Telling visual stories is what photographers do, and no one more vividly than Robbie Quinn, a New York City photographer who is publishing a book, Street Unicorns, this week that features pictures of some of the amazing street fashion moments Robbie has witnessed in New York and other cities.  Robbie has a knack for getting these unique souls to open up and share their stories, and the result is an eloquent testimony to creativity, individuality, and the beauty of our shared humanity.  I caught up with Robbie recently and he shared some thoughts about his work, his own story, and the book. 

Nick: Thanks for taking the time to chat, Robbie!  Let’s jump in.  Tell me how long has this project been in the making, and what prompted you to get started – the back story?

Robbie:  I had always taken photos growing up and had my photo taken a lot while in a band. Then when I was a music manager in the early 2000’s in Nashville, I needed photos for artists I was working with. I used a Minolta X700 and posted some promo photos on MySpace (remember that?). People saw the images and called the office to see who the photographer was. I started charging right away. After about three months, my days were filled with photo sessions and since I was so bad at artist management, I started doing photography full time. I photographed everything you could imagine, but eventually I found portraits to be a strength. Not because of my technical photography skills, but more because of my people skills. This is still my main source of income. I don’t post this work much except on LinkedIn. It’s mainly word of mouth. I also work with fashion designers photographing campaigns.

As far as Street Unicorns, in earnest, the project started about seven years ago. Although at that time I didn’t imagine it would become a book. I simply wanted to engage with interesting people.

Nick:  there’s definitely a fashion theme running through the work!  I love the journey!  What are some of the challenges you faced along the way?

Robbie:  I had moved to New York. Like most freelance photographers I know, it’s feast or famine. When not working, instead of moping around, I went out to the street. I had already photographed some Street Unicorns, but I didn’t know there was such a thing. I only knew when I saw something interesting, I photographed it. I have lots of images of various subjects. For some reason, I particularly like photographing bicycles. I think it’s the combination of lines and circles that keeps me coming back to it.

After a while, there seemed to be a common thread of the interesting people I photographed. It was the bold risks they took with their personal style. I started asking more questions and then it seemed meaningful to share their stories. At first it was just about the clothes, but I wanted to know why they expressed themselves in such a bold way. That’s when they shared these wonderful stories about challenges they face and how style carries them through their day. These challenges have included ageism, racism, homophobia, and all other discriminations. I started calling them Unicorns because they don’t go along with the flow. They stand out, embrace nonconformity, and share who they are with the world. Then because I mostly photograph them on the street, I dubbed them Street Unicorns. It’s like the name of their band.

Nick:  What do you hope your book will say to people?

Robbie:  In an entertaining way using style, the book is about diversity and inclusion. I hope the photos and the stories behind them will inspire people to accept and appreciate others around them that may be different from themselves. I would also hope the book inspires people to take more risks with their personal style as a means to become their most authentic selves.

Nick:  Has your approach changed as a result of the project? 

Robbie:  Working on this project for the past few years has given me insight that doing meaningful work is the most rewarding. I continue to be a commercial photographer but using photography for positive social change has awakened something in me that won’t fade. Whatever I do next will continue on the path to impact for good.

Nick:  Have you become a Street Unicorn yourself?

Robbie:  We’re kind of all Street Unicorns. It’s really about intention. It can be subtle or over the top. For the most part, we all get up and make decisions about what we’re going to wear that day. It’s when we start to draw outside the lines of conventionality for the sake of being the most authentic version of ourselves is when I feel we’re dipping our toe into the Street Unicorn pool. For me, when someone dives headfirst into that pool, that’s a fully evolved, full-fledged Street Unicorn.

I’ve learned so much about myself from all the Street Unicorns, what I like and dislike. And I’ve grown to a point where I’m starting to be the person that feels most like me if that makes sense. Along with that my personal style is evolving. I don’t think I’ve arrived yet, but I’m working on it and I imagine it’ll be an ever changing journey. Am I a Street Unicorn? I’ll let others decide if I’ve reached that status.

Nick:  Thanks, Robbie!  Good luck with the book!