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Acts of Devotion is a photo series exploring people’s relationship to their craft and the dedication, discipline, and intimacy behind it. Each session focuses on how creative work shapes someone’s identity and how devotion to a practice can become a form of growth, healing, and self-expression.

For this session, the goal was to capture the energy he is stepping into with his latest album while still staying aligned with the core idea of Acts of Devotion. Music is not just something he does, it is what he is devoted to, so the guitar was not just there for visuals, it represented that commitment.

I wanted the images to hold tension, to show hardness and softness at the same time. He looks melancholy but strong, guarded but not closed off, tough yet introspective. That contrast is intentional because devotion is not one dimensional, it is discipline and vulnerability existing together.

Tyler Okun has been practicing music for over ten years, and the way he approaches it is what stood out to me most. He is not creating for attention or quick popularity. For him, it is not a product, it is something to live inside. He has opened up about struggling with depression and anxiety for a long time, which adds another layer to his work. His sound leans punk, and people often associate that with aggression, but there is real softness underneath it. That contrast became the foundation for this shoot.

I wanted to visually combine those contradictions. Hard and soft in the same frame. Melancholy but still strong. Vulnerable without losing edge. We leaned into a distraught, tired, almost unraveling feeling while keeping that hardcore rocker presence intact. Violet Hood did his makeup and understood the assignment immediately. It was collaborative from start to finish, everyone contributing to the mood and concept.

We also sat down for an interview where we talked more about his relationship to music and what devotion really looks like for him.

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