Krystal is a recent friend of mine who I met back in October of 2022. We met on the hot day of October 13th in the Austin City Limits press tent. I was editing my photos and consuming the popsicles the festival provided for the press and Krystal appeared next to me. She asked to borrow my charger and I gladly complied. Like any press person, we discussed why we were at the festival. I was doing coverage for a magazine while she told me that she was sent by the nonprofit she is apart of called Tank Proof. I discovered that she recently moved to NYC and lived in Austin for a while before transitioning to the big apple. I was pretty excited to hear that because I tend to visit NYC often for NYFW and getaways. She told me if I ever visit that we should hang out. I took up her offer a few weeks later.
The November rain was dripping down my bodega umbrella as I stood in front of Krystal’s doorstep in Brooklyn. I was running late due to the subway delay and was frantically messaging Krystal through Instagram messages. You would think by that point we would’ve exchanged numbers but I am horrible at exchanging contacts. Krystal greeted me with warmness as I stepped in the gorgeous Brownstone she recently moved in. As we walked upstairs, I could hear footsteps behind the door. I was greeted by a tiny person in a puffy blue dress. It was her daughter Audrey. Right behind Audrey was Krystal’s boyfriend John. Of course we exchanged the how are you’s and how have you been since the festival lines. I was setting up my gear while Krystal and John were preparing lunch. Right next to me was Audrey trying to give me a show and tell of her many talents and toys.
The November rain was dripping down my bodega umbrella as I stood in front of Krystal’s doorstep in Brooklyn. I was running late due to the subway delay and was frantically messaging Krystal through Instagram messages. You would think by that point we would’ve exchanged numbers but I am horrible at exchanging contacts. Krystal greeted me with warmness as I stepped in the gorgeous Brownstone she recently moved in. As we walked upstairs, I could hear footsteps behind the door. I was greeted by a tiny person in a puffy blue dress. It was her daughter Audrey. Right behind Audrey was Krystal’s boyfriend John. Of course we exchanged the how are you’s and how have you been since the festival lines. I was setting up my gear while Krystal and John were preparing lunch. Right next to me was Audrey trying to give me a show and tell of her many talents and toys.
Audrey spinning in her blue dress
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Audrey's favorite toy (she made it herself)
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Audrey and Bluey
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As the hour went by, so did the topics of our conversation. I got to learn about John and his work as a filmmaker/videographer and how Brooklyn was treating Krystal and Audrey. Tacos was on the menu and the sounds of eggs sizzling, water flowing from the faucet and the clanks of plates were comfortable sounds to my ears. I was discussing to John and Krystal about burnout as a creative and they were both very understanding. The point of my Roommate Series was to show another side of my work. Many people see me in a more fashion/editorial direction. But the origin of my creative passion was actually documentation and journalism. I’m actually a current Journalism student but as of the past year, I was swept up with fashion and entertainment as a way to express my creativity and to make an income as a college student. So I decided to start a document style series about my community, "The Roommate Series", and change the scenery up a bit for myself.
I’m significantly younger than my friends in the industry so describing my burnout was something they have experienced many times. Krystal is a COO, founder, and manager for four companies/nonprofits including her own business. John has lived in NYC for three years and spent many years finding his way through the creative industry. But yet, the beautiful thing to me about this industry is that you can meet the most genuine people and create amazing friendships with likeminded people no matter how old or the amount of experience one has. By that point, lunch was ready. I was sitting across Krystal and Audrey. While consuming the tacos, Krystal was telling me her origin story of her company Sustain Frame and her advocacy work for the environmental space while providing for the community in a sustainable way. She told me she has had the vision for Sustain Frame for a while and decided the best time was the pandemic. The conversation would transition to her daughter Audrey. Audrey is a very bright character. With a big smile on her face, she was a very confident child when I met her.
I’m significantly younger than my friends in the industry so describing my burnout was something they have experienced many times. Krystal is a COO, founder, and manager for four companies/nonprofits including her own business. John has lived in NYC for three years and spent many years finding his way through the creative industry. But yet, the beautiful thing to me about this industry is that you can meet the most genuine people and create amazing friendships with likeminded people no matter how old or the amount of experience one has. By that point, lunch was ready. I was sitting across Krystal and Audrey. While consuming the tacos, Krystal was telling me her origin story of her company Sustain Frame and her advocacy work for the environmental space while providing for the community in a sustainable way. She told me she has had the vision for Sustain Frame for a while and decided the best time was the pandemic. The conversation would transition to her daughter Audrey. Audrey is a very bright character. With a big smile on her face, she was a very confident child when I met her.
