About Photographer Lita Kelley.
I'm so happy that you're interested in Lita Xú Líng Kelley Photography.
I live in Beverly, Massachusetts, on the North Shore of Boston, right next to Salem & have been living here since 2011. As a photographer it is people I love photographing the most, not only because it's what I'm best at, but also because I'm a people person. I'm highly extrovert & value human experience and interaction.
I've been creating beautiful photographs for 30 years, since 1993 while an art major at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, where I was pursing my BFA in art, focusing on photography, & film and video production. I also have 6 years experience as a freelance model working with other photographers, in addition to 7 years working in television studios & broadcast news in a variety of positions including director, camera operator, editor, lighting and much more.
As a devout Buddhist, I meditate daily, and I also find the creative process to be a meditative & healing practice that brings joy to myself and others.
I'm fully present in each moment, aware & mindful of every little detail. I have an intuitive ability to connect with my subjects, making everyone feel comfortable and relaxed, which helps bring out their personality and emotions. My vibrant personality is full of patience, compassion and a sense of humor. I love to laugh, as well as make others laugh. I'm a strong advocate of spreading joy, love & happiness. It's what I live for.
I have three beautiful and amazing daughters, and a dog named Naiki-kyo. I live with my youngest daughter Luna who is a student at Beverly High School. Her two older sisters are both adults, Tori is attending college at UMass Amherst, and Alicia is raising horses on her farm south of Boston.
Photographer Lita Xú Líng Kelley, Beverly, Massachusetts
I am transgender, non-binary, and my pronouns are they/them. I'm am internationally published social documentary photojournalist and an active human rights defender and climate activist regularly participating in direct actions across the state for the betterment of humanity and planet. I'm a firm and active advocate for equality, equanimity, diversity and inclusion and use my photography for social justice.
When my daughter Luna is a grown up living her own adult life, I hope to do some traveling if I'm able to, wandering wherever life takes me as a documentary photographer & photojournalist. I hope to someday travel to Gaza, Palestine, Cuba, Vietnam & Cambodia.
I'm looking forward to creating with you on your photo session. I'm confident that you will enjoy the experience, and I promise you beautiful, amazing photographs you will love.
Social Documentary Photojournalism & Photography For Social Justice & Systemic Change
Lita Xú Líng Kelley is an internationally published photographer whose work has been gaining worldwide recognition for its unique and intimate portrayal of people and their stories. Born and raised in Boston, and transgender, Lita's work reflects her passion for social justice and human connection in a way that is both awe-inspiring and deeply emotional.
Lita's interest in photography began when she chose to study film production and photography at UMass Boston, where she honed her skills and developed her own artistic vision, and she has been continuing to hone her craft for over three decades since. Her work is characterized by a deep respect for cultural traditions and a keen eye for the natural beauty of the people and environment around her.
Lita's photography is characterized by its focus on individuals and their experiences, emotions and expressions, often highlighting marginalized communities and people who are often overlooked in mainstream media. Her portraits are intimate and deeply personal, capturing the essence of her subjects and conveying their emotions through subtle nuances of expression and gesture.
Through her photographs, Lita humanizes often stigmatized individuals and sheds light on systemic issues. Her photographs often serve as a call to action, encouraging viewers to take an active role in preserving our planet and supporting marginalized communities.
In addition to her photography, Lita is also involved in community activism and advocacy. She has collaborated with various organizations and nonprofits to raise awareness about social justice issues and promote positive change.
Overall, Lita Xú Líng Kelley's photography is a powerful testament to the ability of photography to inspire empathy, challenge stereotypes, and promote understanding. Through her lens, she captures the beauty and complexity of the human experience, while also shining a light on the social and political issues that shape our world. Lita's photography is a celebration of diversity, and each portrait is a testament to the unique beauty of each individual subject.
What sets Lita apart from other photographers is her deep empathy and compassion for her subjects. Whether she is photographing a flower in full bloom or a person in the midst of a difficult life experience, Lita has an innate ability to connect with her subjects on a deep level and capture human experience and emotion in her photographs.
In an age where digital photography has made it easier than ever to take and share photographs, Lita Xú Líng Kelley stands out as a true artist. Her work reminds us of the power of photography to connect us to the world around us and to each other, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty that surrounds us every day.
Lita Xú Líng Kelley is a visionary and expertly skilled photographer whose work has inspired and moved audiences around the world. Through her photography, she has given voice to the voiceless, celebrated the beauty of our humanness, and challenged us to be better stewards of our planet and our communities.
Social Documentary Photojournalism by Lita Xú Líng Kelley has been published in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Kenya, Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon, Switzerland, Italy, Iceland, & Lithuania
What is Social Documentary Photojournalism?
Social documentary photojournalism is a type of photography that aims to document and raise awareness of social issues. It is often used to expose injustice and inequality, and to advocate for change. Some of the most famous examples of social documentary photography include Dorothea Lange's photographs of the Great Depression, and W. Eugene Smith's photographs of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Social documentary photojournalism can be a powerful tool for social change. By shining a light on injustice, it can help to raise awareness and build support for positive action. By documenting the lives of those who are often marginalized and forgotten, it can help to create a more just and equitable world.
Social documentary photography is considered a subset of documentary photography and a form of photojournalism or reportage photography. Photojournalism is about capturing real life as it’s happening. Despite sharing the photojournalism label, social documentary photography is distinct from breaking news in its purpose. Social documentary photographs are used collectively to illuminate a deeper issue.
Social documentary photography is a form of denouncing injustice and human suffering.
Decolonial photographic practice engaged in social & political struggles IN
Solidarity THROUGH Active Participation
As an activist & social justice photographer & freelance photojournalist, first and foremost is my presence as a supporter and activist in solidarity and as an active participant of the cause. From 2020 to present I have participated in over 275+ direct actions, demonstrations, rallies, & protests throughout Massachusetts., some of them I even helped organize.
I use my photography skills as a vehicle for social change. I believe in the power of images to shape public attitudes and to raise awareness on issues that are often absent from public discourse.
Boston's Most Active & Prominent Social Justice Photographer since 2020
A few of the many non profits and grass roots organizations who have been beneficiaries & recipients of social justice photography by Lita Kelley
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Land Acknowledgement
I acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, & unceded territory of the Massa-adchu-es-et, Agawam, Pawtucket and Naumkeag First Nations on which we are living, learning, working and organizing today. As an activist, I commit myself to the struggle against the systems of oppression that have dispossessed Indigenous people of their lands and denied their rights to self-determination, work that is essential to human rights work across the world.
Lita Xú Líng Kelley Photography is an Apartheid Free Zone and is a bipoc, lgbtqia2s+, im/migrant & refugee safe space.
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Lita Xú Líng Kelley Photography
Beverly, Massachusetts. ph: (978) 473-7602