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At a Glance:

I. View The work

A great deal of pride is taken in how and what we make. We're always delighted to share it with you. Click here to be taken to our portfolio directory, and enjoy some specialized portraiture.

II. Grab some Inspiration

Our work doesn't exist without the giants that came before us, or even the legends that exist alongside us today. Click here to find a plethora of inspiration, organized in several flavors for both your viewing and planning pleasures.

III. PLAN YOUR SESSION

If you've already made up your mind, visit our experience page to view our services and choose an option for yourself. Feeling nostalgic about your approach and would rather write a love letter instead? Visit the contact page and put your feelings into text.

And if you're feeling exploratory, please proceed below:

👇🏿

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ABOUT WE

Portrait of photographer Anthony Lewis; Neat Shiny Owl, Neat Shiny Owl Photography, Shiny Photography, Anthony Lewis Photography, neatshinyo

Hey! You can call me Anthony. I'm a Washington DC-based photographer, specializing in minimal and ethereal portraits in the Beauty, Glamour & Boudoir genres.

I want my clients to feel powerful in the way that they are photographed, excited before, during and after their session and, overall, so, so zen -- even though I may challenge them to reach beyond their comfort zone.

I want women and feminine-coded individuals who identify as Black, Brown, or otherwise of Color, to feel as amazing as they are, and to see themselves in an equally amazing view. I want men and masculine-coded individuals to take slightly less boring photographs.

Choosing to work with me means trusting me to not only document you at the surface, but also to help extract the art dwelling within you. And if you're willing, I'd love to tap into the immortal part of you, too.

Visit my portfolio to see what I mean.

Most of my work is done from my small 8 x 10 home studio. On occasion, I am aided by my wife Carla, who, over time, has done hair, makeup, lighting and provided overall feel-goodness during sessions.

I hope we can create something outstanding together soon.

Warmly,

Your Photographer

-Anthony Lewis

START A DIALOGUE

LIMINAL

🦉 of, relating to, or situated at the limen, the threshold at which a stimulus begins to produce an effect // of or relating to a transitional or intermediate state, stage, or period. ]EXAMPLE[

BOUDOIR

🦉 a woman's bedroom or private sitting room. // ORIGIN OF BOUDOIR 1775–85; French: literally, a sulking place (boud(er) to sulk + -oir-ory)

GLAMOUROUS

🦉 denoting the quality of fascination, allure, or attraction // excitement, adventure, & unusual activity // a magic spell; a charm or a charming thing

BEAUTIFUL

🦉 the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations, a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest)

BRAZEN

🦉 defiant; bold // like brass, as in sound, color or strength // unhesitant; fearless in the face danger // conspicuous

SURREAL

🦉 of, relating to, or characteristic of surrealism // having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic.

NUDE

🦉 naked or unclothed, as a person or the body // without the usual coverings, furnishings, etc.; bare

OTHERWORLDLY

🦉 of, relating to, or devoted to another world, as the world of imagination or the world to come.

SENSUAL

🦉 pertaining to, inclined to, or preoccupied with the gratification of the senses or appetites // of or relating to the senses or physical sensation; sensory // pertaining to the philosophical doctrine of sensationalism

CHIC

🦉 attractive and fashionable; stylish // tastefully fine or luxurious in dress, style, design // sophisticated

TENACIOUS

🦉 holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold // holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough. Or delicate, if you so choose.

CURIOUS

🦉 made or prepared skillfully // arousing or exciting speculation, interest, or attention // inexplicable or highly unusual; odd

VIEW WORK

The Experience, In Their Words

“First time I had a photoshoot concept about my birthmark, and it’s definitely not my last! @neatshinyowl and @mini_owl made me feel like the ethereal divine being I’ve always felt I am!!”

—FT

01 / 11

LEARN ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

I just want to make immaculate art with you, that hopefully puts intrigue hand in hand with intense emotion -- love, power, joy, defiance, the unknown, stillness. And while I'm using a camera to do this, my hope is that you come away from this feeling like you got more than just "some pictures."

