Today we’d like to introduce you to Nehemiah Wilson.
Nehemiah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Of course! My name is Nehemiah Wilson, and I am a second-year computer science major at Georgia Tech with a passion for photography. From the day I received my first iPod Touch as a gift for my eleventh birthday, I’ve had a desire to create stunning visual art. Whether that was creating silly skits videos with my siblings or taking pictures of whatever I found appealing on a family vacation, I always was involved in something creatively stimulating. On my thirteenth birthday, my parents bought me my first smartphone and I couldn’t have been more ecstatic about it. Most people would be excited about calling or texting capabilities, but I was most excited about the exceptional camera quality. From that point on, I continued refining my creative eye for photography through the camera lenses of various smartphones I acquired.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2017 that I began truly challenging myself with photography. Wanting to share my work with the world, I made a VSCO account during a family reunion trip to Atlanta. I posted pictures of whatever I could find in my environment. Buildings. Streets. Signs. Bathroom faucets. Table centerpieces. Light fixtures. I loved the inspiration I was able to gain by scrolling through the VSCO app. Seeing the creativity in others drove me to experiment with very abstract and unconventional photos (like taking a picture of a bathroom faucet!). For the next couple of years, I challenged myself through mobile photography to create art that I loved.
As a student at Georgia Tech, I had the unique opportunity to intern with Google in New York City in the summer of 2019. After pushing the limits of mobile photography for several years, I decided it was finally time to buy a DSLR camera to continue my creative growth. The vastness of opportunity in NYC coupled with my strong passion for photography allowed me to reach creative heights I never imagined possible. I was out almost every weekend honing my street photography skills around the city or refining my portrait photography skills at various meetups organized by local creatives. During this time, I also invested in Lightroom and Photoshop to learn how to edit photos, and I posted them to an Instagram account I created for my photography work. This account quickly gained traction as I was meeting and connecting with people around the city. It was through this account that I connected with Marcellus Walls.
I had been following Marcellus’s work for a couple of years prior as he photographed some rap artists I listened to. While in New York, I direct messaged him about one of his photos I liked, and we ended up talking and forming a friendship. I’m grateful for the talent and wisdom Marcellus has bestowed upon me in the short time we’ve known each other. Through his selflessness, I’ve been connected to creatives and executives in the Christian Hip Hop industry and have had opportunities to shoot notable artists like Lecrae, 1K Phew, nobigdyl., and WHATUPRG. From my time in New York City and through various opportunities here in Atlanta, I built my portfolio and created my brand shotByNehemiah.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
So far into my photography journey, it’s mostly been smooth sailing, but something I am still trying to get a tight rein on is balancing my academic life with my passion for photography. Because Georgia Tech is such a rigorous school, I don’t have as much free time as the average college student, so I have to be strategic and flexible with how I make time for my creative endeavors. For instance, I am a Resident Assistant (RA) in a residence hall on campus, which consumes a good chunk of my time each week. Between interacting with residents, doing duty rounds, and attending staff meetings, it becomes very hard to develop a weekly routine. As someone who thrives on a schedule, the nature of being an RA didn’t (at first) work well with how I function best, leaving little time for photography.
Over time, I learned to become more flexible with how I approach pursuing my photography work. Rather than editing all the pictures from a shoot in one sitting, I have adjusted to breaking them into chunks and editing them on my mobile devices throughout the day. This has allowed me to stay creatively active while still accomplishing my school and work-related obligations. Although this system works for me, it’s still a work-in-progress, and I am perfecting the balance between academic, professional, and photography responsibilities every day.
Please tell us about your work.
My life’s mission is to impact people positively by exhibiting the love of Jesus through whatever I do. Frequently, people tell me that I bring a unique and positive light into their life, and all I can attribute that is to the work God is doing through me. I desire for the work that I do to be an extension of my character. To me, shotByNehemiah is just an avenue through which I can be a light to anyone I have the privilege of working with. I believe this is what sets me apart from others.
As for my work itself, I specialize in portrait and concert photography. What started as a simple hobby in middle school has evolved into my passion. It’s been a mind blowing and fruitful journey so far, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the people and opportunities that God has placed in my path. I’m proud that I get to make money doing something I so dearly enjoy.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
In my heart, I believe that goals, like making money or becoming world-renowned for my work, will keep me busy but unfulfilled. If my work isn’t touching the lives of people, I feel like it is ultimately meaningless. Success to me is leaving a lasting impression on people by touching their souls. Although I’m still figuring it out, I want to do this with my photography. At the end of my life, I want the work I created to have positively impacted the lives of those around me.
Pricing:
- Base Rate: $50/30 min
- Retouch: $5/photo
- Video Editing: $25/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shotbynehemiah.myportfolio.com
- Email: shotbynehemiah@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shotbynehemiah/
Image Credit:
Personal Photo – Marcellus Walls
Everything Else – Nehemiah Wilson
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