Meet Nelson Onyeji | Atlanta Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nelson Onyeji and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nelson, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Being successful starts with having a great vision. It’s about being inspired to do great work. It’s about commitment and seeing the process through. It’s about have an end goal, and setting another one. The most important factor behind my success is the rapport I’ve developed with my clients and the ability to bring their vision to life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
123 Shoot! Photography is the name of my business. The origin of the name comes from a phrase I use to help clients when shooting in direct light. Too often clients will squint their eyes, so I tell them to close them and open them on the count of “1-2-3-shoot!”. I started my photography business in 2020. I’ve been doing photography for several years, dating back to my college days working in a photo lab developing film in a dark room. What started as a hobby grew into a business due to the high demand for my work. I started out taking group vacation photos and graduation photos for my family and friends, and eventually I grew interests from other people who saw my photos through social media. After so many requests for my rates and contact information, I knew it was time to turn my “hobby” into an actual business. I have a diversified portfolio that includes: engagements, weddings, graduations, fashion, boudoir, lifestyle, real estate, product branding and more. What sets my business apart from others is my flexible scheduling, quick turnaround time, and excellent quality of work. The journey wasn’t easy because a lot of the process is self taught, but you learn so much along the way. The biggest lesson I learned is to have patience and always be prepared. When your opportunity comes, you have to be ready for it. I want the world to know that photography is a skill that I enjoy doing and thrive on providing excellent work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The west midtown area is a fun place to visit for entertainment and food. They have several bars and lounges to enjoy the nightlife scene. If you’re into more activities, you can visit belt line and East Palisades trail to go bike riding and hiking. There’s plenty of concerts and festivals in the downtown area. There’s always something fun going on in Atlanta.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my success to my parents. They invested so much time and effort in creating a space for me to grow and be successful. My parents always encouraged me to think outside of the box and challenged me to elevate my skills in the world of art and creativity. I also like to recognize my peers who are successful in their craft. Seeing others do well motivates me to do well. The photography community as a whole and the clients I’ve worked with have also inspired me to keep producing great work.

Website: www.123shootphotography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/123shootphotography

Facebook: www.facebook.com/123shootphotographyllc

Image Credits
123 Shoot! Photography