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

Hi Nick, what do you attribute your success to?
There are two things that drive me and are definitely the leading factors to my success: Embrace challenge and be open to learn/grow. I’ve always told myself these two things. It’s easy to create something and once it’s out there and you get feedback it’s even more rewarding. I think sometimes people can get comfortable when they find their niche. I myself got comfortable. When I was shooting live events I got too comfortable with it and actually started to dislike it. I felt like every show was the same thing and soon my passion was dwindling. It became more of a chore than a job/passion. When things get easy or familiar, that’s when I know it’s time for me to move on. After shooting bands and concerts I jumped into the fashion world. Fashion photography has been such a fun challenge to me. It’s different from anything I’ve ever done. Those that know me would never guess I’d be shooting high fashion. It’s the total opposite of me as a person. That unknown and huge difference in personal interest is exactly what drew fashion photography to me. It’s a challenge. Something new. I am able to start fresh as a beginner and look at photography from a whole different aspect. I’ve been shooting high fashion for a few years now and have over 30 features in magazines worldwide. I am still learning everyday and facing new challenges. Stepping outside of my comfort zone allowed me to find new love and new work that gets my brain thinking outside the box on a daily basis.

That being said, embracing change leads right into openness. You need to be able to learn and grow. Neglecting that fact will not help you get better at your craft. Be open to starting over or trying something you have no experience in. Give it time and stay consistent and you’ll soon become great at it. Take the time to look at what others do or who inspires you. Follow them, talk to them, get all the knowledge you can and let yourself grow! Again, with fashion photography I jumped into it as a novice. It was so much fun and I was learning a lot, very fast. In just a couple years I’ve found myself constantly growing and experiencing more than I would have ever imagined. After getting published a lot and getting recognition, I’ve even started my own fashion magazine called BADBAD Magazine (@badbadmagazine). BADBAD features high and street style fashion from all over the world. It is my new challenge and project and I’m so excited about it. Without embracing challenge and being open learning/growth, BADBAD wouldn’t have been able to happen. It’s amazing what you can do when you step outside of your comfort zone.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am currently most proud of BADBAD Magazine. It’s a new fashion magazine I’ve started. We just launched our first issue last month and feedback has been wonderful. It’s something new for me so getting submissions and followers has been a real challenge. Even finding the right place to get the magazine printed was difficult. After a lot of research and trial and error, I can happily say BADBAD is up and running and starting out strong!

Working with the models and photogs in my community has been great. I wanted to create an outlet that showcases the hard work and beautiful imagery all of my peers are so excellent at creating. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Like I said BADBAD is small and just starting out but with all the support from my friends and fellow creatives, it was able to blossom into something tangible. Seeing the first issue in print was surreal to say the least. The pages are so crisp and everyone’s images are so vivid and speak volumes. It’s the best reward for all the hard work put into it.

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?
Well, that’s a question I get a lot. Los Angeles has it’s ups that’s for sure but there are definitely many many downs. I stay away from all of the tourist spots. I find them really underwhelming and kind of a let down. They’re pretty dirty spots too. Not really my cup of tea. In my personal opinion the best place to visit near me is Pasadena. There are so many great restaurants and little coffee shops. A lot peace and quiet and you get away from the hustle and bustle LA is known for. You can always visit the Rose Bowl and take a walk around it. Nice way to get outside and some exercise!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to all of the models and photographers that I’ve had the pleasure of working/speaking with over the years. There are so many to name so you all know who you are if you read this! Everyone has been so kind and encouraging and it’s such a wonderful community here in Los Angeles. We all support each other and are always down to create with one another. It’s a beautiful thing. Thank you to everyone!

Website: https://badbadmagazine.weebly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badbadmagazine/

Other: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickromi_stills/

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Matthew Barnett Photo Credit: Miranda Husry Photo Credit: Nick Romi

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