Courtney Sofiah Yates is a photographer and director based in New York.

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Courtney began making photographs as a teenager, eventually moving to New York to work in the creative industry. After several years of holding full-time positions with editorial platforms and creative agencies, she made the decision to focus entirely on her practice.

Deeply inspired by her family’s roots in the American South and South East Asia, as well as their migrant and immigrant experiences, Courtney explores themes of performance, grief and spirituality throughout her work. She describes her aesthetic as “being naturalistic with moments of subtle mysticism“ and draws further inspiration from filmmakers such as Claire Denis, Edward Yang and Camille Billops.

Courtney’s personal career highlights to date include a global campaign for Naomi Osaka x Nike and Solange for Saint Heron.