Ruby Melton has a B. S. in Business Management from Delaware State University and is an avid language learner, volunteer, adventure seeker and travel photographer. She is TEFL certified and is currently transitioning from a life in the corporate world to a lifestyle centered around giving back, traveling, and bringing awareness to photographers who are women of color worldwide through her initiative, Brown Girl With A Camera. Her additional hobbies include white water rafting down class 5 rapids, surfing and jumping out of airplanes.
How would you describe your style of photography?
My photography style has a very natural flow. I like to capture life as it happens, I love to get the in the moment shots, I try not to dictate what happens in the photo but rather position myself to compose the perfect frame.
Can you share the backstories behind these two photos?
This past July, I traveled with Girls Going Global, a non-profit to Costa Rica as a documentary photographer and chaperone. They took 9 young women to Central America for a very authentic experience and I got the chance to capture it all. The 1st picture is of the girls horseback riding through a coffee bean producing small town to Acquarries Waterfall in Turrialba. The 2nd image is of a young boy who we got the opportunity to volunteer for a day at his school.
What are your dreams as a photographer?
My dreams as a photographer is to be acknowledged as an advocate for photographers who are women of color as well as excel in the documentary and lifestyle fields. I am also open to what opportunities may come the more I pursue making short films and documentaries.
Follow her here – Website: Ruby Ella | Instagram – @RubyEllaPhoto | @BrownGirlWithACamera
The “Snapshot” series are mini interviews with fellow black travel photographers to inspire others and myself. As I’ve navigated the world of travel photography over the last few years, I’ve found very few fellow photographers of color who are also doing this professionally with a heavy focus on travel documentary. So this inspirational resource of professional travel photographers of color is a way for people to always find us. Please get in touch if you’d like to be featured or know of others to feature.