Meet Nigil Crawford: Photographer & Producer

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

Hi Nigil, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks is something that isn’t for everyone. When I think about a decision, I ask myself, “Am I doing it for me? Or am I doing it so that other people can have a certain opinion about me?” The most successful risks have come from me making my own decisions. In freelance, it’s so many different opportunities to leverage yourself. Part of risk taking is learning it’s okay to say “no” to a few things. I found myself turning down a lot of opportunities more now either because their budgets weren’t big enough or it wasn’t beneficial for me. No matter the profession or where you work, YOU are your own brand. It’s important to know that that you don’t owe anyone anything. If someone invests in you, it’s because they see something in you that can (in most cases) benefit you both.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Photography to me is my way of life. The way I see things. The things that happen in and over time. Time is one thing in life you can never get back. It’s important to make every second count. Moments from people, travel, and most importantly human interaction.

To be honest, photography was never a dream of mine. I’ve always wanted to be a sports journalist (or at least thought). When I was younger, my dad said I always had a camera in my hand. Something about holding it in my hand just fascinated me. I got goosebumps every time I pressed the shutter. It wasn’t until someone else noticed my work (at the time) and told me “You’ve got an interesting eye” Today, I look back and think if I hadn’t picked up on that, where would my life be?

I have a scenario in which I started photography seriously which starts in New York. New York is a humbling city known as a the “Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of”. For me, it was a rough awakening when I moved here. I thought I had it all figured out when I “secured” a brownstone apartment in Brooklyn off Craigslist. I blew all my money in my savings on a one-way ticket and an Uber just to get to the place. When I got there, I was informed that someone already moved into the brownstone a week before I arrived. I got no heads up, so I was ass out with $5 left to my name. I looked around the area to see where I could camp out, but no luck. All of my “friends” weren’t answering my calls. I took all my bags down to the subway station (Newkirk Ave). Slept down there for a few days. I frantically kept looking for a spot to be stable, but I kept coming up short. I slept on the train, and overnight I camped out in the corner at the station. After about a week, a lady saw me sleeping on my bags and proceeded to walk over to me. I was already paranoid, so off rip I wanted to fight her because I thought she was telling me to leave. She looks at my hoodie and asks, “Did you go to Hampton?” I said “Yeah, I just graduated 3 weeks ago. I moved here for this dope internship.” She then asks, “Why are you sleeping in the subway?” I told her what happened and she tells me to come with her. She had a look of concern, so I grabbed my bags and followed her upstairs and out of the station. I ask her, “Yo, where are we going?” She took me to a house that was up the street from that subway station. “I know the landlord of this house”, she says. “He’s looking for a new tenant because someone just moved out about a week ago.” There were tears I was fighting back in my eyes. I just couldn’t express how happy I was. I told this women she’s my guardian angel. She then tells me, “You’re a young kid with a bright future. The fact you slept in a subway to get to where you need to be takes courage. Welcome to New York kid, a city of hustlers”

The one thing I want people to know is I learn and perfect my craft every day to create a legacy for the next generation. I want to be able to pass my knowledge so that the youth can unlock their inner creativity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For ATL,

-Piedmont Park,
-Atlantic Station
-Little Five Points
-Centennial Olympic Park
-Georgia Aquarium
-World of Coke
-Atlanta Botanical Garden
-The Sundial (AMAZING food)
-Blue Ridge Grill
-Rays on the River

For NYC
-Top of the Rock
-Brooklyn Bridge
-Times Square (it’s such a cliche tour spot, but the right photographer can make it look different)
-Sarabeths
-Amy Ruths (Harlem, their fried chicken is to die for)
-Union Square
-Soho (too many stores)
-Central Park (runs from 59th-110th) Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Dedicating my shoutout to my mentor & big brother. Mr. Ilbert Sanchez.

Ilbert is one of the co-founders of Garcon Couture, a luxurious, black-owned, b spoke suit company. GC has dressed a list of high-profile moguls including Omari Hardwick, Joel Embid, Woody McClain, and others.

Each suit is custom made to your fit and personal style, Their motto is “Excellence in Every Thread”

I’ve done a lot of photography for GC. Each time, I always learn or meet someone new.

Website: http://www.nigilcrawford.com

Instagram: @lordnc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigil-c-04485990/

Twitter: @Nigil

Image Credits
Photos by Nigil Crawford