DJ Paul of the rap group Three 6 Mafia arrives at the grand opening of the KISS by Monster Mini Golf amusement attraction on March 15 in Las Vegas.

• Today is the last day to donate dresses to Memphis Prom Closet!
• Revive, a women's apparel store, will be coming to Downtown.
• Ari, of Fashion Mode, interviewed Memphis stylist and boutique owner Andrea Fenise (great action shots).
• Ashley Dean just opened the first independent plus sized boutique in Memphis: Dean of Fashion.
• Kim, at KP Fusion, interviewed local neobluesartist Cassie Taylor (great photos!).
• Story and great photos (by Aaron Turner) of the Arise Fashion Show last week.
• Daily Helmsman spring fashion trend story.
• You can also follow the career of U of M fashion grad Lauren Draffin.
• Story on Memphis-native, model Chris Cates.
• Feature on Beale Street Chic favorite, photographer Kia Lola.
• Remember the Big Shoe on Lamar Avenue?
• Check out Day 1 and Day 2 of Nashville Fashion Week in The Nashville Scene.

Kia Lola is a force in the Memphis fashion world. Along with shooting fashion, alternative, pinup, avant garde and commercial photos for her company Kia Lola Photography, she is also Creative Director and Photographer of Eco Mode Haute Couture and Head Photographer and Art Director of Revolutionary Runway.

Beale Street Chick: How long have been interested in photography?

Kia Lola: Photography has always, to a greater or lesser degree, been in my life. When I was a child, the first camera I found myself in love with was my grandmother's Polaroid. Nowadays I use a professional DSLR, putting the passion to better use.

BSC: Your minor was in Religious Studies, does that that factor in your work in any way? KL: My religious minor hasn't played a significant roll in my photography yet. The most I can say is that I did a semester long study of spiritual subject matter from chakra mudras to tarot, but as for my daily work, I keep the subject fairly seperate. Honestly, I'm not sure I'll ever use my minor professionally, I simply got it because I have a genuine curiosity and passion for all things cultural, especially theologically based.

BSC: Why shoot in both film and digital?

KL: The first three years of my college education was filled with film classes from the basic black and white 35mm to large format photography. At the time I had a love/hate relationship with it, but I find that in my senior year when I'm through with all the film classes, I yearn to be back in the darkroom again.

BSC: Describe your work for Eco Mode Haute Couture.

KL: Eco Mode Haute Couture has been one of the most fulfilling companies I have had the opportunity to partake in. I work with a stylist team where Dina Anderson is the designer, Jasmine Lyle does hair and makeup, Brandon Glass assists with on set styling and I photograph/creative direct. Each one of us has a huge passion for what we do, a close friendship and an open mind towards the ideas and needs of the other. There's a certain chemistry required to have a successful team and I think we found that. Since then, we've been shooting all over town from the Fontaine House in their museum sets, in the studio to The Double Tree Hotel. Our upcoming shoot is going to be at the Southern Folklore Center which we are all excited about. We all feel that the designs Eco Mode brings not only reinvents the raggedy old used clothing it came from but can enrich the wearer's wardrobe with ecclectic couture designs like none others seen yet.

BSC: Describe your work for Revolutionary Runway.

KL: I have been with Revolutionary Runway now for just over a year and from the seedling stage where the CEO and I sat on my bed coming up with names for the group. I work as the head photographer and the Art Director which basically entails that during each show I photograph the models in their getup on a set designed in the style of the show. As the Art Director, I collect art from all across the city so we can assist in getting the names and work of our local art community out and in the face of fashion. This position, too, has been quite fulfilling.

BSC: What's your favorite type of subject to shoot?

KL: I can't say that I have a favorite subject to shoot, but outside of my fashion work, I do a lot of high concept sets that I find myself most fond of. For instance, I've been working on a series of photos for several months now that are based solely on experiences I endured in my past. These images are, hands down, the most personal, revealing, surreal pieces I have ever come out with and I'm not stopping there. After I complete this collection, I am moving straight into a series based on my day dreams, nightmares and inner psyche. These are the types of images that don't rely on makeup and styling to pretty itself up, they simply rely on truth and the hope that my viewers can look at these pieces and relate on a much deeper level. The work thus far, though has been very secret, so it won't be until late October that these come out!

BSC: What advice would you give to aspiring photographers?

KL: My advice for aspiring photographers would be to forever learn. Find subjects that you are TRULY passionate about and expand from there. Make each shoot a way of learning more about the world, your ideals and the culture around you and you will never feel uninspired. Inspiration doesn't always hit you though, sometimes you have to dig for it and trust me, if you aren't in love with the subject, your viewers won't connect either.

KL: The Memphis fashion scene is getting bigger and better by the minute and I hope to see more of a close-knit family feel as we progress together. We don't have the New York fashion scene, so it's extremely important that we remain supportive of one another in the hopes that one day we can be a recognized community of creators.

Check out more of Kia Lola Photography here.

• Want This Tony Allen (Grizzlies) T-shirt? Just ask Chris Vernon.
• CA feature on new high-end consignment store in Cooper Young: Charm Boutique.
• The CA profiled Cricket Payne, a manicurist who has been perfecting her craft for over 60 years.
• CA coverage of The Memphis Prom Closet Dress Giveaway last weekend.
• Miss Lycia, at All Day Natural, tried Salubritas Natural Deodorant Balm.
• Feature on Memphis Fashion Photographer Kia Lola at L'art pur de Memphis.
• Andrea Fenise, at A Style Junkie, shares her favorite accessories of the moment (video).
• Pictures of INSIDE Urban Outfitters from the I Love Memphis Blog.