We had the good fortune of connecting with Nehemiah Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nehemiah, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
At the end of 2020, I felt like my work had no purpose. I genuinely enjoyed creating and connecting with people through photography and videography, but I did not feel the work I produced had a purpose other than making some side money. After a year of creating from this mindset, I began to feel uninspired and my work felt meaningless. I knew I had a passion for creating photos and videos that positively impacted people, but I felt like I was blowing wherever the wind took me, not moving in a focused, goal-oriented direction. I knew that to breathe life back into my creative passions, I had to have clear goals in the work that I do. To begin setting goals for the shotByNehemiah brand, it was essential for me to spend time asking God for direction. Conveniently, the church I watched online was hosting a 21-day of prayer and fasting from food to kick off 2021. I had never seriously done a fast, nor for that long, so the idea was crazy and weird to me. But I thought there would be no better time to try. As I began to fast and seek God for direction, he confirmed that I should be using my passion to create digital media that invites people to experience the freedom I’ve personally found in Jesus Christ. Because I’m a very ambitious person, it is easy for me to lose sight of this mission and focus on being successful on my own merit, but as I continued the fast, he showed me how to let down my pride and be led by him every day. As I began to let the Holy Spirit lead in my life, opportunities that I could have never imagined began popping out of nowhere. In the first few months of 2021, my brand has experienced growth that I haven’t seen since its inception, and it is continuing to grow at a very fast pace! Learning to give my brand over to God and letting him lead me every day is the key to the success of my brand.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What I love about the art I create is that it has a purpose greater than the art itself. Although the bulk of what I create might not be cinematic masterpieces that will cause you to reflect on the state of your life, most everyone that I create with wants people to know the peace, joy, and success that comes from pursuing a relationship with God. The content we create might not scream “JESUS JESUS JESUS” all over it (nor do we want it to in all cases), but we want our lives, and the subsequent work we create, to provide a solution to the sorrow, emptiness, and depression that so many people feel on a daily basis. The shotByNehemiah brand is a creative conduit that specializes in amplifying the voices of faith-based artists. Creating from this mindset gives me a sense of fulfillment and makes me feel like I’m making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m not the best person to ask since I’m a college student who doesn’t spend much time off campus, but from what I’ve experienced so far, here’s what I would do! As for food, I’d take them to staple places like Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Slutty Vegan, Pappadeaux, and Gio’s Chicken. For dessert I’d take them to Jeni’s Ice Cream. For things to see and experience, I’d want them to see the Botanical Gardens, the High Museum, the World of Coca Cola, the Beltline, and Ponce City Market. I’d probably show them around Georgia Tech’s campus since I’m a student!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, my relationship with Jesus Christ has kept me focused and disciplined enough to build my business to where it is now. I would not be here without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, I’d like to thank Marcellus Walls (@marcellus_walls) and Mykael V (@djmykaelv) for supporting my brand and connecting me with so many people in the city. These two are some of the most selfless guys I’ve ever met, and it’s truly humbling to call them friends. Thirdly, I’d like to thank my girlfriend A’maya (@iamcachet) for believing in me and encouraging me to keep pushing to be the best version of myself, Dalton of Nerd with a Camera Productions (@daltonthenerd), Garet of Cinemaddox (@cinemaddox), and Elias (@almostelias) for creating with me.
Website: http://shotbynehemiah.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/shotbynehemiah
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmLA-0WXgelZd8Bl8pgcDw
Image Credits
Chris McCray (@shotbycjm | shotbycjm.com)