Tyler Joe Tyler Joe

Jeramiah Irwin, @jerairwin The Jersey City–based designer attended Afropunk for the first time last year, and the festival’s accepting ethos made him come back again this year. “I love festivals in general, but this one to me is so different. Everyone is so friendly. There’s no judgment,” he says. “It’s really true what they say—the no sexism, no homophobia here.” And given the opportunity to fully express himself, Jeremiah chose a denim corset and ripped jeans that were inspired by the pop-country music he’s been listening to. Says Irwin, “I was going to wear a cowboy hat, but I’m saving that for later.”

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TYLER JOE

Multidisciplinary Creative

Brooklyn-based photographer Tyler Joe's path from Southern California to New York's fashion scene is a testament to determination. After graduating college, he moved cross country and took a leap of faith that led to a 5-hour commute for an unpaid internship at Complex Magazine, which proved to be a pivotal stepping stone in his career. Today, Joe has evolved from street style photography into a multidisciplinary creative, collaborating with brands like Chanel, Oakley, and Instagram. Contributor: Adam Katz Sinding Published: May 2025

Based on your background it’s evident that your level of determination and open mindedness has propelled you forward through your journey. Can you tell us about any specific moments that you feel were exceptionally important in your career advancement? There was one experience that was a make-or-break situation in my life. This was at the very beginning of my photography career in NY where I had only shot for a few clients in my life at the time, all of them being small street style coverage jobs. ELLE magazine had reached out to me asking if I wanted to shoot a beauty story in studio. I had never stepped foot inside a real photography studio in my life, assisted any studio photographer, and couldn’t tell you the first thing about lighting equipment, so naturally I said yes… haha. I walked into this shoot with my little on-camera flash only to be surrounded by all these studio lights I was unfamiliar with. The ELLE team showed me the mood board and my on-camera flash was not going to cut it, so I looked up the model of the lights in the studio on YouTube to learn how to use them on the spot. Eventually I figured it out and [messed] around enough to where I made it happen, and the entire ELLE team was happy. I was relieved. The next week they hired me full-time. I literally faked it until I made it. I always think back to the moment where they asked me if I was able to do the shoot and where my life would be if I had said “No I’m sorry I’m not a studio photographer”. That moment changed my entire career.

Q&A

What lessons did you take away from these experiences? You really have to get uncomfortable and embrace unfamiliar situations to learn, grow, and get to the next level. I’m curious if there are any shifts you predict coming to the industry that may influence how we interact with media. Short form content really took off during the pandemic via TikTok. It gave us something that I think none of us really knew we wanted, and now we need it. We need it because algorithms have become too good. I for one suffer from short form content fatigue, and I’m sure the masses eventually will also. I think that when that happens people are going to seek out more intimate forms of connection through long form content. What is the most fulfilling aspect of the work you do? I’m not sure if it's the work that I do [as much as] the few people I inspire. I’m not changing the world or anything, but [it’s fulfilling] when someone comes up [to] or messages me to let me know how much I’ve inspired them to pursue photography vs becoming a doctor or something like that. Most of the time they are AAPI and it reminds me that I actually represent a community, and for me I feel really proud that I can have that kind of impact on anyone, big or small.

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What changes have you seen influencing fashion culture? I used to discover brands and designers by going to stores, feeling the fabrics, and trying on products. Twenty years ago, buying denim meant going downtown and touching it, you know? We had to invest time to really experience it. Now, you can just go on social media, do a quick browse of a brand, and get an idea. However, this doesn't tell you much about the actual product, its quality, or the depth of detail. We've shifted a lot from focusing on product quality, to product presentation and branding. I see an opportunity in finding new ways to showcase products and be an influential source. Today, brands are more defined by their vibe than by the people wearing them. Customers lean into that vibe, so try to own it. Do you think brick-and-mortar can have a resurgence in this environment? Yeah, I miss the personal relationships you could build with the well-respected and passionate sales staff; these people educated me. It's just so hard to get that online. I'm not the type to post questions on Reddit; I prefer face-to-face interactions. Therefore, I believe physical retail has a role to play in the future, focusing more on the local community and bringing like-minded people together. Staple wardrobe item? I've been wearing my silver necklace from my friend Jonatan's brand, Kultur 5, a lot. I love it, and soon I think I need to get the bracelet too. Do you think accessories are important, or is it just that piece that you’re drawn to? Nowadays, I’m quite inspired by styling in general. Since entering the sports space, I’ve enjoyed merging and contrasting sports and technical clothing with wider tailored silhouettes, wool knits, jewelry, and similar items. Running with a necklace that has zero function and might even slow you down is a playful nod to all the performance-focused people out there—I don’t care.