HAVA

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and based in New York, Courtney Sofiah Yates is a photographer and director driven by the human desire for meaning,

HAVA

CECILIE BAHNSEN SS23

CECILIE BAHNSEN SS23

TEMS for ROLLING STONE

NEW YORK TIMES

After a B.S. degree in psychology, Courtney moved to the Big Apple to work in the creative industry before focusing entirely on her practice.

TRUST

HAWA, GEMINI

TRUST

NY TIMES

SAM JAY for ROLLING STONE

Guided by her emotional instincts, her photographs shine a spotlight on resonant moments of daily life, from the quiet to the grandiose. 

8 WHEELS, SHORT FILM, SMIRNOFF

SENSE

SSENSE

GANNI

She describes her aesthetic as “being naturalistic with moments of subtle mysticism“ and draws further inspiration from filmmakers such as Claire Denis, Edward Yang and Camille Billops.

EMMA SELIGMAN for THE  NEW YORKER

CAP 74024

AD COUNCIL, REAL DEAL ON FENTANYL

TOMU

DOCUMENT X 2 MONCLER 1952, THE MARCHING BAND ELITE

Deeply inspired by her family’s roots in the American South and South East Asia, as well as their migrant and immigrant experiences, Courtney explores themes of performance, grief and spirituality throughout her work. 

W MAGAZINE

COTERIE

JURDAN BRYANT, WORDS FOR THOMAS

JURDAN BRYANT, WORDS FOR THOMAS

L’RAIN for LOVE INJECTION MAGAZINE

Courtney collaborates with publications and brands such as American Vogue, Black Beauty Matters, Bumble, Cecilie Bahnsen, The Cut, Document Journal, Ganni, MCM, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Nike, Reebok, Rolling Stone, Smirnoff, SSENSE and T Brand.

NAOMI OSAKA for NIKE

NAOMI OSAKA for NIKE

CAP 74024

CAP 74024

CECILIE BAHNSEN

PEERING INTO THE WHITE ROOM is the first book from Courtney Sofiah Yates. Published by ‘Small Editions’ in 2022, PITWR is a short photographic story that details, with strobe-like quality, the stages of grieving a dead lover.