Life & Work with Nikiah Perry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikiah Perry. 

Hi Nikiah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
In 2016, I was gifted a camera for Christmas. Due to medical reasons, I wasn’t allowed to play contact sports, so I reached out to the basketball team at my high school to become a manager. Within those four years, I became their multimedia content creator. Through this experience sports media became a huge part of my every day. I started going to other high school games around my area along with city events just to practice and get my name out there. Once I started attending College at Belmont University, I realized that photography was truly my passion, and I knew I had to network my way into the industry. Till this day it has been a goal of mine to send out at least one email a week to an event I would like to get a media pass for; luckily enough I have received more yeses than nos. Through these events I have networked with so many incredible people, as well as, building many friendships I know will last a lifetime. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many bumps in the road and frustrating moments along my journey as a photographer. When at a sporting event I would be so afraid to walk up to players after a game and introduce myself. It took me a long time to get over that nervousness, and many other “weaknesses” I’ve slowly overcome. You will also bump heads with many not-so-kind people. Be true to yourself and know that you deserve to be where you are. No matter what anyone says, especially when you are the only women in the room. What I’ve gone through has made me a stronger and more adaptable person. I get to do something that I love every single day and am surrounded by people who love and support me. I would never change that for anything else. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance photographer based in Nashville along with Connecticut. I specialize in sports photography, but I also cover fashion, concerts, portraits, events, and many more. I aspire to tell a story through my photos. I don’t necessarily have a specific style because I like to try new things with every shoot. I look to capture moments of athletes to help showcase their talents and depict/ express their unique stories! I am proud of my independence and dedication to my craft. I do what I must do to get things done on time and that has contributed greatly to my success. 

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It doesn’t hurt to ask. More than likely, you’ll receive a yes, so send that email or dm. If it’s a no, then you would’ve had a no anyways if you didn’t ask, so there’s no harm done. 

Contact Info:

• Email: Kiahzphotoz@gmail.com
• Website: https://kiahzphotoz.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiahzphotoz/?utm_medium=copy_link
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiahzphotoz?s=11