Surfing, Skateboarding, Music, Photography, Travel, Culture and general antics of the youth on the run.

Photo Credit: Wiissa Portfolio 022 features an exotic photography duo

what youth photo credit wiissa

Wiissa is photography duo Vanessa Hollander & Wilson Philippe. They have roots everywhere from Minnesota, Brazil, France and Miami. And have photographed just about every strange subculture and genre you can think of in music and fashion, as well as mainstream outlets like The Huffington Post. But the thing that we love is their ability to take us way back, and we think you’ll agree.

What Youth: Where are you from?

Wilson Phillippe: Vanessa is Brazilian American but grew up in Minnesota and Miami. And I am French and grew up in France and Miami.

How’d you get money to buy your first camera?

Santa Claus got us our first film camera, a Pentax K1000.

When did you start taking it seriously and realize that it could be a profession?

We started taking it seriously when we used film for the first time — that’s when we found out how to get the look we wanted and it inspired us to push ourselves further to work harder.

Did you learn most photo stuff from mentors in the industry or professors at school?

We actually never had any photography mentors. We wish we did as I’m sure that would have sped things up! We learned from trial and error and looking up how to do certain things on the Internet. We don’t study photography in school.

Whats in your camera arsenal? What are your main cameras? Portraits? Lifestyle? Give me the run down on what you shoot with for what.

Our camera arsenal is pretty similar for every shoot: Polaroid 600se, Nikon FM3A, Contax T2, and our Nizo Super 8 Camera. Polaroid and FM3A are our main go-to cameras, the Contax is used in case we need to get shots quickly or at night, and the Nizo is used whenever we’re making a video!

Who are some of your biggest influences making work right now?

Wes Anderson, Harley Weir, the Babe Rainbow, Kristofski, Warren Fu, Julian Casablancas, Dimitri Basil.

Anybody you wanna thank for where you’re at now?

Our families for believing in us and all of the people who follow us and comment/like/share our work! You guys keep us going and without you we’d be nowhere!

Any new projects coming up?

We’re finishing up a personal short film/fashion film about groupies, called “Midnight Ramblers.” We’re finishing the editing process, so release should hopefully be very soon! We’re taking the word groupie back to what originally meant: simply being with the group — and showing some of the original groupies and their fashion legacy in the film.

Wiissa also does a great job of putting their images in motion. Check out a handful of their videos below:




alec castillo photography

Photo Credit: Alec Castillo Portfolio 029: The epitome of youth on the run

Alec Castillo is the bassist of self-proclaimed “boner rock” band The Nude Party. He’s also a photographer dedicated to depicting the world and lifestyle he inhabits. Whether capturing antics on tour or portraying the most intimate of moments amongst friends, this dude’s eye has our attention. And he’s only just begun. “I use photography to…

what youth photo credit tobin yelland

Photo Credit: Tobin Yelland Portfolio 028: San Francisco skateboarding in the late ’80s

Tobin Yelland picked up photography early. And it was skateboarding right away. The subculture and lifestyle surrounding it especially. He was first published in Thrasher when he was only 15. We caught up with him below to learn a bit more about his path to being a revered skate photog. WHAT YOUTH: How old were…

what youth michael cukr photo credit

Photo Credit: Michael Cukr Portfolio 027: A look back at Michael “Horse” Cukr’s year

Michael Cukr works here at What Youth. He’s a horse. We call him that because of another Warren Smith quote moment, but beyond that he’s an incredible filmmaker and happens to be ridiculously good at photography. Which we benefit greatly from. In fact, he’s so good that he shot the following over the course of…

what youth photo credit molly steele

Photo Credit: Molly Steele Portfolio 026: Train-hopping, fantasy and photo journalism

Molly Steele’s photography caught us off guard. Poetic, playful and beautiful but also tough and raw. This Girl We Adore from a few weeks ago submitted a batch of photos so good we had no choice but to feature them in a new Photo Credit. She’s a badass train hopper with an affinity for getting…

what youth photo credit hunter martinez

Photo Credit: Hunter Martinez Portfolio 025: In a busy California winter, this young photog’s work is a step ahead

Hunter Martinez is 21 years old and from Pasadena, California. Not exactly a spot many of you would know if you surf. But that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a major standout in what has become an overwhelmingly well-documented California winter. Hunter has the eye. And the hustle. And our very own Nate Lawrence saw…

what youth photo credit monroe alvarez

Photo Credit: Monroe Alvarez Portfolio 024: Studio, lifestyle and maybe the world’s most legit “selfies”

Monroe Alvarez might take some of the world’s greatest “selfies.” She once did a road trip solo just to shoot them. But her portfolio and website are filled with incredible lifestyle and studio images. We recently chatted to her about her style and got this impressive sample of images. Redefining “selfie” series included. What Youth:…

Photo Credit: Skyler Dahan Portfolio 023: Paris, LA and how to take a strangers photo

Skyler Dahan is a Los Angeles based photographer who we were introduced to through industry legend and RVCA founder Pat Tenore. When he looped us in with Skyer, we were immediately blown away by the imagery and how evolved and intimate they were. We hit Skyler up and realized we all could learn a lot…

what youth photo credit wiissa

Photo Credit: Wiissa Portfolio 022 features an exotic photography duo

Wiissa is photography duo Vanessa Hollander & Wilson Philippe. They have roots everywhere from Minnesota, Brazil, France and Miami. And have photographed just about every strange subculture and genre you can think of in music and fashion, as well as mainstream outlets like The Huffington Post. But the thing that we love is their ability to take…

what youth photo credit cory hansen surfing photography

Photo Credit: Cory Hansen Portfolio 021: Classic Santa Cruz, flash, stars and Dane

When Nate Lawrence rings and recommends a photographer for a Photo Credit feature, we know we had better answer. Because it’s going to be a doozy. Especially when the name comes from Santa Cruz. We called up Cory Hansen and his submission blew our mind. A mix of beautiful and retrospective moments that define an…

what youth photo credit cole barash creed mctaggart

Photo Credit: Cole Barash Portfolio 020

Cole Barash photographed one of our favorite things we’ve ever printed in What Youth. You can find it in What Youth Issue 7, it’s called 6 Girls, 6 Cities and features 6 beautiful girls in London, Tokyo, Paris, Sao Paulo, Moscow and New York. It’s beautiful photography and it was no easy feat to juxtapose…

Photo Credit: Alana Paterson Portfolio 019

Alana Paterson is a reminder of the great things in life. The great outdoors, great times, travel, drinking beers and skateboarding with friends. Captured in such a transparent, honest way. She currently lives in British Columbia, and graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver B.C., as well as The Lesley University of Boston….

photo credit what youth girls

Photo Credit: Terence Connors Portfolio 019

WHAT YOUTH: “Terrence M. Connors has been recognized by his peers as one of the pre-eminent trial attorneys in the state.” How do you feel about that being the first thing that comes up when you google your name? TERRENCE CONNORS: [Laughing]. That’s awesome. Where did you grow up? How did you end up where you are…

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