Meet Nas Nixx | Photographer, creative director and director

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

Hi Nas, how do you think about risk?
I think taking risks is so important and I think the reason I’m where I’m at today. For example I worked at JC penny portrait studios and I hated it. I made good money but It sucked the creativity out of me. I quit then worked at a juice bar which I liked way more. During this time I was shooting a lot more images and finally found a community in LA to work with. This is around the time I started getting more traction with my art and ended up getting a job for Jeffrey Campbell. Once I got this one photoshoot job I quit the juice bar job because I saw the potential I had. I feel like the traditional thing to do would’ve been to keep my juice bar job and do my photography on the side. But I wanted to fully immerse myself in my art. I’m so grateful it worked out. Part of me think it did work out because I’m delusional and quit my job so I had no plan B the only way to succeed and make a living was to push through and keep shooting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been drawn to fantasy because it lets me dive into limitless possibilities and stretch my imagination. (I’m also a Pisces lol) It’s all about escaping into these enchanting worlds filled with magic and mythical creatures.I’m constantly daydreaming about these made up worlds I’ve created. I love balancing fantasy and horror influences, I love mixing elements from both genres. I think adding the horror element makes it more inviting and human in a way. Like we all suffer and feel emotions and that’s what I bring forward when I add the horror elements but I like to disguise it with elves and fairy wings sometimes. I want to create a visual experience that takes people on a journey, and maybe question some things about themselves.

I was born in Miami, Florida, and both my parents are artistic so I was always surrounded with art being a part of my childhood. I always loved taking photos and creating videos with friends. I used to have a flip camera and after school I would make weird videos of my friends. Then things got more serious when I attended high school. That’s where my love for photography really grew and I realized this could be my job. I would skip my other classes to be in the photography room, that’s where I made all my friends who I’m still friends with today. After high school i then moved to Los Angeles to pursue art and photography, studying at CalArts in Santa Clarita, California from 2017 to 2019. I then dropped out and worked at JC penny portrait studios taking photos of families and newborns which sucked all the creativity out of me. I quit then worked at a juice bar which I liked way more. During this time I was shooting a lot more images, I started getting more traction with my art and ended up getting a job for Jeffrey Campbell. Once I got that job I quit the juice bar job. Since then I’ve been doing my art full time.

I started off my career only shooting film photography and that’s because that’s what I was most comfortable with. That’s what I learned on and there’s something charming and authentic about it that draws me in. The whole process, from loading the film to waiting for the images has a magical feeling to it. I now do a mix of digital and film because if not I would probably be scanning images 24/7. I needed a balance.

As a freelancer, I’ve faced challenges with finding consistent work and knowing my worth. My advice to aspiring artists is to value yourself, and research industry standards, also reach out to people you want to work for. The worse they can do is ignore you or say no. There’s been so many times where when I first started I reached out to people and they ignored me but now hit me up to work and there’s a DM I sent in 2017 still there. I also recommend to find a creative community so when you don’t have work you can still make art. You should be making art for fun and also for money if it’s your job. Some people forget about the for fun part.

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.
1 week in LA: -go eat at kitchen mouse for breakfast. Get sandwiches to go next door at their bakery and go to Leo Carillo beach for the day in Malibu
-go on a thrifting adventure. Go to bearded beagle, Pasadena goodwill and Salvation Army.
-go to pasadena farmers market on Thursday. Get the olive sourdough and some chips and feta dip and eat at the hill at the library.
-go to little Tokyo and eat a Korean corn dog and go to Neko Stop and get a blind box.
-go hiking at Eaton canyon, then go to an estate sale on the way back home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I started interning for this photographer Parker Day, I think she deserves credit and recognition because I learned so much from interning for her than I did at school. I learned the basics of lighting and bringing a model/ character to life with props and storytelling. I had so much fun interning for her and met so many cool people along the way.

Website: Nasnixx.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/nasnixx

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nas-nixx-7ba028138?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Twitter: Twitter.com/nasnixx

Other: Tiktok.com/nasnixx

Image Credits
Twins in slime title “embryo” Models – @satin.puppets Long hair in fridge photo Model- @riconasty Hair stylist- @prestonwada Mua- @deemakeupart Styling- @lindseyhartman Photo of just the legs with the axe. For @jeffreycampbell Person with string on back photo Model- @maevellisullivan Prosthetics made by @sarahloranca Long hair in pink bathroom photo Model- @maiphammy Hair @jocglams Mua @mayavelii Tooth fairy and elf in bikini amor- Model @hotslime69