #PhyllisIllerVideography #PorterhausProductions #SkyZoo #CheNoir #EddieKaine #WavyDaGhawd
Bridgette C. Burton performs Sister Linda Cousins’ “I Can Luv.” “I Can Luv” was included in “360 Degrees of Blackness Comin’ At You,” an anthology of authors who attended the Sonia Sanchez Writers Workshop in the early 1970s Harlem, NY. Deep in the basement of the @nyplcounteecullen library, they made magic. We pay respect due. ✨ _______ Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing snippets of the 360 Degrees of Blackness performance film. Each performance by the cast is as powerful as the next. Trust, I wouldn’t just put you onto any ol thang, ya dig? ✨ Until Monday, you may view the entire film via the link in my bio or website (www.phyllisiller.com). _______ #PhyllisIller #TheIllest #360DegreesOfBlackness #SoniaSanchez #SoniaSanchezWritersWorkshop #LindaCousins #ICanLuv #BlackLiterature #BlackPoetry #BlackPoet #BlackityBlackBlackBlack #TheBlackWomanIsGod
And for my next trick: best supporting actress at the @naacp awards 🏆💁🏾♀️😂 _______ Melissa Alexander performs Sister Dorothy Randall-Gray’s “Black Mayflower.” “Black Mayflower” was included in “360 Degrees of Blackness Comin’ At You,” an anthology of authors who attended the Sonia Sanchez Writers Workshop in the early 1970s Harlem, NY. Deep in the basement of the @nyplcounteecullen library, they made magic. We pay respect due. ✨ _______ Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing snippets of the 360 Degrees of Blackness performance film. Each performance by the cast is as powerful as the next. Trust, I wouldn’t just put you onto any ol thang, ya dig? ✨ Until Monday, you may view the entire film via the link in my bio or website (www.phyllisiller.com). _______ #PhyllisIller #TheIllest #360DegreesOfBlackness #SoniaSanchez #SoniaSanchezWritersWorkshop #DorothyRandallGray #BlackMayflower #BlackLiterature #BlackPoetry #BlackPoet #BlackityBlackBlackBlack #TheBlackWomanIsGod
We were supposed to perform this for y’all back in March, in the Auburn Avenue Research Library’s theater (@aarl_atl), but!! coronavirus came through and switched everything up, including how we offer this performance. So, we pivoted.... ———— Only July 10th, in partnership with the wonderful folks of Auburn Avenue Library, a whole new performance of 360 Degrees of Blackness will be screened online. If you were unable to come to the first joint in November, this is the time to gather with us! Stay tune for further details.💥 __________ #PhyllisIller #TheIllest #AuburnAvenueResearchLibrary #SoniaSanchez #360DegreesOfBlackness
“Never forget who we is and how far we done come” - Daughters of the Dust . . . The Journey continues w/ @journeyofablackgirl phase II-short film premiere director and edited by @phyllis.iller in collaboration w/ Angela Davis Johnson and #thenewfreedomproject This work is breathtaking and timely. We are are shifting, while standing in our black and honoring the transition from a girl to woman. This Crown Belongs To Us is not only a reference to our hair but a spiritual guide. Giving thanks for our stillness, our resilience, healing our bodies, our truth. acknowledging our ancestors, praising the Most High and celebrating our blackness . . . . Join us tomorrow , June 16th @6pm For Facebook watch party followed by live artist talk with @atlantabeltlineart curator-in-residence , Courtney Brooks featuring @angeladjohnson @thasongbird @blackangelatl @phyllis.iller . . . #courtneythecurator #journeyofablackgirl💕 #atlantabeltlineart #phyllisiller #newfreedonproject . #blackwomenmatter #blackgirlsmatter #blackloveisblackpower #defendblackwomanhood #protectblackwomen #blackculture #blackculturematters #doitforculture
