Thabisa Nxawe: South African fashion and portrait photographer exploring identity, culture, and emotion

Thabisa Nxawe is a Johannesburg-based fashion photographer and visual storyteller exploring the space between fashion, identity, and emotion. 

With a background in fashion design, makeup artistry, and dance, she brings all these influences together to shape a visual style that feels natural, expressive, and personal.

She works mainly in portrait and fashion photography, focusing on the human face to tell honest stories. She loves working with bold colours, controlled lighting, and thoughtful styling to create visuals.

Her process is not rigid or overly planned. She creates from instinct, allowing ideas to unfold as she goes. Sometimes, the deeper meaning of her work becomes clear only when she looks back on it later, often finding connections to her own thoughts and experiences.

Her spirituality also plays a role in how she creates, as she trusts her intuition and sees her work as guided by something beyond technique.

Thabisa draws inspiration from fashion editorials, other photographers, and everyday life. She blends these influences with her own experiences to create work that feels both personal and culturally connected. She enjoys collaborating with models, stylists, and other creatives to build strong visual stories together.

She is especially interested in working with fashion brands, magazines, and cultural platforms, and hopes to contribute to leading publications such as Vogue and Elle. Her journey has also included participating in Oxfam’s Stories for Change in Johannesburg.

How did you get started in photography?

I didn’t conventionally get into photography; it was more of a gradual pull. Looking back, I also think part of it comes from my dad. 

He owned a film camera and would often take photos of our family when we were growing up. At the time, I didn’t fully realise the impact, but those moments stayed with me.

While studying fashion, I chose to take a short photography course. That’s when I bought my first camera and began shooting more intentionally.

Coming from a fashion background, I was already drawn to colour, styling, and presentation, so photography felt like a natural extension of those interests.

Later, I participated in programmes at the Market Photo Workshop, which expanded my understanding of photography and introduced me to documentary storytelling. That experience encouraged me to be more thoughtful and intentional about the work I create.

I started documenting the people around me and experimenting with styling and portraiture.

Over time, it became more than just taking pictures; it became a way for me to explore identity, culture, and emotion. I’ve now been photographing for several years, and my work continues to grow through collaboration with different creatives and communities.

How would you describe yourself?

I believe I am a multidisciplinary creative who moves fluidly across different forms of expression. Before photography, I explored acting, dance, makeup artistry, singing, and fashion, each of which has shaped how I see and understand the world today. 

Photography became a space where all of these elements could exist at once, allowing me to bring performance, styling, emotion, and visual storytelling into a single frame.

I’m very intuitive in the way I create. I’m drawn to feeling, energy, and visual detail, often working instinctively rather than analytically. Over time, I’ve come to trust that process, even when the meaning isn’t immediately clear.

Looking back at my work, I often discover emotions or personal experiences I wasn’t consciously aware of at the time, which makes photography feel like both a creative outlet and a form of self-reflection.

I’m also deeply drawn to bold tones and colour. I see this as a reflection of my personality; I’m bubbly, quite gentle, and optimistic, and I naturally want to translate that into how I see and portray the world. Through my work, I try to create images that feel vibrant, expressive, and full of life, almost like I’m painting the world as I experience it.

A unique thing about me is that I don’t see my creativity as limited to one medium. Everything I’ve explored continues to live within my work, influencing how I direct, style, and capture people. I’m constantly evolving, and my work grows with me as I continue to explore new ways of seeing and expressing.

What are the main themes that inspire your photography?

My photography focuses on identity, self-expression, and the stories that exist within culture and heritage. I’m particularly drawn to youth culture, the ways young people navigate freedom, creativity, and resistance, and how they use style, movement, and space to tell their own stories. 

I like capturing moments that feel both personal and culturally resonant, reflecting not just the individual but the community and environment they inhabit. Fashion, colour, and styling are tools I use to enhance these narratives.

I see my work as a bridge between people and their stories. By highlighting expressions, gestures, and visual culture, I aim to create images that invite viewers to connect emotionally and culturally, to see themselves or others in the frame, and to reflect on shared experiences, identity, and heritage.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?

There are so many moments in my career that I’m proud of, but a few really stand out. One was my first exhibition; it was a goal I had set for myself, and seeing it come to life was surreal. It validated not just my work but the journey I had been on as a creative.

