• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Fashion

5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots

Former ESSENCE fashion directors and editors share their favorite magazine moments.
5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots
By Nandi Howard · Updated November 4, 2020

When it comes to celebrating all things Black and stylish, ESSENCE has been a pioneer. Despite the unique challenges Black creatives face, our fashion teams have crafted sumptuous spreads that honor our beauty and magic while inspiring the masses.

Throughout our 50 years, ESSENCE has been unapologetic in our celebration of Black talent, staying true to our legacy of serving Black women. To commemorate our golden anniversary, we invite you to journey with us into the past as our former fashion editors share the inside scoop on some of their fave looks.

5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots

PAMELA EDWARDS CHRISTIANI

Beauty and Style Director, 2014-2016
“Spirited Away,” August 2015

“We actually shot ten fashion and beauty stories during that trip to Africa, including a cover with Erykah Badu. We did the first fashion shoot in the Serengeti, and we had Maasai warriors protecting the perimeter of the shoot with their spears. Baboons opened the sliding doors into hair and makeup’s hotel room. They took down the entire makeup table and then peed in the team’s shoes in the closet.”

5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots
5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots

JOIEE THORPE

Fashion Editor, 2015-2018
“The Drama of Spring,” March 2017

“I loved styling and shooting Ebonee Davis because she was fresh and it was exciting. The mansion we shot in was said to be haunted. I believed it.”

5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots
5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots

PAMELA MACKLIN

Fashion Director, 1999-2004
“The Fall Lineup,” September 2002

“While shooting the ladies of Girlfriends, we learned that Persia White was opposed to wearing leather. There was a mad scramble to find vegan accessories. We ditched the leather gloves and created accessories from socks, leg warmers and grosgrain ribbon à la Saint Laurent.”

5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots
5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots

AGNES CAMMOCK

Fashion Director, 2006-2009
“Island Spice,” June 2007

“Being back in Rihanna’s homeland helped make this shoot special. We had the pleasure of meeting her mom, baby brother and uncle, and we even set up dance and pool scenes with her gal pals.”

5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots
5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots

HARRIETTE COLE

Fashion Editor, 1991-1995
“Soul in Ice,” April 1995

“Working with photographer Ruven Afanador was a dream. We had an ice sculpture made and placed on the beach in Bermuda. Our model, Lois Samuels, was to pose next to the sculpture. It was so hot outside that it melted within minutes.”

5 Former ESSENCE Editors Dish on Memorable Photo Shoots
TOPICS:  Black fashion black style essence editors fashion editors
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now