Who photographed Angela Bassett for Ebony's May 2025 cover?

Ejatu Shaw, a British-Sierra Leonean photographer, captured Angela Bassett for the May 2025 cover of Ebony magazine.

What career did Ejatu Shaw originally pursue before photography?

Ejatu Shaw was initially primed to study medicine and later pursued architecture before deciding to become a photographer.

How does Ejatu Shaw use photography for personal well-being?

Ejatu Shaw finds photography to be a therapeutic tool, helping her cope with life's anxieties and process grief, particularly after the loss of her father.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Black Woman Photographer Honors Black Woman Icon

Black Woman Photographer Honors Black Woman Icon

27 Apr

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Summary

Photographer Ejatu Shaw captured Angela Bassett for Ebony's May 2025 cover.
Shaw pivoted from medicine and architecture to pursue photography.
Shaw uses her craft as therapy, especially after losing her father.

Black Woman Photographer Honors Black Woman Icon

Ejatu Shaw, a British-Sierra Leonean photographer, achieved a significant milestone by photographing actress Angela Bassett for the May 2025 cover of Ebony magazine. The striking image, taken on a London rooftop, featured Bassett in a champagne-colored dress.

Shaw, who was expected to study medicine, initially pursued architecture as a compromise. However, a trip to Sierra Leone in 2013 inspired her to switch to photography, a decision that initially caused her father to cry due to concerns about financial stability.