We were lucky to catch up with Nye’ Lyn Tho recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nye’ Lyn, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
As a kid, I spent a lot of time working side jobs with my stepfather. He was a school bus driver with a big family—there were six of us kids, maybe five at the time—and he needed extra gigs to supplement his income. He often took me along to work with him, telling me I was a good kid, a hard worker, and that I was going places. That kind of encouragement fueled my enthusiasm.
I naturally find joy in working, having a purpose, and seeing something through from its conception to its completion. I believe we’re all born with innate gifts, talents, or unique characteristics, and it’s our tribe’s responsibility to not only recognize those things but also to nurture them. My stepfather did a beautiful job in that area. If you don’t have that kind of tribe, it’s important to find one—even if it’s just influencers you follow or books you read. Having someone speak into my ambition, skill, or talent gave me lasting pride in doing my work well.
The gigs were actually fun! Sometimes we’d get up around 4 a.m. to clean the movie theaters at the mall. As a kid, running through the empty mall with a huge industrial trash bin made me feel like I had exclusive access—and that I was trusted with it. The best part was when my family got to see movies at that same cinema for free. I felt proud knowing I could help out in that way.
It’s interesting that I’m still working behind the scenes. I love being the hidden creative behind powerful organizations, institutions, and even local politicians. Recently, I was speaking to a friend about a political figure who had just become a council member. We were excited about this candidate we both voted for, and I casually mentioned how fun it was to work on her logo—seeing it evolve into a meaningful symbol of her platform. My friend stopped me and said, “Wait, you designed her logo?!” I realized then how often I quietly plug away at projects, not sharing them, only to discover later how meaningful they’ve become.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been a freelance designer and photographer since 2015. In the last four years, I’ve taken on a few design retainers, which has allowed me to grow into more of a creative studio. This shift has been especially rewarding because I now get to work alongside my wife, Genoa, who manages projects and has recently become my second shooter. Her natural eye for photography made her a quick study—I only had to teach her the technical aspects of the camera. I’m very excited about this new role for her! She’s a natural, and our first event photography gig together was a huge success!
I’m a creative at heart; I just love to make things. But the best part about creating is finding the soul of whatever I’m working on. Before I start, I send clients a questionnaire to help me understand the core purpose of their project. Even with event photography, if the goal is to promote the next year’s event, then I focus on capturing candid joy—excited faces, warm hugs, and even details like what’s in the goodie bags! There’s always a driving purpose, and my passion is finding ways to bring that purpose to life creatively.
My goal next year is to start making art again. I’ve dedicated so much time to client projects that I haven’t created space for a new series, like I did when I first started out. I have two photography series lined up: one inspired by my literal dreams, which have guided me throughout my life, and another that captures people reaching their biggest goals by use of props and photo manipulation. For instance, if you’re trying to open a coffee shop in 2 years we would work with a local cafe to capture you in or among that space. We would even replace their logo with your ideal business name. Finally we would print that piece out, frame it and hang it on your wall so that you can visualize achieving that goal on a daily basis. I’m excited about using visualization to help people manifest their aspirations—it would feel incredibly rewarding to see people achieve them. That’s why I was thrilled to be contacted by Bold Journey! Success is only a mindset away, and they’re doing great work uplifting others by sharing these stories.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
In my line of work, being multi-skilled has been essential. Photography can be seasonal in some areas, and the winter months can slow down. During those times, I’ve leaned more into Graphic Design, as many organizations need annual reports and similar projects. My proficiency with Adobe tools has also been valuable, as many photographers outsource their retouching. I love using various tools and I’m consistently teaching myself more about them.
With that said, the ability to pivot has become a critical skill—knowing when to lean into a particular area and when to keep honing each craft. When A.I. was introduced into Adobe software, many designers worried it might reduce work. But I’ve seen how businesses that resist change often struggle, so I chose to adapt. I don’t want to be another Blockbuster! Now, I use A.I. frequently in my retouching workflow, and it’s incredible how much it speeds things up. For example, I recently had a client request the removal of her braces in a portrait, which would have taken hours but only took seconds with A.I. I’m always excited to learn new tools and approaches. The worst thing is to assume you’re at the top and stop growing.
Lastly, the ability to sell yourself is a crucial skill, and it’s one I’m still developing. Sometimes I leave it to potential clients to decide to work with me, thinking, ‘If they don’t choose me, maybe it wasn’t meant to be.’ But I realize now that’s my creative side talking; I need to embrace my business side. It used to feel uncomfortable to explain why working with me is in their best interest—who am I to say I’m the right fit for the job?! In reality, all we’re being asked to do is showcase how successful we have been at accomplishing the very thing they’re looking for. I can do that! Cold pitching is another story! Any of these things can be learned. I’m a big fan of YouTube, books, and just experimenting.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes! I’m definitely looking for people to partner with. I recently pitched a branding project to a company seeking a larger studio. In situations like this, I’d love to have a virtual crew I can collaborate with on such projects—and even feature them on my site as part of “my team.” Specifically, I’m looking for Writers, Copywriters, UX Designers, Illustrators, and additional Graphic Designers.
On the photography side, I’m building a “little black book” of MUAs, stylists, prop designers, gaffers, and hairstylists.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nyelyntho.com
- Instagram: @nyelyntho
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/nyelyntho/
Image Credits
Nye Lyn Tho
Genoa Tho
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.