Eye spy a new point of view. Photographer Dana Boulos (she / her) spends her days behind a lens, curating and directing high-profile campaigns for brands like Nike, Gucci, and Glossier. As an artist, Dana’s perspective is her superpower, which means she’s always seeking a fresh frame of mind—something she’s doing this time around with help from these Vogue Eyewear + Millie Bobby Brown sunnies.

Together with Vogue Eyewear, we asked Dana how her priorities changed this year, if her style has taken a similar shift, and how the right glasses make all the difference during a shoot.

When did you realize you had an eye for photography?
It started when I was really young. I had a camera with me everywhere I went, and I would photograph everything and anything. I always wanted to document and create my own world. I also used to draw people. When I was 7 or 8, the minute I’d meet my mom’s friend, or we would have dinner, I’d always give them a drawing at the end, like, “This is you and the way I see you.”

Is your style behind the camera different from your style in front of it?
Both are very classic. I’m really inspired by the ‘80s and would say my style is Ali MacGraw meets the Beastie Boys, as funny as that sounds. I like the power statement… I dress more masculine, but I always have a touch of femininity to it. I never really go for stuff that’s super trendy. I go for things I want to keep forever, and sometimes they’re wild with the colors and bold, or it’s a vintage style.

When you’re planning a shoot, does eyewear ever factor into your direction?
Definitely! Glasses add mystery and persona. It’s a statement piece. The wilder the shade, the better, but also having classic black sunglasses is always lovely… There’s an amazing Egyptian movie called The Dark Glasses, and it was one of my favorite films I watched with my grandma. This woman would wear sunglasses to change her personality, and that’s another thing that inspired me as a kid. That’s literally 5-year-old Dana talking about glasses [laughing].

On Dana: MBB x Collection Square Sunglasses in Transparent Fuchsia/Violet

So the right shades can create a whole mood?
Absolutely. I have these tight, smaller frames that are oval and fit my eyes—it’s almost cartoony in the shape, but I feel so classy in those! Then I have aviators, and I love those because I just feel very boss. I wear every type of sunglass for a specific vibe. Especially when it comes to work, my favorites are ones that have a nice, bold statement. The thicker the frame, the better.

What have you been seeing through new eyes lately?
Throughout everything that’s been going on, I’ve started to appreciate what’s around me. I would take nature for granted. I wouldn’t stop and stare at flowers or an animal. You could walk down the street and see something so beautiful and amazing, and it literally could be a rock. So I think it’s important to stop and see.

What’s your current frame of mind?
Before Covid, I was very much in a rush and trying to do everything at once and squeezing everything in. Now, I still plan all the goals I want to achieve, but I’ve realized how important it is to slow down. Meditating is very important, and I took up Tai Chi… I started to reevaluate everything in my life, breaking pieces apart, and taking it step-by-step.

True or false: Wearing sunglasses at night is a fashion crime.
I always find it so ridiculous when people do that! But it really depends. Is that person vision-impaired? Or is that the only prescription they have?… Honestly, do whatever feels great. If you want to wear them at night, you do you. I’ve done that once, and it was only because I forgot my regular glasses, and my sunglasses were prescription. I was with my best friend at dinner in Silverlake, and I remember so many people came up to me! They were like, “Oh, I really like your glasses.” Then some other person came up to me like, “You’re wearing sunglasses? At night? So chic.” [Laughing.] I was literally like, “I’m sorry, but I can’t see.”