Meet Moneka Watson | Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Moneka Watson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Moneka, how does your business help the community?
Growing up, I was always drawn to visuals—music videos, old photographs, and movies. But I didn’t fully understand why until I got older. Around 2013, I noticed a wave of creative storytellers who were taking control of their narratives and sharing them on YouTube. One creator who deeply inspired me was Issa Rae. Watching Awkward Black Girl made me realize that I had the power to tell my own story too.

My mom, being the amazing woman she is, bought me a Nikon D3100 with a flip-out screen. At first, it sat in my closet for four years. But then one day, an idea from God came to me—to start taking pictures of my family and friends. That small spark ignited something bigger, and over time, it grew into my business.

Now, I’m at a stage in my career where I want to go beyond the typical moments—graduations, weddings, and headshots—and dive deeper into storytelling. I believe in the power of visual stories. When you create a story, it lives on forever. It becomes immortal.

Recently, I’ve felt a strong pull to learn more about my roots—specifically my Mississippi history. My family is from the Mississippi Delta, and I discovered that the town my father was born in, Mound Bayou, was founded by formerly enslaved Black people. That’s such a powerful piece of history, and it speaks volumes about my drive to build something of my own. It explains my entrepreneurial spirit. There’s so much rich history where I’m from, and I believe it deserves to be told, preserved, and celebrated.

Through my lens, I aim to uplift, preserve, and highlight the stories of Black families, culture, and everyday people—especially those whose voices often go unheard. Whether I’m capturing a graduation or creating a documentary-style project, my goal is to preserve legacy, inspire pride, and remind people that their stories matter. That’s the social impact of my work—empowering people through visual storytelling and preserving history.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We live in a world where everyone is a content creator. Most people know how to operate a camera or edit a video to make it look good for social media. So yes, I’m competing with a lot of people in the photography and videography space. That’s why I’ve realized being technically skilled isn’t enough.

What sets me apart is that I’m not just a photographer or videographer—I’m a storyteller. I believe it’s a God-given ability. I have a way of connecting with people who might be nervous in front of the camera. But after 20 minutes of talking with me, laughing, sharing stories—they loosen up. I take time to get to know them: What’s their story? Why this moment? What’s the significance of it? That’s what I’m most proud of—being able to make people feel seen, comfortable, and celebrated through my lens.

I’m excited about what’s ahead because I know my work is evolving. It’s becoming more intentional and narrative-driven. Moving forward, everything I create will reflect that focus on storytelling.

Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy. The truth is, I got here by simply not giving up—putting one foot in front of the other. There’s a quote by the late great Nipsey Hussle that says, “I just didn’t quit. That’s the only distinguishing quality.” And I live by that.

I face doubt every single day. Some days the doubt wins. Other days, I do. But no matter what, I keep pushing forward. I always have one of my cameras with me because every moment is a picture-perfect moment, and I have to be ready.

I’ve also learned to stay in my lane. What works for someone else might not work for me, and that’s okay. I trust my path.

And what I want the world to know is this: I’m coming. I’m bringing stories with me. Real stories, emotional stories—stories that matter.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m always the “planner friend” when people visit! If my best friend came into town, we’re definitely doing a little bit of everything—good food, culture, chill vibes, and a little turn-up too.

We’d for sure start in the Bishop Arts District—it’s one of my favorite areas in Dallas. It’s full of character with dope murals, small local shops, and some really good food. We’d probably grab coffee at a cute spot like Wild Detectives, walk around, and take photos (of course). It’s a whole vibe.

One day would have to be all about Texas Live! in Arlington. If there’s a game or concert going on, even better. But even without that, the energy there is cool—live music, good drinks, and spots like Lockhart Smokehouse for some solid BBQ. It’s a good time every single time I go.

And then I’d take them up to The Star in Frisco—it’s like Cowboys HQ meets luxury shopping and restaurants. You don’t even have to be into football to enjoy it. It’s clean, it’s upscale, it’s great for dinner and people-watching. I love going there to just unwind, maybe grab sushi or a steak, and walk around.

Honestly, there’s no shortage of things to do in DFW. Whether it’s checking out the arts district in Dallas, or just having a chill picnic at Klyde Warren Park—it really depends on the mood. But one thing’s for sure: we’re eating good, and catching some great photo ops.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I know this might sound typical, but it’s not for me—my mom is my number one fan. She has been my safe haven, my therapist, my motivator, my nurturer, my guide, and at times, even my financial institution when it comes to supporting my dreams.

My mother is the most selfless person I’ve ever known. In life, people often want to see you do well—but not better than them. My mom is not one of those people. She wants me to go further than she ever could, and she’s always pushed me to dream bigger and aim higher.

I pray to God that I make her proud and go beyond what she ever imagined for me. I’m so grateful to have her in my life, because truly, without her, I wouldn’t be pursuing my dream.

Website: https://www.monekallc.com

Instagram: monekallc_

Other: TikTok:@monekallc_

Image Credits
Moneka Watson
@monekallc_