Another milestone was being featured in LEWATLE Magazine, a South African publication that celebrates storytellers and filmmakers.

Being included in their 6th issue alongside such incredible creatives affirmed my voice and perspective as a photographer, and reminded me that the work I create, blending fashion, culture, and personal storytelling, can resonate with others on a larger scale.

These moments inspire me to keep exploring, pushing boundaries, and sharing stories through my photography.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a photographer?

Developing my own visual voice while navigating a creative industry that often emphasises trends over individuality.

In the beginning, it was easy to compare myself to other photographers or feel pressure to conform to certain styles, which sometimes made my work feel less authentic.

Over time, I learned to trust my instincts and embrace my multidisciplinary background; my experience in fashion, dance, makeup, and performance informs my approach to photography and gives my work a unique perspective.

I also realised the importance of patience and reflection; sometimes the meaning behind an image only becomes clear months or years later, and that process has taught me to respect the journey as much as the result.

This challenge helped me grow not only as a photographer but as a creative person. It reinforced the value of staying true to my vision, experimenting without fear, and allowing intuition and emotion to guide my work.

What type of photography do you specialise in?

I like to work in fashion and portrait photography, with a focus on Afrocentric modernity.

In the beginning, I explored everything, experimenting across styles, subjects, and techniques, which helped me discover what truly resonates with me. Over time, my work has become more refined.

What is your primary commercial niche?

Fashion and portrait photography, with a focus on editorial and brand work. I create images that blend styling, colour, and emotion to communicate a brand’s identity while also highlighting personality and character in my subjects. 

I work with fashion brands, magazines, creatives, and individuals, producing content for campaigns, lookbooks, social media, and editorial features.

I also integrate elements of culture, heritage, and youth expression into my commercial work, making it feel visually striking, intentional, and connected to contemporary African narratives.

What is your unique technical or visual approach?

A key part of my approach is the use of Fujifilm film simulations, which allow me to craft specific moods and colour palettes within my work. I use these simulations deliberately to enhance tone, texture, and atmosphere, giving each image a cohesive visual identity.

This technique works in tandem with my emphasis on bold colours and strong contrasts, helping to convey personality, emotion, and narrative while maintaining a signature aesthetic.

Which global brands, photographers, or industries do you feel your work aligns with most?

I feel my work aligns closely with fashion creatives and brands that explore identity, culture, and contemporary African aesthetics. 

One of the designers whose work resonates with my vision is Wanda Lephoto, a Johannesburg-based fashion label that uses storytelling, heritage, and cultural plurality to redefine luxury and create new visual languages in fashion.

Another creative I feel a strong affinity with is Thebe Magugu, a South African designer celebrated for blending modern fashion with African heritage and narrative in globally recognised collections.

His work explores culture, identity, and modernity through design, making him a reference point for the kind of visual and cultural stories I aim to tell through my photography.

These references reflect the kind of Afrocentric modernity and cultural depth that I’m drawn to and seek to express in my own visual practice.

How's the photography and art space in South Africa?

Photography and art in South Africa are dynamic, diverse, and continually evolving. Historically, photography was a tool for documenting and challenging social and political realities, and today that legacy continues in new and exciting ways. 

Contemporary South African photographers are telling their own stories, blending personal identity, culture, and heritage with bold creative expression across fashion, portraiture, documentary, and experimental work.

In recent years, the scene has become more visible both locally and internationally. Young creatives are pushing boundaries, experimenting with different media, and redefining what it means to tell a story through images.

Photography is increasingly recognised as a fine art form, with exhibitions, art fairs, and festivals providing platforms for emerging voices to reach wider audiences.

What is one professional standard you never compromise on?

I have always told myself that I cannot compromise respecting the vision and individuality of the people I photograph.

Whether it’s a model, a client, or a collaborator, I approach every shoot with care, intention, and clear communication to ensure their personality, story, and comfort are represented authentically.

I also hold myself to high standards in craft and consistency, from lighting and composition to colour, styling, and post-production.

Every image I create is an intentional reflection of my vision and the story I want to tell, and I never cut corners on quality or attention to detail.

Maintaining these standards ensures that my work is both professional and deeply personal, while building trust with clients and collaborators.