Throwing Fits — The Tyrell Hampton Interview with Throwing Fits
Date: March 2, 2026
Guest: Tyrell Hampton (Photographer)
Episode Overview
In this vibrant and high-energy conversation, the Throwing Fits boys sit down with Tyrell Hampton—one of fashion and downtown New York's most in-demand photographers and a rising personality on social media. They cover Tyrell’s style, creative philosophy, party scene lore, online persona, and his aspirations beyond the camera. The discussion is equal parts playful and thoughtful, touching on identity, career evolution, and the constant negotiation between public image and authentic self.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Early Vibes and Fit Check
- Tyrell's Arrival
- Uber XL queen: "I enjoy it. It's actually my favorite thing to do is get in and feel like a skinny girl inside their big SUV, and the driver just doesn't talk to me." (01:31)
- Uber preferences: hates Teslas as "black cars," prefers luxury like Lexus over electric; calls Teslas "not sexy to me" and "a Camry" (02:36).
- Fit Check Ritual
- Chanel bag, Supreme hat ("Shout out the boys at the store who give me things for free"), counting a large bag collection—especially Chanel.
- Mixes high and low: Fruit of the Loom t-shirt from Amazon, Screaming Ro jeans, Ugg slippers, Uniqlo socks, Calvin Klein coat (sent to him), Calvin x Palace underwear (07:00).
- "My money is mainly spent on my bags and when I go to LA to hang out." (95:08)
The Bag Life & Style Philosophy
- Bag Lover, Not a Birkin Guy:
- "I actually hate Birkin...it's just not what people make it. It's not a precious." (05:49)
- Dream bag: "the new Chanel...rich red...ASAP Rocky wore it to the Chanel" (06:31)
- Fashion philosophy: Mixes high fashion accessories with everyday basics.
- Thrifty vs. Luxurious:
- Happy to shell out for bags, but not for much else—"I'm a fan of luxury," but also loves a military surplus camera bag from his early NYC days (05:25, 99:40).
- Spring/Summer Menswear Wishlist:
- Wants to see the fellas in gray sweatpants, basketball shorts, baggy t-shirts. "I don't want to see a tank top...I'm interested in just chill, comfy." (56:16)
Biking, TikTok, and Creative Rituals
- Signature No-Hands Bridge Biking Videos
- "Pilates... posture...lower abs and your Kegels." (09:50-10:09)
- Describes the bridge as his "office," content creation happens when the bridge is empty—he's had close calls with crowds and loves the calm of mid-day ("That's my office!") (11:15).
- "It's a little therapy for me," singing and biking as self-care (11:38).
- TikTok & Playlist Culture
- People make bike ride playlists for him on TikTok; his own Spotify is public, but fans remix and repackage his content (11:51).
- Let Me...Brand Skit
- Jokes about Kourtney Kardashian's "Lemme" supplements—"Let me shut the up" as a dream pill" (14:28).
Upbringing, Identity, and Manifestation
- Muslim Upbringing & Early Repression
- Couldn’t listen to music, put up posters, or enjoy color at home; “everything was haram” (15:13).
- Secretly “became a teenage white girl” with pop magazines and Hollister bags on his wall. Directly credits early vision-boarding with later shooting for Theory (17:23).
- Coming Out Narrative
- Never formally came out—his family simply accepted him (15:39).
- Early NYC Years
- Moved at 17 for college (Parsons), learned the difference between "GMO money" and "farmers market money," i.e. encountering deep wealth for the first time (19:01).
Party & Photography Lore
- Evolution of the Party Photographer
- From party crasher to guest of honor: "Now I either stay inside or I get invited."
- Winning formula for a good party: "The music...need lyrics...need to be able to zone out," hates parties where people are too focused on drinks, drugs, etc. (21:56)
- Approach to Shooting People
- Used to "just shoot everything" as a teen; now more thoughtful and orchestrated—less "vibe killer" with a camera (22:46).