-Anthony Lewis | Neat Shiny Owl

Neat Shiny Folk / AbunDance Academy of the Arts / Brooklyn Museum / Getty Images / Bloomberg News / Just Call Me KEEBS / Red Rooster Harlem / Deutsches Hygiene / IMIRAGEmagazine / DELLA$IE / Nicole Shawan Junior, Esq / Dr. Rashida L. Weaver, PhD / Made By Black (Yvonne Jewnell) / AFROPUNK / Curls Understood / Ariel Samone / Najee Omar / "Believe It & Behave It" by Kate Harvie / "Start Ghetto" by Latetra Metts-Owens / StreetMeetDC / PortraitMeet DC / Harlem's Very Own / Global ArtSpeak Alliance, Inc / Cold Cuts (Conversationships) / iMirage Magazine

BEAUTY GLAMOUR BOUDOIR

*EVEN BETTER ON DESKTOP

At a Glance:

I. View The work

II. Grab some Inspiration

III. PLAN YOUR SESSION

MELANIN & MYSTICISMS

ABOUT WE

LIMINAL

BOUDOIR

GLAMOUROUS

BEAUTIFUL

BRAZEN

SURREAL

NUDE

OTHERWORLDLY

SENSUAL

CHIC

TENACIOUS

CURIOUS

The Experience, In Their Words

The Experience, In Their Words

“First time I had a photoshoot concept about my birthmark, and it’s definitely not my last! @neatshinyowl and @mini_owl made me feel like the ethereal divine being I’ve always felt I am!!”

The Experience, In Their Words

“I feel beautiful. I’m normally really critical of my face. And I feel like I have a very strong, masculine, put-off-ish face. But I feel like Anthony has found ways to highlight it and make me feel beautiful.”

The Experience, In Their Words

“Anthony & Carla, thank you sooooooooooo much for bringing my concept to life in my first ever photoshoot! Also thank you Bianca (@beautybybb_) for the breathtaking glam editorial look! It was a creative concept I was planning to execute for nearly 2 years & it came out BEYOND PERFECT.”

The Experience, In Their Words

The Experience, In Their Words

“Anthony was kind enough to answer all my questions, since I wanted photos but am also camera shy. He did a great job of making me comfortable & gave lots of direction when helping me pose.”

The Experience, In Their Words

“Anthony made me feel safe and welcome in his space. He is a very talented and skilled photographer who values the comfort of his models and takes extra steps to show it. I had such a fun time shooting with him and I will definitely be coming back :)”

The Experience, In Their Words

“Most folks know I usually don’t [smile]. When you look at any photo from my youth, not a smile in sight. Anthony was professional, thoughtful, and just has an amazing ability to bring comfort and calm to his photo shoots. I am a difficult and complex human but I was cool as cucumber.”

The Experience, In Their Words

The Experience, In Their Words

“We never thought we could look this cool. We are definitely not as cool as we look and we should never be allowed to look this cool. This was one of the coolest things we've ever done with some of the coolest people we've ever met.”

The Experience, In Their Words

“I def loved the immediate comfortability we had with each other once we met up. I loved how hands on Anthony was with putting the shoot together and having a vision. And I also really loved the fact that he gave a lot of great direction while shooting.”

The Experience, In Their Words

“One of the most professional and fun shoots I’ve done so far as an amateur model. His creative direction and hospitality, and felt super comfortable in the studio. I also loved the planning process leading to the shoot as well, bonus points for me.”

AS•SEEN•IN

“I feel beautiful.

I’m normally really critical of my face. And I feel like I have a very strong, masculine, put-off-ish face. But I feel like Anthony has found ways to highlight it and make me feel beautiful.”

“Anthony & Carla, thank you sooooooooooo much for bringing my concept to life in my first ever photoshoot!

Also thank you Bianca (@beautybybb_) for the breathtaking glam editorial look! It was a creative concept I was planning to execute for nearly 2 years & it came out BEYOND PERFECT.”

“Most folks know I usually don’t [smile]. When you look at any photo from my youth, not a smile in sight.

Anthony was professional, thoughtful, and just has an amazing ability to bring comfort and calm to his photo shoots. I am a difficult and complex human but I was cool as cucumber.”