Myles Loftin Uses His Lens to Educate Young People of Color

The University of Maryland’s MasTERPiece student fashion organization hosted a special guest at their general body meeting on Oct. 2.

Myles Loftin, a freelance photographer who has collaborated with brands like VICE, Urban Outfitters, Ray-Ban, Milk Makeup and Hunger Magazine, visited the organization.

Loftin’s presentation focused on his journey through the professional world of photography. He gave advice on navigating a creative career and efficiently networking. Loftin explained the difficulty of managing college with freelance work, remaining committed to his craft and expanding his brand.

“Consistency is probably one of the most key things in building a social media following,” Loftin said.

(Keombré/The Black Explosion)

Photography has taught Loftin important lessons about interacting with others, showing him that “photographs can really have an impact on people’s lives and their perceptions of the world.”

Loftin has an extensive collection of personal photos and editorial work, one of which is titled “Kiss In.”  The piece was commissioned by i-D, a bimonthly fashion, music, art and youth culture magazine owned by Vice Media, to raise awareness on the struggles faced by queer people today. Loftin’s involvement in the project stemmed from his desire to display perceptions of underrepresented groups, which he referred to as inspiring.

Social media influencers and celebrities are commonly the subjects of Loftin’s photography. Loftin has photographed the likes of A$AP Rocky, Jared Leto, Solange Knowles and the Clermont twins.

Loftin urged aspiring photographers and creatives to keep working, even if their major may not align with their creative interests.

“Just do it,” Loftin said. “Don’t feel like because you’re in this one track that you can’t go outside and do other things because it’s definitely possible.”

Loftin wants to use his talents to inspire youth interest in the arts.

“I want to keep doing what I’m doing now, probably on a bigger scale,” Loftin said. “I’m really interested in getting into the fine arts world and also helping to educate young people of color about opportunities in the creative industry.”