- "I want people to look sexy. I want people to look hot." Never Photoshops—prefers authenticity and speed (24:45).
- Compiling a photo book: "It's more of a love letter to the people around me than everything else." (26:11)
- Reading the Room
- Dance background influences timing: "Body language...anticipating the moment on the dance floor." (26:52)
- Party Pic Consent
- "No one ever asks me" for a party shot; prefers to capture genuine energy, not people peacocking for the camera (91:01).
- "I'm too selective. And also they're too critical. You just need to ask someone else." (91:08)
- Being in Front of the Lens
- Rarely photographed himself, sometimes begs friends to take candids; "it's a sad clown thing—who's gonna make the sad clown laugh?" (29:11)
Online Persona: Instagram vs TikTok vs Twitter
- Platform Contrast
- TikTok: authentic, personal, chaotic energy/biking videos—his "real me" (38:15)
- Instagram: portfolio, celebrity candids, high-gloss image—"adults should follow me on Instagram...business, investments..." (103:25)
- Twitter: private, loose yapping, quote theft from Tumblr (37:25)
- "I realized I am more than the party photos. I just want to have fun and take hopefully really good photos of people when I'm with them." (38:44)
- On Marketability & Fine Art
- Grapples with not being seen as "serious" for fine art circles; working on a September show that is "completely different than the party stuff"—more composed, thoughtful, suitable for collectors and galleries (41:28).
Artistry, Adulthood, and Future Plans
- Turning 30 as a Chapter Break
- "It's galleries, it's books, it's more intentional things in the world. Nothing will be by accident." (32:57)
- Wants a "Nora Smith" life: cottage in Connecticut, husband, dog, housewife vibes—maybe by 40. (33:29)
- Longevity Anxiety & Role of His Mother
- Pushes himself to "be grown" and have longevity ("My mom’s a Capricorn—five steps ahead") (42:21).
- Success? "My mom thinks I am but still wants to know if I have work this week!" (43:03)
- Challenges Moving from Party Scene to Art World
- Professionalizing means more email, more follow-up, more "adulting." Pressure to be taken seriously as an artist, not just a vibe supplier. (46:01, 41:00)
Relationships & Personal Life
- Dating Preferences
- Attracted to straightforward, upfront, masculine energy—"just a man," someone who "takes the reins," wants a division between "the men watching sports" and himself chilling with "the girls." (52:28, 53:30)
- No interest in dating within fashion—prefers "FedEx worker, construction, sports." (54:07)
- Not interested in changing a partner's style: "I'd rather them just be who they are" (55:39)
- Type of Intimacy
- "Side" describes a new gay archetype (cuddling/kissing, not necessarily sexual) (49:39)
- Personal Boundaries Online
- No content from inside his home, family is off-limits. (71:06)
- Will "bike, dance, take photos for money," but would never do makeup endorsements—keeps it authentic.
Notable Professional Moments & Philosophy
- Editorial Campaigns & Clients
- Navigating client expectation: appreciates familiar producers who understand his creative process (68:40)
- Rarely says no to paid work, but avoids projects not aligned with his vibe (84:15)
- On Creative Tools
- Refuses to share his camera brand (a running Google search topic): "I just don't think you need my camera...be obsessed with photography." (89:24)
- Urges young photographers: study great images, don't obsess over gear (92:54)
- Work Habits & Organization
- For jobs: 1,000 shots per night to produce 50 selects (89:57)
- For fun: often just a handful.
Fitness, Wellness, and Routine
- Staying Balanced
- Pilates, hot yoga, swimming, dance—up to 7 days/week (73:06)
- Gym is his remedy for brain rot and phone addiction (73:41)
- Skin routine: basic, all-natural beauty: "You open up two gifts every morning: your eyes." (73:01)
Social & Pop Culture
- Reality TV Fixations
- Watches or is curious about: Traders, Tell Me Lies, Jersey Shore; less into Real Housewives.
