Rising Stars: Meet Mandelious Mcneil

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandelious Mcneil.

Hi Mandelious, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
My curiosity about the creative world began early on at the age of 7 after receiving my very first camera, a camcorder I had got from my mother, Tamika Autry, for Christmas. I never imagined capturing family videos of family memories would inspire me and take me to where I am today in the art world. Ironically, my mother was always infatuated with taking pictures as well, more so of our family than anything else, but I like to think her passion rubbed off on me and fueled me to become the artist I’ve felt I’ve always been. Fast forward 7 years later, after relocating from my small hometown (Elizabethtown, NC) to a relatively bigger city (Fayetteville, NC), I met one of my closest friends, fashion designer DeJaunté Sims. We both had a similar past as well as similar interests in cameras, and we clicked instantly; soon after, we both got cameras and would take them with us everywhere we could, even to school. Since we would bring our cameras to school, we started to capture a lot of sports photos no matter what event we were there, from women’s soccer, basketball, & even wrestling, just for an opportunity to take pictures. After growing tired of sports photography, I soon after started to exclusively take portraits, and from there on out, I felt I had really found my calling and started to blossom. Now, I’m currently in my first year of doing photography full-time, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the memories and people I’ve met along this journey. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey to reach this point was certainly challenging, with my greatest struggle rooted in my own mindset. I frequently doubted my abilities and questioned whether this path was truly meant for me. While being self-critical at times hindered my progress, I believe it ultimately contributed to my growth as an artist. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a professional photographer skilled in film and digital mediums, specializing in environmental portraiture, concert photography, and couples’ photography. Recently, I achieved a significant milestone by having my most loved project, titled ‘Ghetto Love Story,’ published on Photo Vogue. What distinguishes me from others is my consistent output and unwavering passion for photography. 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If anyone is interested in collaborating with me or supporting me, you can visit my Instagram page @antiisoulcial, where you can view my work, message me for commission work, and even buy prints! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antiisoulcial?igsh=anp6N2lhZzd3OTd3&utm_source=q

Image Credits
Mandelious McNeil
Nick Wilkerson