Krystal cleaning up
Krystal's dining table nook
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John & Krystal
John's tacos
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I knew Krystal was a single mother so meeting Audrey I already expected her character to be great. There’s always a stigma about single mothers raising their children. I have many friends who have raised their kids alone in the best way that they could and their children were always the best characters from what I have experienced. We would discuss about Audrey’s upbringing, her acclimation to moving to New York, and the ways her mother has raised her to be independent in society. Audrey was only four years old, but she was by far one of the most respectful and well spoken kids I have ever exchanged conversation with. And admitting this now, I’m not a big fan of kids. So the fact that I was able to exchange conversation with Audrey was impressive to me. And it’s very much due to Krystal raising her in her 20s alone. Krystal and Audrey for the past five years have been alone together against the world. They both grew up together and taught each other lessons. More than anything Krystal wanted Audrey to understand the importance of doing things for yourself and not expecting for others to be there for you. It’s something that not alot of children will learn until later on in their adulthood. Krystal speaks to Audrey with respect so in exchange Audrey would do the same. It’s not the usual baby or soft talk you would hear normally. There were even times when Krystal said no to Audrey but Audrey didn’t give any major reactions. She would just sigh or be a bit sad but accepted it. It was amazing to witness honestly. I was not like that when I was four.
Krystal & Audrey
Living room
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Krystal with her flower arrangements
Audrey's room
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Another hour passed by, and we proceeded to Krystal’s bedroom. She gave me a tour of her personal space. It was bright and open. She had a bed in the corner and an open floor space with her furniture placed near the walls. I noticed she had alot of vinyls and more antique looking pieces in her room. Her apartment in the brownstone overall gave an antique but yet modern and homey feeling. It was perfect because I cannot stand farmhouse or Patrick Bateman style homes. It drives me insane. Homes should feel like they’re lived in not a hospital. But enough with my rant. As I took photos of her space, we continued on with our conversation. She opened up more about raising Audrey and how Audrey’s father has always been absent from her life before she was born. It lead to the discussion of navigating sex and love in your early adulthood and how it can have you create a wall . I asked her how does she even manage to still pursue love. As someone who has been single and will remain single until my prince charming will waltz through the door, I find the dating scene horrendous for my age. I tend to go for men 5+ years older than me and even then it’s a nightmare. Krystal and John recently got together and it was when she moved to NYC not too long ago. It was through the dating app Hinge. Dating apps have a bad stigma around them. Personally I hate them. But it works sometimes. Krystal was not even wanting anything. But it is always when you’re not wanting anything, that the person will arrive. Be it through an app or a door.
By the third hour, the sun was close to setting. Krystal and John planned a date that night and was waiting for the babysitter to arrive. It was my cue to leave. Meeting Krystal again and capturing the raw moments of her home and environment will always be memorable to me. It reminded me of how grateful I am for the community I surround myself with and how impactful it is. I was burnt out at that time but being able to just sit in a home, snap a few photos while just getting to know someone further is what reminded of my roots as a photographer. I was so used to the glitz and glam of being on a set. The standards of fashion week and the burnout of it all. It was the reset I needed that week and that month. To those who read this, I hope you can see Krystal as how I see her through the lens and as a friend. A reminder that surrounding yourself with likeminded people and community is important. Humans need other humans. Whether it is through a relationship or platonic one at that. People bring each other up and learn from one another. Until my next roommate story, thank you for reading.
By the third hour, the sun was close to setting. Krystal and John planned a date that night and was waiting for the babysitter to arrive. It was my cue to leave. Meeting Krystal again and capturing the raw moments of her home and environment will always be memorable to me. It reminded me of how grateful I am for the community I surround myself with and how impactful it is. I was burnt out at that time but being able to just sit in a home, snap a few photos while just getting to know someone further is what reminded of my roots as a photographer. I was so used to the glitz and glam of being on a set. The standards of fashion week and the burnout of it all. It was the reset I needed that week and that month. To those who read this, I hope you can see Krystal as how I see her through the lens and as a friend. A reminder that surrounding yourself with likeminded people and community is important. Humans need other humans. Whether it is through a relationship or platonic one at that. People bring each other up and learn from one another. Until my next roommate story, thank you for reading.
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