photograph by Cydni Elledge
Monica Morgan has a well-established, three decades-long career in photography. Morgan became a renowned, international photographer and photojournalist telling visual stories on the world stage, capturing photos of legendary icons, public figures, and major events. Her dedication to storytelling does not stop at photography. She is also a professional speaker, radio host, and podcast host. Shawn Fair recently announced that Monica Morgan would be the latest powerhouse speaker on his Leadership Experience Tour.
Award-winning photojournalist Monica Morgan is known for her distinct visual storytelling style. For her, behind each assignment and the resulting image is the theme, “What if.” With her creative eye honed from over thirty years of traveling the world and shooting captivating images, Monica found she had lived a life of rich, relatable experiences worth sharing. “I captured photos of historic events, world leaders, icons, and everyday people,” she said, “And while doing so, I learned their stories and experiences, enriching my understanding of the world, and the many people in it.”
In 1987, Morgan began to supplement her articles for Detroit newspapers with photographs she was required to take to accompany them. By 1990, her photographic talent had eclipsed the articles, and photography became her full-time profession. Her vivid photographs tell consistently compelling stories and touch the hearts of many. Her determination and drive to overcome all barriers to tell stories through photos, made Morgan stand out as distinct, in the white male-dominated industry. The photojournalist shared, “My experiences, including the challenges I faced as an African-American woman in this field, contributed to my distinct style and body of work.”
Today, it is well known that Monica Morgan is one of Detroit’s most widely-respected and acclaimed photographers, as well as belonging to the world’s roster of accomplished African-American female photographers. She has photographed Nelson Mandela, George W. Bush, Prince Charles, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (to name a very few). She was also handpicked by Rosa Parks, to be the personal and official photographer of the civil rights icon.
With everything Monica Morgan has seen as she has traveled the world, she feels compelled to share her insight in a form that goes beyond the photos. She channels her plethora of experiences and what she has learned, into her work as a transformational and motivational speaker. “In my photography, I often imagine, and present a ‘what if’ scenario,” she shared, “And so with every speaking engagement, I help people who need to address the ‘what if’ scenarios in their lives. With each speaking and photo assignment, I strive to capture more than what is right in front of me.”
Monica Morgan has sought-out, and photographed many momentous historical and cultural events. Some of these include the Million Man March on Washington, D.C. in 1995, the memorial service for Israel’s former First Lady Leah Rabin, and several milestone moments of Nelson Mandela’s life. In addition, she has covered 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and refugee camps in Sudan. “I capture stories through the lens, but I also want to inspire my audiences to create stories of their own,” Monica shared, “I speak to share the moments I capture and the life I continue to live through the lens, hoping to inspire others to live the lives of their dreams.”
Recently, Leadership Experience Tour founder and highly sought-after personal coach Shawn Fair has identified Monica Morgan as the next powerhouse speaker. As Morgan has received a Distinguished Toastmaster title from Toastmasters International, Shawn Fair is not alone in recognizing her speaking skills. With his philosophy of leading by example and giving praise where it is due, Shawn has handpicked her to join the exclusive roster of speakers on his Leadership Experience Tour.
Monica Morgan is an award-winning, international photojournalist and professional speaker. She was recently chosen as the next speaker for Shawn Fair’s Leadership Experience Tour. For more information about, and to see Monica Morgan’s photography, VISIT: monicamorganphotography.com
To learn more about, and book Monica Morgan for speaking engagements, VISIT: monicamorganspeaks.com
