Aug 29Member-onlyMothers, Stepdaughters, Grief, and LoveOn the passing of my mother and the love of my blended family. — I don’t often post photos of my daughter (even the ones I shot). Mainly because there are people who I believe should have that privilege first. Namely Aliya King Neil and daughter’s father. I often refer to her as my stepdaughter because she has a fantastic dad whose toes I…Blended Family4 min readBlended Family4 min read
Published inZORA·Aug 13Member-onlyBye, Ma: A letter to my mother following her passingMy mother, Cynthia Rose Neil, died this weekend at the age of 77, two days before I planned a surprise visit. That visit would have ended nearly a dozen years of having not seen her or my father in person. A self-induced exile resulting from childhood trauma and a myriad…Family7 min readFamily7 min read
Aug 10Member-onlyAn Argument for HaikusThis story was originally posted on shanepaulneil.com The wife and I drove to Vermont for her friend’s 50th birthday this weekend. It was a lovely time. During the party, I spoke to a woman who is a writer who after a very long layoff decided that she was going to…Creativity2 min readCreativity2 min read
Jul 26Member-onlyArt Official Intelligence: On AI And CreativityThis story was originally published at shanepaulneil.com. I’ll start off by saying this plainly. I’m tired of the AI conversation. In a matter of months, the injection of artificial intelligence into everything from TikTok filters to sex toys has known no bounds. And depending on who you ask it is…Artificial Intelligence4 min readArtificial Intelligence4 min read
Published inZORA·Jul 25Member-onlyAliya: A (Photo)EssayAn ode to my wife. And an answer to a complicated question. — “Why do you love Aliya?” My therapist is great for asking the most complex questions five minutes before our session ends. I think it’s his way of tricking me into thinking I had a mind-blowing session. Just kidding, Jamel. Why do you love someone? It is a complicated question whose…Love6 min readLove6 min read
Jun 3Why You Should Purge Your Dead DraftsYour love affair with past efforts is killing your creativity. — This story was originally published on the Write I Must page. I had someone reach out to me recently asking me to consult on creating a new content strategy for themselves. Beforehand they sent me a YouTube channel with a couple hundred videos. The videos were interviews with different A-list…Writing4 min readWriting4 min read
Jun 2The Man Who Should Have Been My Favorite Uncle.This is my Uncle Butch. He’s a brilliant photographer who, in his heyday, logged more miles on his bicycle than most folks can fathom. He should have been one of my closest relatives, but family drama and hurt feelings ruined any chance of that. It was so bad that the…Creativity4 min readCreativity4 min read
Mar 10What is a Professional Anymore?In the blurry world of hobby, freelance, and expert what defines a pro anything? — I took up photography about three years ago during the pandemic. Yes, I am the reason the price of film has shot up 3000% and why you had to wait six months to get that new mirrorless you coveted. I was bored. I wanted to make “content.” Fight me. Not…Gig Economy5 min readGig Economy5 min read
Mar 10Film is Dumb.There I said it. In 2023 there is virtually no reason to shoot film. It’s expensive. It’s inconvenient. The process is slowwwww (especially if you don’t develop yourself). People who shoot film love the word artisanal and beanies. So why do I want to master it? Currently have two film…Photography5 min readPhotography5 min read
Oct 14, 2021Embracing My Average Black DickIn an effort to better understand my body insecurities I spoke to two of the “biggest” Black pornstars in the industry. — I’ve been watching porn since I was a teenager. But not until I was an adult did I understand that I was steeping myself in racism at the same time. When my father brought the gift of AOL to my childhood home, I’m not sure how he hoped I would…Sex8 min readSex8 min read
