We were lucky to catch up with NiEtta Reynolds recently and have shared our conversation below.
NiEtta , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
It began with a bond that felt like healing but was rooted in hurt. We connected through our pain—two people trying to make sense of life’s weight. It was a trauma bond, one that felt safe because we both knew what it meant to be broken. But when he took his own life nine years ago, that bond ruptured. The silence that followed was heavy, stretching into the spaces where laughter and late-night talks used to live.
His death brought an unbearable grief—but also a piercing clarity. I realized I could no longer carry my pain quietly. I needed to understand it, name it, and somehow transform it. So I went back to school to study mental health—not only to make sense of his struggle, but to begin healing my own.
In time, I turned to art as a way of speaking what words could not. Photography and storytelling became my language of reclamation—a way to help others find their voices while rediscovering my own. What began in tragedy evolved into purpose: to hold space for truth, to create light from loss, and to show that healing, too, can be a form of art.
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 am a visual storyteller and founder of 2406 Photography Studio Gallery, a 1,900-square-foot creative space in Dallas dedicated to art, community, and culture. My work explores the emotional depth of human experience—grief, resilience, love, and identity—especially within Black communities whose stories are often overlooked.
Through photography, I create honest portraits that reflect both pain and perseverance. The most powerful moment for me is when someone sees themselves—truly sees themselves—as whole, powerful, and worthy. That moment of recognition is what drives my art.
My latest exhibition, As I Rise, began as a tribute to women in South Dallas who embody strength and transformation. These women are the heart of their communities—leaders, mothers, dreamers, and survivors. Though its roots are local, the project’s message is universal. The stories captured in South Dallas echo across the nation, speaking to womanhood, resilience, and the beauty of rising again.
At 2406 Photography, we are expanding our reach through exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations that amplify underrepresented voices and bridge art with healing. My mission is simple yet enduring: to document truth, to transform pain into purpose, and to remind others that even through the cracks of loss, light still finds a way to rise.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have shaped my journey are the ability to educate, the ability to learn, and endurance. These three things have kept me grounded through every chapter of my life as a teacher, artist, and woman finding her way.
The ability to educate is my foundation. Teaching, for me, isn’t confined to a classroom—it’s how I connect with people. It’s about giving others permission to see themselves, to know that their story matters. You don’t need to have all the answers to guide someone. When you pour into others, you fill yourself too.
The ability to learn keeps me evolving. I’ve learned to listen more than I speak, to see lessons in every experience, and to never outgrow curiosity. You can’t grow if you’re always trying to prove what you already know. Stay open. Stay teachable.
Endurance is what transforms potential into purpose. My journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve had moments of loss, of uncertainty, of silence. But endurance taught me to keep showing up—to my craft, my calling, and myself. Because even slow progress is still movement forward.
If you can teach, learn, and endure, you can outlast fear. You can outgrow doubt. And you can build a life—and a legacy—that reflects your truth.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely. Collaboration has always been at the heart of my work. I’m currently seeking to connect with videographers, writers, and artists from other regions who are passionate about storytelling—people who use their craft to give voice to communities and experiences that deserve to be seen. My goal is to expand As I Rise beyond its South Dallas roots and evolve it into a national dialogue on resilience, womanhood, and legacy through multiple creative forms.
I’m drawn to collaborators who lead with empathy and intention—those who see art as expression and as connection. Whether through film, photography, or narrative work, I want to partner with creatives who believe in the transformative power of story.
While I’m looking ahead to future collaborations, I want to give heartfelt thanks to those who have already helped shape this journey: Carrie Shannon, Teresa Jackson, Shawnkeedra Martin, Mollie Finch Belt, Dr. Michelle Morgan, Darin Triplett, and Larry Gray. Their trust, wisdom, and strength continue to guide and inspire my work.
To connect or collaborate, reach out through 2406 Photography on Instagram @2406_Photography
, or by email at [email protected]
. Let’s continue telling stories that rise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://2406photography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2406_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2406photography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nietta-reynolds-668b52299
- Twitter: https://x.com/2406Photography
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@2406photography
Image Credits
” As I Rise” Exhibition- NiEtta Reynolds
Carrie Reynolds
Dr. Teresa Jackson
Dr. Michelle Morgan
Shawnkeedra Martin Esq
Mollie Belts
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
