Senior Alec Pennell is worried he may not get the shot right.

Pennell looks up at the sky before raising his Canon DSLR camera up to his eye and then smiles, holding still to take a picture. He takes a moment to glance at the photo taken and then his eyes light up — his next idea.

“Coi, get on this ledge!” Pennell shouts to his friend.

It is a sunny, 30-degree January afternoon and Pennell is taking advantage of Flint’s downtown alleyways and culture.

Pennell is interested in photography. But more importantly, he is interested in capturing fashion through his camera lens.

“Fashion came first,” Pennell admitted. “Seeing the same kids every day for four years only made me want to stand out. I express myself through my clothes.”

He stood in front of a three-story parking ramp for several seconds.

“Excuse me,” Pennell said. “Is it OK if we go up there to take some pictures?”

The woman within the glass box looked up from her phone, nodding to give him access.

Senior Coi Jenkins, a friend of Pennell, wore an outfit put together by Pennell to model for the photo shoot.

“I thrive off of his creativity,” Jenkins said, while climbing three flights of stairs. “Like now, for example, we are at the top of a three-story parking ramp taking pictures. Alec actually goes above and beyond about what he is passionate about.”

The air dropped several degrees, but Pennell continued to capture photos of Jenkins and the scene of Flint from a 30-foot view.

“I wish I lived in an area where everybody thought more fashion forward,” Pennell said. “It would be more exciting if I had more like-minded people to surround myself with or bounce ideas off of, but I do like being able to stand out because of what I wear.”

Pennell said that it was social media that let him explore fashion.

“I take a lot of inspiration through browsing,” Pennell said. “Especially every platform of social media and looking up to people who are celebrities and style icons like Kanye West, ASAP Rocky, Harry Styles, Luka Sabbat, and Jerry Lorenzo.”

Pennell then gave a timeline of his clothing style.

“Freshman year, I really liked Retro Jordans and it sparked my love for fashion,” Pennell said. “Before junior year, I wore Levi’s, OBEY, and Nike. Now, I wear jeans that are from Acne Studios and Dior, tops from Uniqlo, Supreme, or Palace, and jackets from a cool brand called Fear Of God.”

Pennell not only buys clothing, but he sells it too.

“I could see Alec having his own clothing line,” senior Bryce Anger, a friend of Pennell, said. “He has the potential and creative mind for it.”

Pennell said he started getting into the business side of it when he found out that there would be a profit made.

“I make a profit from clothing,” Pennell said. “I enjoy selling people clothing that I would wear. I have done research and I know what people like.”

The first pair of shoes he bought and then sold were retro Air Jordan 1 Breds.

Pennell elaborated the numbers that were involved.

“I found them (shoes) at a retail price of $160,” Pennell said. “After wearing them for a while, I was still able to sell them for $300.  Those shoes were the kick start to everything.”

Pennell sold the retro Air Jordan 1 Breds in January 2015.

Since then, Pennell said he has learned an immense amount of information.

“I have learned that many factors take play into the profit made,” Pennell said. “Popularity and time is a major factor, but after learning that I now make around $20 to $50 on each pair of shoes, but (I) can make up to $100 over retail price.”

Pennell started getting into photography after realizing that the quality of photos are a major factor into building his business.

He admits that while he scrolls through merchandise online, what stands out most are the photos.

“When the picture is good quality, focused, nicely framed and composed, people will check out your stuff, regardless if they buy it or not,” Pennell said. “It brings much more traffic.”

He then invested in purchasing his Canon DSLR camera to capture his products with a nice quality.

“It is so much easier to get a nice photo now,” Pennell admitted.

After purchasing his camera, Pennell began exploring his creativity, using the photography as an additional outlet.

“I see doing what I do now as my future,” Pennell said. “But I will be going to school for a degree in computer science.”

Pennell added that continuing his business and pursuing his fashion interests are not the only things he sees in his future.

“I can see myself having a clothing line,” Pennell said, looking up from his camera. “Maybe one day.”