Today we’d like to introduce you to Wildy Civil.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I bought my first camera in 2009. When I started taking photos it was just a hobby. I would capture things like flowers, architecture, landscapes, and whatever else stood out to me. Eventually, people started to notice my work online and a local artist asked me to take photos for his mixtape cover. I actually didn’t really like taking photos of people, but I decided to do it anyway and ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would. Eventually, I fell in love with photographing people. As time passed, I started to specialize in many areas of photography, such as fashion, lifestyle, event coverage, music, and even weddings.
Over the past 9.5 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many notable brands and companies such as YouTube, Sprite, Interscope Records, and ONE Music Fest – to name a few.
Photography evolved from a simple hobby to being a true passion of mine – and now, it’s my full-time career!
Please tell us about your art.
I use my camera to capture moments and create memories. Whether it’s a personal photoshoot or an event, I want people to view my photos and feel the emotion of the scenes I’ve captured. One way I like to do this is by emphasizing the depth in my photos. If a scene feels too “flat”, you won’t spend too much time looking at it, but when it has the depth the audience can look at the photo and essentially get lost in the layers of the scene. My goal is to pull you in; from the eyes of the model to the wrinkles of their outfit, the greenery of the forest behind them, and the vast blueness of the sky above it.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Being creative can be incredibly expensive. A lot of artists are often forced to take a break from their craft for long periods of time (or indefinitely) because they just don’t have the funds to keep creating. In regards to photography, my advice is to not get caught up in wanting to have the best gear. Having a stable financial situation is your foundation for being able to create comfortably and consistently. Buy the gear you can afford. Practice with it, master it, and then use your skills and experience to create a new stream of income for yourself. You can invest that creative income right back into your business and start to acquire all that expensive gear you couldn’t get at the beginning of your journey!
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My portfolio can be viewed on my website: https://www.civilcreations.com/
I post highlights of photoshoots, events, and other wild adventures on my Instagram feed/story. (@NikonPapi)
Support me by sharing my work with friends, family, and anyone else who may need my services!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.civilcreations.com/
- Email: nikonpapi@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikonpapi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikonPapi
Image Credit:
Desiree’ Reid, Wildy Civil
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
