Faces, Fashion, and Fate: Inside Dash Essex’s World
Dash Essex
Angelo Tello, better known as Dash Essex, or simply Flaco, shoots people the way he meets them: in motion. The 26-year-old photographer from South Central Los Angeles splits time between L.A. and Dallas (and is currently posted in New York), but his lens never belongs to just one city. Portraits are his anchor, along with fashion and music in his orbit, yet what sets Dash apart is the way he translates proximity and timing into intimacy. “Right place, right time” isn’t a cliché for him. It’s a practice.
During high school, Dash chased soccer, then found himself constantly outside with stylish friends, noticing angles and light before he ever owned a camera. After high school, he started carrying one. The work snowballed and friends became subjects, scenes became stories, and the scenes kept getting bigger. In L.A., where “everybody goes,” he learned to be present enough for serendipity, whether that meant crossing paths with recognizable faces or elevating everyday ones whose style demanded a frame.
His calling card is a literal printed portfolio book he brings everywhere. The inspiration came from two sources—family photo albums from the early 2000s and Vuhlandes, one of his favorite photographers. “Pictures look better in person,” Dash says. The book slows people down. It matches his goal to keep the work tangible, human, and as authentic as the moments themselves.
A Dallas-based artist and “big brother,” KissedKilled, sharpened Dash’s instincts across countless shoots, a foundation he carried into more notable sessions with the Claremont Twins, Beanie Sigel (a personal milestone from his East Coast rap era), and others. “They bring the fit; I bring the eye. We build the vision together,” says Dash.
Each city taught him something different. L.A. taught patience. Dallas revealed an underrated creative class in music and fashion, brimming with talent that deserves more credit. New York demanded urgency to wake up, move, and make. When creative droughts hit, Dash doesn’t force it; he lives. The spark returns, and when it does, he’s ready.
Photography isn’t his only outlet; he’s released music with Dallas collaborator Kiko and makes music for fun with friends. But the North Star remains to document the climb. “I want all of us at the top,” he says. “My job is to capture the come-up.” His advice mirrors his route: trust your gut, ignore the noise, and make what you believe in. There are a hundred audiences out there. Find yours and give them something worth holding.