Trayvon "Tray" Smith

(he/him)



Introduction


Tray is a San Francisco native who has an intense passion for fashion, art ventures, photography & building community.


He is a strong believer in using his talents to give back to the community and believes that everyone deserves to have their stories told and their voices heard- an advocate for black and queer visibility. He uses his business Realest Exposure to platform the voices of those who are often marginalized. 


Tray is dedicated to curating, creating and contributing to safe spaces where BIPOC and queer people can be their authentic selves, and he works tirelessly to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table. 


Recent Projects


1 / 7
Live Performances: Bootstraps W/ Robert Moses Kin & BVOP
Friday, August 4, 6pm at the Bayview Opera House, San Francisco Featuring Tray Smith, Manolo Davila, Robert Moses' KIN, and Emcee Tinejoy and more!
2 / 7
Tray Smith on Conversations With Yve Anmore
Watch Tray Smith have a conversation with Yve Anmore about Tray's career and creative journey
3 / 7
Philz Coffee Installation: Now Extended Through May 2023
Tray's Installation at Philz Coffee Dogpatch Location gets extended for another month! The Installation will be up until May 31st, 2023.
4 / 7
Philz Coffee: April 2023 Artist of the Month
Tray's Installation at Philz Coffee Dogpatch Location as theirArtist of the month for April 2023. The Installation will be up all April 2023.
5 / 7
Episode 1: Diaspora: For The Culture Podcast
Tray joins in conversation with 7 black professionals to answer the question: What's Your Diaspora D.I.P.? Definition, Identity & Purpose.
6 / 7
The Dawn of Tray (For Take Up the Space Residency)
An Intergenerational, Virtual Salon & Exhibition Featuring Bay Area-based Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, Latinx, South Asian, Arabic-descent Artist.
7 / 7
JobFirstNYC: Emerging & Trending Industries Workshop
Tray co-facilitated Emerging & Trending Industries on 7/28/22 for JobFirstNYC's Adapting To The Future Of Work: Dream Up For Young Adults Conference

 Background


Fashion/Visual Artist

Tray has been passionate about fashion since he was a child. Growing up in the late 90's and early 00's, he was influenced by Y2K fashion, the punk scene and avant-garde. 

He believes in wearable art and that fashion should be an expression of oneself. These styles have been a major inspiration for his design choices. Tray's goal is to demonstrate that being one-of-a-kind is a luxury and to emulate confidence and fabulousness through his persona. His fashion always makes a strong statement and stands out from the crowd. He believes that fashion should be fun, and our clothes are meant to be enjoyed! 

Tray uses his art to celebrate the beauty of queer BIPOC, and to challenge the way they are often portrayed in the media.


He posts all of his fashion looks on his instagram (@trayareal1).


Recent Fashion Looks


First Day of Spring 🌸✨
Photography by: @snobhills
TR🏚️P
Photography by: Lenaya T.
Black Lives Matter 🖤✨
Photography by: Venyse S. for Take Up the Space Artist Residency
415 Born & Raised 🫧🌁
Photography by: @snobhills
Photographer Tray 📸✨
Photography by: @snobhills
Y2K vibes ❤️‍🔥✨
Photography by: @snobhills
Moss Green Colorblock 🍃✨
Photography by: Lenaya T.
Rep Ya City: Frisco 🌁✨
Photography by: @snobhills
Punk Core ⛓✨
Photography by: @snobhills
Baby Blue Dream ✨🦋
Photography by: @snobhills

Founding Realest Exposure

Tray's interest in photography began in high school when he would take pictures of his friends' outfits in between classes. He brought that curiosity into college becoming a freelance photographer. Between classes and shifts at his part-time job, Tray took pictures of architecture, Bay Area culture, and atmosphere until his last semester, when the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

While quarantining, he was laid off at work and saw an opportunity to share his talents with the world and inspire others to do the same — Realest Exposure was born January, 2021. 

Realest Exposure started as a way to showcase Tray's photography, but has since grown into a collaborative platform that supports the work of other queer BIPOC artists & businesses. Tray realized there was a need for quality photography services in our community, not currently being met. In order to fill the void, Tray expanded Realest Exposure to offer creative consulting and brand management services. He has since been able to work with many clients, all while continuing to explore his creativity through photography.


Business updates are posted on instagram (@realestexposure).


Recent Events


ARTIST MIXER: Queer Love Shakes Us To the Core w/ Midori
Artist Mixer: Come shake things up with us! Midori will share a peek into her process of creating a large-scale, rope installation at Arcana SF, "Tectonic"
A Year of Queer Love Virtual Open House
NEW VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE ADDED - 12/07/2022! Realest Exposure joins Crystal Mason & Headprint House SF & Queerly Complex in sponsoring A Year of Queer Love
A Year of Queer Love Open House
Realest Exposure joins Crystal Mason & Headprint House SF & Queerly Complex in sponsoring A Year of Queer Love Open House on November 30, 2022.
Diamond Wave: THEYFRIEND Nonbinary Happy Hour at Oasis SF
THEYFRIEND Nonbinary Happy Hour | Friday, November 18, 5 - 7PM | OASIS @thesfoasis |FREE donations encouraged | Photos by Tray Smith of @realestexposure | 21+
La Casa De Las Madres redHOT for Change Event
Realest Exposure is honored to give our photography services to La Casa de las Madres redHOT for Change charity event in efforts to end domestic violence

Education



Bachelors of Arts, Psychology

San Francisco State University


Graduating from San Francisco State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology is an exciting accomplishment. As the number one ethnic studies school in the nation, SF State has prepared Tray to serve his community well. 

He believes that psychology can be used to create social change and improve the lives of individuals and communities. Tray's passionate about social justice and using his skills in psychology to help others, and he's putting his education to work for the good of his community. 


Services Offered


Event Photography

When it comes to event photography, you want to make sure you hire a professional who can capture the moments and details that matter most to you. As an experienced event photographer, Tray has a keen eye for capturing those special moments that will last a lifetime. 

With a passion for art and community, Tray's photography is not only about taking great pictures, but also about building new connections and raising your profile. Collaborating with clients to create unique and lasting photographs, Tray helps small businesses and artists stand out from the crowd. 

Contact him today to learn more about what Tray can do for you.


Creative Consulting 

It starts with a conversation. 

If you're looking for help making your project goals a reality, Tray Smith's creative consulting services may be just what you need. 

Working closely with you to understand your specific needs, Tray will help develop a plan of action to help get things done. Whether it's coming up with new ideas, providing feedback or getting things organized, his flexible approach will give you the support and guidance you need to make your project a success. 

So if you're feeling stuck and in need of some creative inspiration, don't hesitate to contact Tray - he could be exactly what you're looking for.


Brand Management

If you're looking for help with brand management, you've come to the right place. Tray Smith offers brand management services tailored to each client's needs. Together, we'll come up with a plan of action to achieve your branding goals.

Tray has extensive experience in the field of branding and marketing, so you can rest assured your brand is in good hands. He understands the challenges businesses face when it comes to building and maintaining a strong brand identity. With his help, you'll be able to overcome these challenges and take your business to the next level.

Contact Tray to learn more about how he can help you reach your branding goals.


Schedule a Consultation

(Submit Form Below)



 


Follow Tray on Instagram


View this profile on Instagram

Tray (@ trayareal1) • Instagram photos and videos


Using Format