Making The Invisible Visible: The Street Style Photographer
In a world where recognition is often reserved for the loudest voices, Making the Invisible Visible exists for those who feel unseen. This series isn’t just about highlighting niche creatives in fashion, art, music, tech, and culture—it’s about all of us. At some point, everyone has felt overlooked, underestimated, or unheard. By telling the stories of those working behind the scenes, we’re not just celebrating their contributions; we’re holding up a mirror to anyone who has ever questioned their impact. These stories remind us that brilliance isn’t measured by visibility and that the most powerful forces shaping culture often exist in the shadows. Making the Invisible Visible restores value to what the world has ignored because everyone deserves to be seen, no matter how hidden.
London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2025, Lady B aka Barbara Ayozie Fu Safira: ModeHunter
“It is a moment to not only give them their flowers but also glimpse the juxtaposition between their untiring commitment to their craft and why they’re often invisible despite their contributions.”
As fashion month begins to wind down, I can’t help but reflect on my own introduction to this glamorous industry. My first experience with fashion was unexpected. I was seven or eight years old when my siblings and I were chosen to perform in a live choir for Christian Dior’s show during Paris Fashion Week.
It was a whirlwind of excitement, the flashing cameras, the supermodels, the celebrities, the orchestrated chaos backstage. Yet, as a child, my memories are fragmented, like snapshots from a dream. I remember the production staff dressed in all black, clipboards in hand, the models being dressed while their makeup was still being applied. Everything felt electric. At the time, I was mesmerized by the spectacle itself, unaware of the intricate network of unseen forces making it all happen, the stylists, designers, hat makers, production teams, and photographers quietly shaping the experience.
Years later, I found my way back to fashion almost by accident. My journey led me through fashion PR and marketing, contributing as an editor for various magazines, working in celebrity styling, modeling, and capturing street style moments through my blog Hatabouttown. I became an ambassador for luxury brands, secured partnerships, creatively directed shows, and produced Fashion Week after-parties. I explored nearly every corner of the industry, but through it all, my fascination with those working behind the scenes only deepened.
Among them is a group that profoundly shapes how we perceive fashion yet remains visibly invisible—street style photographers. Understanding street style photography means understanding the power of observation, the ability to notice what others overlook. These photographers don’t just document fashion; they frame its narrative. They dictate which trends take off, which designers gain attention, and which individuals become style icons, often before traditional media catches on. In a world obsessed with front-row exclusivity, they democratize fashion by turning everyday people into symbols of style. Bill Cunningham, the patron saint of this art form, built his legacy on this principle. To him, fashion wasn’t confined to the pages of Vogue or the salons of Paris; it lived in the streets, expressed by everyday people without permission or pretense.
Coming up in fashion, I often heard the names Tommy Ton and Phil Oh. To be photographed by them felt like a rite of passage. They were calm and stylish. When they spotted someone they wanted to capture, they sprinted like athletes to seize the moment. They weren’t just photographers; they were cultural historians documenting the rhythm of fashion as it existed beyond the runway. And yet, for all the attention their images garnered, they remained mostly invisible, recognized in industry circles, but rarely credited for shaping fashion’s visual history.
For me, navigating the fashion world sometimes felt lonely; it often seemed like an elite society where only celebrities or top editors were given credence. But not everyone wore a stiff upper lip. I met many warm and welcoming individuals, some of whom are dear friends to this day. One such person is Darrel Hunter, known as ModeHunter. Not only is he an incredible photographer, but he also possesses a kind soul, always laughing and smiling. I met ModeHunter early in my career, around 2011, though I don’t remember exactly how we crossed paths. What I do remember is him inviting me out for tea to hear my story. He was genuinely intrigued by my journey with hats and wanted to document it for his blog—back when blogging was still in its prime.
That moment revealed what sets ModeHunter apart: he is, above all, a storyteller. His fascination with capturing moments began in childhood, inspired by his father’s twin-lens camera and nurtured with a Canon Powershot. Unlike many who take photos, ModeHunter understands the significance of preserving memories. His ability to see what others miss is enhanced by his meticulous work ethic and military-like precision in organizing his schedule, skills I believe honed from his time in finance. This structure allows him to work stress-free, to remain fully present, and to capture moments that others overlook.
In my late teens, ModeHunter felt like an older brother figure in the fashion industry. We spent countless hours together in London and New York, both during and outside of Fashion Week. I would tag along, capturing hat portraits for my blog. One of my favorite memories was walking through London when we spotted a woman whose personal style caught our eye. I urged ModeHunter that we had to shoot her, and we approached her together. She introduced herself as Snoh (with an H), a singer-songwriter visiting from Sweden. Years later, we learned that she was the Grammy-nominated artist Snoh Aalegra. That moment stands out not because of her fame but because of the power of human connection. We now live in a world that communicates more but interacts less. Yet, ModeHunter’s images tell a story, and his images invite us to interact and engage.
While most of the fashion world is preoccupied with front-row spectacles and exclusive designer theatrics, street style photographers like ModeHunter remind us fashion’s main event takes place outside the shows. Where they capture the unfiltered, unscripted essence of style, the calm moments amidst the chaos. Their work shapes our collective memory of fashion, yet they rarely receive the recognition they deserve. They are not just observers; they’re storytellers, memory keepers, and quiet architects of fashion’s history.
As Fashion Week unfolds, I challenge you to look beyond the main event. Look beyond the runway, beyond the celebrity appearances, and take a moment to appreciate those behind the lens, the ones making the invisible visible.
