03 Jamel Shabazz, Legendary Street photographer

Episode 03 — Jamel ShabazzIn Episode 03 of the Shoot Wisely podcast, I sit down with legendary NYC street photographer Jamel Shabazz for a powerful and honest conversation about photography, community, and purpose.We talk about his photographic process, how he approached young people in the neighborhoods he documented, and why respect and relationship-building were central to his work. Jamel shares how he used photography as a bridge — not just to document culture, but to uplift and mentor the youth around him.He also opens up about his time serving as a correctional officer, how that experience deepened his empathy, and how returning from war to find his Brooklyn neighborhood drastically changed pushed him to pick up a camera with renewed urgency. Inspired by questions similar to Marvin Gaye’s anthem What's Going On, Jamel wanted to understand what was happening to his community — and photography became his way of searching for answers.In this episode, we also discuss why he didn’t fully connect with the documentary made about his life, and how he prefers his story — and his images — to speak directly to the people.This is a conversation about legacy, accountability, and the responsibility of documenting your own community.In This EpisodeJamel’s street photography processApproaching and building trust with young peoplePhotography as mentorship and community workHis time as a correctional officer and how it shaped his perspectiveReturning home from war to a changed neighborhoodThe deeper question: “What’s going on?”Why he didn’t resonate with the documentary about his lifeAbout the GuestJamel Shabazz is an iconic New York City street photographer known for documenting urban life and culture from the 1980s onward. His work captures style, resilience, and the spirit of community, preserving important chapters of NYC history while mentoring the next generation of image-makers.