- Music Taste
- Strictly R&B at parties: wants "Trey Songz, Usher, Rihanna" (77:32)
- DJ is the core of any "10/10" party (21:56)
- Online Discovery
- TikTok FYP: "bunch of men, giant schnauzers, Atlanta, baddies, fights, random drama" (75:51)
- IG Explore: "workouts and men in Brazil—Carnival, favela boys, nice bodies" (77:40)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Biking for Content:
"The bridge is your office." (11:17) - On Party Photography Today:
"I want people to look sexy. I want people to look hot. But I don't Photoshop. What we see is what we get." (24:45) - On Creative Identity in the Age of Social:
"I'm just trying to balance it, trying to understand how to market that. If you didn't make a book when you were 18, you're not going to be seen as a fine art photographer....I just like, want to have fun and I just take hopefully really good photos of people when I'm with them." (38:44) - On Turning 30:
"Just to close out the chapter of the reverence and all the childishness...we just need to be like, we're grown." (25:34) - On Being Photographed:
"It's a sad clown thing, where it's like, who's gonna make the sad clown laugh? I'm the clown." (29:11) - On Party Consent:
"No one ever asks me for a photo, and if they do, I say no. Even iPhone." (91:06) - On Personal Style:
"My money is my money, and your money is my money. If I'm going to the store, it's a one way street." (56:00) - On Whimsy/Seriousness Balance:
“When I'm older, and I'm sick of being childish and doing whimsical things, I can pick and choose what I do.” (32:23) - On Gallery Art Direction:
"How am I seeing this in the world? Can I explain this? Can I see this in someone’s house?" (41:45) - On Upbringing:
"If you want your children to grow up to be successful creatives with the joie de vivre and childlike wonder, just repress the sh*t out of them." (20:17) - On Dating:
"I want someone to take the reins. I want to be an elf, not even Mrs. Claus. Just a side dish. I want to annoy. Not the entrée. Maybe I'm the broccolini." (50:09-58:01)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Uber banter / Fit check: 01:17 – 07:22
- Chanel, Bag Philosophy: 04:23 – 07:00
- Biking Rituals, TikTok: 09:41 – 14:17
- Growing Up, Identity: 15:00 – 18:54
- NYC Arrival, Parsons, Early Influences: 19:01 – 20:17
- Transition to Party Photographer: 22:46 – 26:11
- Photo Book Plans & Next Career Phase: 25:21 – 27:03
- Pros/Cons of Social Media & Compartmentalization: 37:17 – 41:28
- Gallery Show & Artistic Intention: 41:28 – 42:59
- Parental Influence & Self-Assessment: 42:59 – 46:01
- Party Energy, Consent, Best Parties: 21:56 – 25:23, 91:01
- Photography: Gear, Process, Advice: 89:23 – 94:14
- Dating & Relationship Philosophies: 49:05 – 55:39
- Wellness, Fitness, Screen Time: 73:01 – 73:16, 74:25
- Professionalization, Agency Dynamics: 46:01 – 47:59
- Fashion Purchases & Style Evolution: 95:45 – 98:53
- Dreams for the Future: 32:57 – 33:51
Final Thoughts & Plugs
- Where to Follow Tyrell: Instagram (portfolio, for "adults"/networkers), TikTok (fun, real self, for the kids), Twitter (chaotic/private), YouTube, Tumblr.
- Next Up: Working on a photo book and a major gallery exhibition in Fall 2026.
"Stay tuned for an exhibition this fall, which is right around the corner." (103:45)
Overall Tone
The episode is a wild, campy, sincere inside look at the making of a modern downtown NY creative—effortlessly funny, surprisingly honest, and self-aware. Tyrell manages to blend total industry savvy with childlike exuberance, never losing sight of his personal boundaries or the thrill of the next party, bag, or creative leap.