I claimed early that 2020 would be a year of clarity, an uncovering of all that we’ve run from, good sh*t or not. Never specified if the clarity gained would be easy, but always held that it would be a year unlike any other we’ve experienced, as a people. ( we a blessed people ) The news would show us getting gassed, hit with rubber bullets, snatched from cars, beaten with batons. Important information, but it be intense as sh*t, overwhelming damn near. So, I create the kind of content that I want to see. The kind of content affirms our power, because the god in me recognizes the god in you. ( we a blessed people ) Periodt. ✨ . . . #PhyllisIller #PhyllisIllerVideography #BeCarefulWithEachOther #WeSociety #KareemManuel
I went around the entire basketball court a few times!! I also fell hard as f**k today. Talmbout my daughter ran off the playground like “MAMA NOOOOOOO” 😂😂😂🤷🏽♀️ I got back up, tho. 💪🏾
A few of Atlanta’s best and brightest pulled together to create something beautiful and impactful. ✨ #BigFactsSmallActs: Georgia might be open again, but Coronavirus is still hitting Atlanta’s Black and Latino communities more than any others. Take care of each other. #spreadthewordnotthevirus * Special thank you to: Lisa Cunningham (@captcunningham), Jacinta Howard (@jacinta.howard), Mike Jordan (@mikejordanatl), Andre Dickens (@andre4atlanta), and Lamar Stewart (@iamlamarstewart) * * * Director/Editor: Melissa Alexander, @phyllis.iller * Produced by: Liz Edwards, @sheisliz * Post-Production: @electrikbaby + Artemus Jenkins, @artemusjenkins * EP: Sherri Daye Scott, @everybodyeatsmedia. * Associate Producer: Ash Nash, @powerhauscreative * Graphics: GOMEZ, (@thatgomezlife) * #beatcovid19 #washyourhands #stayhome #BigFactsSmallAct #SpreadTheWordNotTheVirus
Been talking to lots of folks about how they’re feeling about the sh*tstorm we’ve found ourselves in. Many have said they’re seeking inner peace, creativity, a sweet spot. Some have said they’re just trying to survive. _____ I’m praying for us all. One monkey don’t stop our show. Our shine will always reach who it needs to. Believe that. Trust that. ✨ _____ #PhyllisIller #CoronaDiaries #StrongerTogether #MilesDavis #FromWestEndWithLove
Corona who?! We celebrating life round here. _____ @journeyofablackgirl was cancelled, but the journey is alive and well. We give thanks. #LiveYourLife #WhomShallWeFear #JourneyOfABlackGirl #IOnlyDownloadedTicTokForThis
In 2018, a crew of my homies helped me to bring a shower idea to fruition. I saw a deaf girl asking her brother to show her how to make music, like Beethoven did. @olammalamma wrote the rest of the stories, we got to work, and made a visual love letter to West End. It premiered on my birthday in 2018 and that was a vibe surely like I had never felt prior and, then, it headed to wonderful @indiegrits film festival in Columbia, SC. ✨ What a time to be alive. :) ____ We screening To West End, With Love at the @fultonarts Aviation Center this Saturday (2/22!!) from 1pm -3pm. We’ll have an open portrait session, screen the film, and then Olamma and I will be having a panel discussion speaking on the film and effects of gentrification on our community. Nice lil afternoon, no? ✨ Hope to see you there! _____ #APhyllisIllerFilm #PhyllisIller #ToWestEndWithLove #OlammaOparah #WestEndAtlanta #ShortFilm
I’ve been playing the Ahmad Jamal Trio’s “The Awakening” every day, multiple times a day. There’s a story that’s told within the notes that is simply intoxicating to me. _____ There’s also a book called “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin. It’s about a woman finding her way, essentially. Daring to be her most authentic self. With herself. I can relate. ✨ ______ PS: I think of @teedramoses every time I hear the sample, tho. ✨ _____ #PhyllisIllerVideography #PhyllisIller #TheAhmadJamalTrio #TheAwakening #KateChopin
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