Koi Sojer
A Picture Without A Camera
A Picture Without A Camera
A Picture Without A Camera
As a child, I could always see a picture without a camera, and Gordon Parks was my number one reason for wanting to be a photographer. I was a teenager when I joined the United States Army and was deployed to South Korea to help protect the DMZ from North Korea. This is where I purchased my first 35mm camera, a Ricoh KR-5, which allowed
As a child, I could always see a picture without a camera, and Gordon Parks was my number one reason for wanting to be a photographer. I was a teenager when I joined the United States Army and was deployed to South Korea to help protect the DMZ from North Korea. This is where I purchased my first 35mm camera, a Ricoh KR-5, which allowed me to share photos with my family.
I love being a photographer and capturing my journey.
I Thank God for my "Gifted Eye" every day!
(Gordon Parks)
My Underground Beginnings
A Picture Without A Camera
A Picture Without A Camera
After serving my country in the United States Army and playing in the European Women's Basketball League, I began my new career as a young black self-taught female photographer in 1990 by capturing the Underground World of Hip Hop in New York City and at our infamous Tuesday Night "Funk Hut" Parties. Soon, my images were published in m
After serving my country in the United States Army and playing in the European Women's Basketball League, I began my new career as a young black self-taught female photographer in 1990 by capturing the Underground World of Hip Hop in New York City and at our infamous Tuesday Night "Funk Hut" Parties. Soon, my images were published in major magazines like The Source, VIBE, Black Beat, Rappages, etc.
In 1997 I moved to London in the United Kingdom where I worked as a photographer & photo editor for PRIDE magazine.
(Koi Sojer / Big Daddy Kane)
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Hip-Hop to Hollywood
A Picture Without A Camera
Hip-Hop to Hollywood
After capturing the Underground World of Hip-Hop on film in New York City, I moved to Los Angeles and started working with photo agencies, which allowed me to capture Hollywood A-list celebrities at Red Carpet and Award Events, Movie Premieres, Sporting Events, and Private VIP Parties. Hollywood has been good to me, and my photographs wi
After capturing the Underground World of Hip-Hop on film in New York City, I moved to Los Angeles and started working with photo agencies, which allowed me to capture Hollywood A-list celebrities at Red Carpet and Award Events, Movie Premieres, Sporting Events, and Private VIP Parties. Hollywood has been good to me, and my photographs will show the fun and hard work I have put in to capturing great shots.
I have had an Epic journey as a "Gifted Eye" Photographer and the ride continues!
(Koi Sojer / Sidney Poitier)
YOUNG, GIFTED & BLACK
Celebrity Hip Hop Photographer
From the golden era of New York City's 1990s Hip-Hop to the red carpets of Hollywood, Koi Sojer of Snap’N U Photos has always been exactly where the story was – being the lens, capturing history.
An Army Veteran, visionary photographer, and self-taught artist, Koi embedded herself in the heart of Hip-Hop’s rise, capturing iconic moments at the infamous “Funk Hut” Tuesday night parties she co-hosted with her twin sister, Gramma Funk. Her work is not just photography—it’s visual storytelling that documents the raw essence of artists like Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan, Queen Latifah, and so many more.
Her lens became a passport into the Hip-Hop kingdom – her photos gracing album covers, magazine pages, and award-winning documentaries. From Tupac: Resurrection to Netflix’s Hip-Hop Evolution and FX/Hulu’s Dear Mama, Koi’s legacy is etched in every frame.
In 2008, she moved to Hollywood and continued blazing trails, photographing major red-carpet events, VIP parties, and award ceremonies, including the Oscars, building bridges between Hip-Hop and mainstream culture.
Koi’s legacy is living proof that Hip-Hop isn’t just heard – it’s seen, felt, and preserved.
Koi Sojer The "Gifted Eye" Photographer
Hollywood
New York 2 Hollywood
In 2008, Koi left New York City for Hollywood. She picked up digital photography and started working with photo agencies. Koi was able to gain experience working at Red Carpet events, award ceremonies, movie premieres, and private VIP parties. The relationships she built and maintained allowed her to carve out a place for herself in Hollywood.
Fifteen years later, Koi still resides in Los Angeles and continues to photograph some of Hollywood’s biggest names such as Ruth E. Carter, Lupita Nyong'o, Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, George Clooney, Angela Bassett, Spike Lee, Juliet Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Ava Duverney, and Kobe Bryant to name a few.
This multi-talented United States Army Veteran uses her “gifted eye” to capture her subjects and tell amazing stories.. Her belief that “Creativity Is Everything” fuels her passion and drives her to share her talents with the world.
Koi, who started her career as a young, self-taught, black, female photographer making her way in New York City, has built an incredibly impressive and all-encompassing portfolio of work that includes everything from album covers to magazines, books, exhibits, and documentaries.
Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance
© Koi Sojer / Snap'N U Photos
Accomplishments
Album Covers:
A Tribe Called Quest's “Award Tour” single cover (1993), Akinyele's “The Bomb” Album cover (1993).
Books & Magazines:
VIBE, The Source, Black Beat, Rappages, Beat Down, PRIDE (1993-1997), VIBE Book: Unbelievable "The Life, Death, and Afterlife of The Notorious B.I.G." (2003), EBONY Magazine: Jill Scott (2015), New York Post: Chrissy Teigen (2015), People Magazine: Taraji P. Henson (2016), Daily News Paper: Katy Perry on the front cover (2016)
Brian Coleman "Check The Technique" Volume 2 Book (2016), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Book: Tupac & Biggie (2017). NY Post: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio on the front cover (2021). People Magazine: Finn Wolfhard (2022)
TV Networks & Documentaries: Hip-Hop photographs
Tupac: Resurrection Documentary (2003), A&E “BIGGIE: The Life of Notorious B.I.G.” documentary (2017), Murder Rap “Inside the Biggie & Tupac Murders" Documentary (2017), VH1 Female Honors (Conscious Daughters) (2017), FOX TV Who Shot Biggie & Tupac? Movie (2017), BET's Death Row Chronicles (2018), Netflix Hip-Hop Evolution documentary series episode called "NY Producers" Ep. 204. (2018), USA Network Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. (2018), WEtv "Untold Stories of Hip Hop" documentary S01E01 (2019), AMC Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America: Season 1 - Episode 6 LADIES FIRST by Queen Latifah (2019), FX Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur Episode 2 (Tupac & Biggie) photos (2023)
Red Carpet Events:
The SAG Awards, MTV, VMAs, AMAs, BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, VIP events, Movie Premieres, and Concerts. She has also been the official photographer for the Pan African Film Festival for the past eight years.
Panels: Documenting History In Your Own Back Yard II:
Guest Speaker for Documenting Hip-Hop History Through Photography (2020). Guest Speaker for Archiving In Our Own Backyard (2023), Lincoln Center Presents Trailblazers Talk: Celebrating Women in Hip Hop (2025).
Exhibits:
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: It's Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment
Photo of Tupac & Biggie (2020). Hiphopcinefest.org Cinema Festival Hip-Hop Culture 360 Photo Exhibit (2021). Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop Exhibition (2023), Hip Hop 50th Exhibition (2024), The GOLDEN 90s Hip Hop Exhibition ( Ki Smith NYC Gallery) 2025
Shooting Events:
It's Time for Hip Hop in NYC Concerts (2021), New Edition "Culture Tour" (2022), Hip Hop 4 Peace event in Los Angeles (2022), Universal Hip Hop Museum "West Coast Road Show" (2022).