As a descendant of enslaved West Africans who were brought to Haiti, a daughter of Haitian migrants who settled in Florida, and someone who left home to pursue her own opportunities, Sheilby is familiar with the tension, risk, and bravery that comes with life-changing decisions. Inspired by the film Daughters of the Dust (Julie Dash, 1991); a story of a generational divide triggered by a younger sister of a Gullah family who wants to move to the mainland, Sheilby uses portraiture and candid photographs in Daughters to pay tribute to her own familial story and celebrate the importance of family bonds.

June 2021, Noordhoek Beach Cape Town, South Africa

Models - Samantha & Kimberley Hammond

Photographer & CD by Sheilby Macena

Assisted by Ayesha Kazim and Sophony Henri

Styling by Andrea Louis and Gcobisa Gee Yako