WASHINGTON – He’s a pint-sized, precocious, professional photographer – who's already booked New York Fashion week, and is headed to the red carpet of the BET Awards.
Myles Campbell first asked his mother for a camera at three years old. Now, he walks through protests, basketball games, and boxing matches perfectly at ease – ready to capture and compose focused and forceful photographs.
“He literally walked in to New York Fashion Week like he owned the place,” said Myles’ mom, Shay, in an interview. “He knew what he was doing. He got right up there with the other photographers.”
There was one moment when a veteran photographer at the catwalk called Myles out, saying he took up too much space, and would block the view.
Except – one problem.
Myles is 3 ½ feet tall.
“How could I possibly be in the way?” Myles asked his mom, keeping his cool, and keeping his full attention on the shoot.
The rising first grader indeed has an outsized personality, admitting in a sit-down interview that he fired his mom – once – because he knows he’s the boss.
“Yes, I am definitely his assistant,” Shay said. “How did you fire me?”
“Because, you were the assistant and I was the photographer, and the photographer can fire the assistant,” Myles said.
He’s launched his own business, branded as Myles Minishotta Photography, and posts his latest work to Instagram.
Myles also charges (very reasonably) for photo shoots, with an ever-expanding list of clients.
“A lot of people don’t take him seriously at first, until they see his pictures,” Shay said. “And then they’re like, ‘oh my gosh, they’re phenomenal.’”
Myles and Shay form a tight-knit team – with an eye on cultivating the young professional’s emerging talent.
He’s off to Atlanta on Sunday, receiving a Truth Playmakers award for excellence in photography.
With upcoming shoots across Washington, Los Angeles and New York, Myles’ mission is to remain the picture of professionalism, with his future, in focus.
“It brings me a lot of joy,” Shay said, still amazed that her son reasoned with her for his own camera, now three years ago.
“Before we do anything, I always have a check with him and say, ‘do you want to do it, this is what you’re doing, are you sure?’ and he’s always on it.”