Excel In Style
A studio moment after the chair.
Studio portrait photography for Excel in Style, a Hamilton community initiative founded by Lohifa Pogoson-Acker that provides free textured-hair styling for young people while creating a space for care, confidence and celebration.
THE PROJECT
Excel in Style is a Hamilton community initiative founded by Lohifa Pogoson-Acker in 2025 as a way to nurture and support underprivileged young people with textured hair. More than 60 volunteer stylists donated their time, providing over 200 free hair-styling sessions including fades, braids, cuts, beads and other textured-hair services. Ballad Creative joined the initiative to give participating kids something beyond the haircut itself: an opportunity to step in front of a professionally lit studio setup and have a portrait made after their styling session.
THE CHALLENGE
Create a professional portrait experience within a busy community event while keeping the process welcoming, efficient and comfortable for young participants. The photography needed to celebrate each child and their new hairstyle without making the experience feel formal or intimidating. Because the subjects are minors, privacy and photo permissions are an important part of the project, and only a limited selection of images can be shared publicly.
THE APPROACH
Set up a compact studio portrait environment on site using controlled lighting and a consistent visual treatment, then allow each participant’s personality and freshly styled hair to be the focus. The photography was designed to feel polished without becoming rigid, giving each child a few minutes in the spotlight after spending time with one of the volunteer stylists.
WHAT WE MADE
Ballad Creative created and operated an on-site studio portrait station for Excel in Style. After receiving fades, braids, cuts, beads and other styling from volunteer textured-hair professionals, participating kids could step into the portrait space for an individual studio session. The setup used professional lighting to create a consistent, polished collection while allowing for different personalities, hairstyles and expressions. Images were selected and edited following the event, with publication and portfolio use limited according to participant permissions and privacy considerations.
THE RESULT
The portraits added another layer of celebration to an initiative already centred on care, confidence and community. More than 60 stylists contributed over 200 free styling sessions, and the studio photography gave participating young people an opportunity to see themselves represented in a professional portrait immediately after that experience. The resulting image collection documents the spirit of the initiative while respecting the privacy of the children involved, which means only a small portion of the work can be shown publicly.