Table Topics with Cedric Terrell

Get to know one of my favorite photographers in Paris.

I am back with the Table Topics series, where I invite people to my table for a meal and chat to get to know them better. As you all know, I loveeee moments at the table because it’s a place where our souls collide, we get to know each other better, and we form more memories. Sometimes I already know my guests well, but I want you to get to know them better, and it’s fun to hear their answers to different questions. The concept is simple yet fun. Think of it like a verbal Marcel Proust Questionnaire, but the questions won’t always be the same. Sometimes they will also share a new project or ongoing work at the end, so stick around, and I hope you enjoy it!

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Cedric Terrell and I first connected over email when I needed to license one of his portraits for my book. We finally met in person at a breakfast talk on sustainable fashion hosted by Lindsey Tramuta, back when Cedric was still contemplating a move to Paris. We clicked instantly—and from there, the lunch dates began.

We’ve bonded over long café hangouts, spontaneous house dance parties, 1990s music and movies, and our all-time favorite classic: The Five Heartbeats. “Can’t nobody sang like Eddie Cane Jr!!” (IYKYK.)

Cedric is a US Marine veteran who calls Florida and Georgia his hometowns, but has lived all over the world during his service. Now based in Paris, he works as a visual director and photographer with a thoughtful eye and a clear, creative vision for every project. You can get sucked into his website and his Instagram because his work is really beautiful. When I was working on marketing materials for my collaboration with Modern Matter, I knew we had to work with him. I lovvvved the final images and videos we created together—it was such a joy spending a day on set with him. He’s an excellent director and just really fun to be around.

What makes getting to know Cedric so special is that he’s not just talented—he’s a genuinely good friend. He checks in, shows up, and makes the effort to stay connected. Our epic café sessions and lunches are full of deep conversations about life, travel, work, and stories from the past. It’s a joy to be friends with someone so creative, thoughtful, and inspiring. Oh, and he’s also a really damn good writer—if you’re not already, go follow him on Substack!

I invited Cedric over the week of our Modern Matter shoot late this summer for a tomato tart and a round of quick-fire questions to get to know each other a little better. I hope you enjoy the video—and you’ll find links to follow him on Substack and Instagram below.

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Follow Cedric’s Creativity in Motion newsletter here.
Be sure to check out his work on his website here and on Instagram here.
You can see his beautiful video and photography for Modern Matter here.