Meet Nadia Tyson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nadia Tyson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nadia, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

That’s a good question. Most weekends, when I have time, I head to my studio, aka my garage, put in my AirPods, get my music going – a little Lithe, a little Kevin Gates – and I spend a couple of hours just playing with colors and textures on the canvas. That’s really how I keep my creativity alive – by staying open to the world around me and following whatever sparks something in the moment. I like to let things unfold naturally and not push the process too hard.

A big part of it is actually just showing up to paint whenever I can. I have a three-year-old, so my life is beautifully hectic, but even a little time in my studio makes a world of difference. Just a couple of hours to experiment with colors really pushes my creativity and passion for art.

Music is a huge part of it too. It helps me get into the emotional space before I pick up a paintbrush or my camera. I also think switching between photography and painting keeps things fun and fresh. Photography sharpens my eye for detail and composition, while painting lets me explore feeling and abstraction in a totally different way.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a multidisciplinary artist working in photography and abstract painting. Right now I’m focused on growing both sides of my creative world – my headshot photography business and my abstract painting practice.

On the photography side, my studio has turned into sort-of a small but creative space. I shoot with large Kino lights that give my portraits a clean, natural look. My clients range from people updating their LinkedIn, work, or dating app photos to entrepreneurs, bloggers, and business owners refreshing their websites, as well as influencers, actors, and models. I’ve also had the opportunity to shoot for Google and Equinox on occasion, which still feels a little surreal in the best way.

On the art side, my abstract paintings are all about color and energy. I work mostly with acrylic and aerosol on linen or canvas, using bright neon tones and big expressive movements. My pieces currently go up to around 60 inches, but I’m dreaming of going way bigger once I have the space. One thing I’m especially excited about is the recent launch of my new painting website, nadiatysonstudio.com. It’s a space dedicated entirely to my artwork, and it’s been exciting to see everything come together in one place.

What keeps me inspired is the connection between both worlds. Photography lets me meet and connect with so many interesting people, and painting gives me this totally different space to express myself through color and movement.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I’d say the three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are connection, self-belief, and confidence.

Connection has honestly been everything for me. So many of my biggest opportunities have come from people I’ve met or worked with – not necessarily from pitching myself, but from real relationships. Some of the photo projects that ended up in books or on Fox, KTLA, or even Google all started with genuine connections. Investing in those relationships has opened more doors than anything else.

Self-belief has also been a huge part of it. Learning to see myself and my work as valuable or almost like treating myself as a brand – completely shifted how I approach things. It pushed me to actually share what I’m creating, even when it felt uncomfortable. Posting my photos, talking about my projects, putting them out into the world… it all made a bigger difference than I expected.

And confidence is something I’m still actively building. A friend once told me to “fake it till you make it,” and honestly, that advice has carried me through a lot. It’s not about pretending to be someone I’m not – it’s more about stepping into the version of myself I’m growing into, even if I’m not fully there yet. There have been plenty of shoots and painting commissions where I wasn’t totally sure of myself at first, but showing up with confidence helped me actually develop it.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is someone who values creativity and trusts the process.

For photography, that usually means people who are open and collaborative – professionals updating their business profiles, bloggers or entrepreneurs building their brand, and sometimes actors or models looking for something genuine and expressive. The best sessions happen when clients come in with curiosity and trust, and we create something that feels true to who they are.

On the art side, my ideal collector is someone who connects emotionally with color and energy – people who aren’t afraid of bold, bright, large-scale pieces. I love working with collectors who want statement paintings for their homes or for public spaces where the work can really breathe.

What makes someone an ideal client or collector is their mindset – they appreciate the creative process, communicate openly, and are excited to collaborate. That mutual trust and enthusiasm always lead to the best results.

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