Meet Ami Nicole ACRONYM

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ami Nicole ACRONYM and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ami Nicole, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I like telling people, “Being an artist means being the cockroach that won’t die.” So many people want to immediately be successful without putting in the work and foundation it takes to get to that point. I talk with many photographers who feel like they should be already killing it in the game, but they haven’t put in the years, failures, and learning lessons to get where they want to be.

I don’t say that in the sense of the gatekeeping, or acting as if someone hasn’t paid their dues – it’s all about the path you take in order to get somewhere. I would have fallen so fast if I had “blown up” when I thought I should have. Sometimes being the consistent artist who stays in the industry for years and is known to be counted on or “THE ONE” to work with is a lot more important than virality and people beating down your door for sessions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up pretty hard. I had my friends, but I was always the one being told that I wouldn’t make it very far in the world, given my upbringing and circumstances – even by my High School Counselor. Being the product of a single-parent household where sometimes your choices were paying your utilities or having enough for groceries, I had to grow up a little faster than most, and many people didn’t understand.

The one spot I excelled was in Art. I began doing Photography when I was 13, and by the time I hit my mid-twenties, I was no contact with my only living parent. I didn’t have a safety net like many people do when they start out being a business owner. I did not have investors, or someone handing me a loan, or a roof over my head that someone else was paying for. I had to fight tooth and nail to be great at what I do, and I ate, slept, and inhaled it. Some of those days, I was working over 60 hours a week, while going to college full time on my dime, while learning new tricks and skills in the Photography and Journalism realms. I was constantly exhausted, but as time went on, I was able to get more people to take chances on me, eventually getting people to pay me for my work, and becoming the trusted photographer I am today.

Now I work with a handful of amazing musical artists for their portraits and live content, founded and operate a Music and Culture Magazine called ACRONYMZINE.com that covers national-level concerts, and work with production companies and directors as a Film Still Photographer on Feature Films and Music Videos. Each of those facets came with a lot of study, schooling, and one-on-one education with people working in the industry.

Nobody can say I didn’t work my ass off. I tried new things, I failed, I tried again, and kept going until I felt I was headed in the right direction, and I didn’t let my circumstances, my fears, my mental health, or anything else get in the way of what I truly wanted to be.

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 personally always look for something artistic, educational, or something off the beaten path. I find that cliche things tend to only lightly satisfy someone’s curiosity, but showing them something that can inspire them or open their minds is going to create a longer-lasting experience. One of my former co-workers who’s one of my best friends and I used to do this thing our boss dubbed the “Day of Creativity,” and we’d go somewhere like a museum to experience an exhibit or some sort of installation. It’s the ginger to your sushi platter, cleaning your palate in a way. You come back from that experience with a fresh perspective in order to continue to create the work you’re doing, and it’s ALWAYS helped us find more to love in the world.

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 would like to thank the people who have supported my journey through its ups and downs. I don’t ever believe that I’m “self-made” because I have had so many people who have been in my corner over the years and have contributed to my success and longevity. There are too many people to thank, but you know who you are.

Website: acronymis.com and acronymzine.com

Instagram: instagram.com/acronymis.jpeg and instagram.com/acronymzine

Facebook: Facebook.com/acronymisjpeg and facebook.com/acronymzine

Image Credits
I am the photographer of all these images, so AMI NICOLE ACRONYM is the credit.