We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nelli Gordox. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nelli below.
Nelli, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I remember feeling shy to announce to my followers on my personal blog that I decided to become a full time photographer. I definitely had imposter syndrome back then and felt so grateful when my first clients took a chance on me and hired me as their engagement photographer. Since then I have become their family photographer and captured their wedding and newborn baby.
Studying and practicing definitely helped me to overcome my imposter syndrome. I always study and take different online courses from other experienced photographers.
Creating Instagram portfolio for my photography work was very intimidating but I’m so happy that I overcame my doubts. I was afraid of being judged by people I know and by strangers. I was nervous about being not good enough. None of these happened, these were just my fears. My portfolio account forced me to do more creative projects with talented and like minded people. Instagram helped me to find my clients and allowed me to position myself as a photographer in my area.
Remembering that we all are beginners first until we become masters definitely helped me to start my journey.
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?
Hi! My name is Nelli and thank you for having me. I am a full time photographer in Washington DC and I love photographing people. I always loved photography since I was a teenager. My friends always tell me that they have so many photos of them from different parties because I was there and took their pictures. I was always that girl with a camera that could spend hours in front of computer editing pictures just for fun.
I came to USA as a student 17 years ago from Ufa, Russia. I studied engineering at university of Maryland and worked for 3 years at renewable energy company. After I had my first child, I was laid off from my job. I decided to stay home and had my second baby. While raising my children I did a lot of soul searching, studied and explored what could be my next career. I even got into fitness and worked as a personal trainer at Equinox gym for 1 year before covid.
Big part of my journey as a photographer played my husband who believed in me and gifted me my Sony camera with words “you should work as a photographer, you are talented, you got this”. His trust and encouragement meant a world to me. I started working full time as a photographer on March 2022.
My work includes maternity and newborn sessions, engagements, elopments, romantic couples, graduates, personal events, conferences and lifestyle photos for personal branding. I photograph my clients in the most photogenic locations of Washington DC as well as at their places where I set up my backdrop and lights and provide studio photoshoots. Last month I was hired to photograph a conference in San Diego, California and had my first business trip across the country as a photographer.
This year I was also blessed to have my work featured on 3 magazine covers. This success is all very new and exciting to me. I am grateful for everything I have in my life and for everyone who believes and supports me.
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?
Three areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey?
First, create compelling portfolio by doing at least one creative photoshoot per month. While studying at online photography school, I started to build my portfolio by offering free photoshots to local models and actors.
Second, learn how to pose your clients and how to navigate the light. I took the whole online course on studio lighting and it was a game changer.
Third, don’t underestimate the importance of online presence. I post everyday on my instagram and 90% of my clients find me through searching on social media for a photographer.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I love self-help books and own so many of them. I believe in positive thinking and abundance mindset. I also really love “atomic habits” by James Clear. It just shows how little actions towards your goals have compound power over time. Even improving at something at 1% rate per day will have tremendous effect on your life. Setting goals and working towards them is crucial. Everything takes time. As long as you give your best effort and keep learning, opportunities and clients will come your way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nelligordox.com
- Instagram: Nelligordox
