Attending The Camera Girls Kickback
- tomboymadi7
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
What was initially a chance to flex on local camera guys, who were insistent that Philadelphia didn't have a scene of women in photography and videography, is now Quay Production's Camera Girls Kickback. Beyond the glitzy photo booths, cranked-up speakers, and vibrant hors d'oeuvres was a gathering of women (a word I'll use loosely throughout, to account for gender-diverse identities, including my own) at different points in their journeys of navigating the male-dominated world of cameras. On May 23, the fourth event was held by Quay Productions at their studio location near Material Culture. The panel was facilitated by Philadelphia PR professional Chante Hall, with Mo, Quay, and Vi—three women working in our current industry—there to discuss their starts, and answer questions, enabling fellow students of the craft to move confidently as they launch their creative careers.
This was not your average networking event. Walking into the studio was like walking onto the set of a music video, with an optional pink dress-code (which many playfully followed) and DJ Kay Love's selections matching the event’s feminine rebelliousness. The snack table was an elevated twist on your classic crafty table, with popcorn in pink and white striped boxes, personal water ice cups, and charcuterie boards—complete with cheeses, cornichons, and dragon fruit (can’t believe I forgot to take a picture, because these plates were stunning). At the front-of-house were cropped T-shirts on sale with "I 🩷 Camera Girls" printed on the front, for $25 a piece. Honestly, I was not mentally prepared to network (are we ever, really?), but having a camera is always a perfect conversation-starter (or shield, so showing up to these kinds of events repeatedly is important, if it takes you a while to warm up, like me). I suggest coming prepared to get to know people, but also don't feel like you have to rush. There was a decent two hours of mingling during the beginning of the event, so take your time getting cute for pictures and have your questions ready for the Q&A at the end.
The panel began with everyone walking us through their experience starting out. Mo discussed being a full-time accountant, buying a camera on a whim, and initially shooting friends in music, portraits, and weddings. Even creating a series called the "Lunch Break Chronicles," Mo would spend afternoons executing a quick shoot with a model anywhere near her job. It was at her part-time bartending gig, however, that put her in front of an opportunity to shoot portraits for M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter (I looked it up so you don’t have to—yes, it was Saleka, who starred in Trap (2024)), which then resulted in another 2 month gig in the Dominican Republic, doing behind-the-scenes work for the film director. Vi, who works in nightlife and digital marketing, made home movies growing up and went to school with the hopes of making independent films. After some time creating music videos for local artists, she has since pivoted towards festival photography and local content creation. Quay, founder of the events, similarly always had a camera around that she was recording with, while growing up. Beginning with shoots for proms, baby showers, and a few film sets, she decided to finally take up some inquiries about music videos. After gaining more experience and shooting concerts, she landed the chance to control the switch board for Jay-Z's Made in America festival.
I found it interesting how two of the panelists expressed some regret in their education. Having related so strongly to this myself, Vi and Quay’s echoing statements (”I want my money back.”) landed easy laughs from me. I felt strangely relieved to know that I was not the only one who left film school dissatisfied. For years after leaving, I felt gaslit into believing that the lack of support I felt from classmates and administration was somehow my own fault, instead of a structural problem. Hearing that discontent from other women who still found their niche and since gained mastery in their fields, (while still disappointing) put the reality of making yourself known into perspective. Valid critiques against hustle culture, made mainstream by the Millennial generation, have been discussed at length, however in a field that requires independence and self-motivation, it’s a nonnegotiable. While it may look differently for you than it does for the next person, everyone on the panel agreed that there’s never a point they’ve found themselves in their careers where they were able to sit back, relax, and stop putting their work in front of people’s faces. No one was able to truly accept any moment as their definitive “I made it” moment, when asked. Instead, they spoke on the leaps of faith that they continued to take, as well as how carefully calculated risks eventually paid off. Mo, in particular, talked about how talent matters, but so does being in the right rooms. Therefore, the following advice was simple, yet effective: be nice to everyone.
On the importance of having safe spaces like The Camera Girls Kickback, we were able to have honest conversations about deciding on your rates, negotiating terms, building a portfolio that's cohesive with your goals, setting boundaries, and building creative trust. In a field rampant with predators trying to get with every model, or determined to undermine whomever they perceive as nonthreatening (or maybe it’s the exact opposite, but that’s another conversation), you have to stand firm in your role and talents, even in your developing stages. This will help you approach the initial challenges that can eventually become the source of self-doubt. Hearing honest stories from others with similar struggles gives you the space you need to be confident and clear-headed—an invaluable tool in a field where others will constantly question your validity, and even industry tops are quick to try and swindle you out of an earned paycheck. If you're interested in getting started, or even expanding on your experience with cameras, we recommend following their Instagram page to find out when their next event will be so that you can attend. This is an event that's worth going and returning to, so go outside and get comfortable showing your face around and bragging about your talent!
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