Nia Ross Is Nini Michelle Visuals

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Nini Michelle Visuals

Nia “Nini Michelle” Ross is a selftaught Black Woman photographer from the Bronx, New York, but currently resides in Silver Spring, MD. Nia’s shares that it’s her goal to put the overlooked at the forefront of beauty.

Nia attended Virginia Union University and studied Senior Mass Communications with a focus on Public Relations. Today she is the owner of Nini Michelle Visuals.

Nia’s career in photography began in Norfolk around the time of her freshman year in college. “I was set on being a videographer but the demand for pictures was high, and I could use the extra cash. My focus got serious when I transferred schools and became good friends with a staff member who also did videography. He introduced me to a photographer who owned a studio in the area. Shortly after, I began working at the studio as a photographer and the rest is history.

Some of the services Nia offers are studio and on-location photography. With the Studio service, She includes an hour of shooting time, two looks, one backdrop, five retouched images, and an expedited turnaround time. As for Onlocation, she includes the exact same perks yet with one look instead of two. Clients can also add additional perks such as Creative Direction, more people in the shoot, and more.

Nia shares that one of the reasons she chose photography as a career path was the lack of representation amongst black women in her field. “I wanted to photograph Black women as I saw them, like royalty. As a black woman, I yearned to see us in magazines, and I decided to do something about it,” she says.

Nia says she loves making people feel beautiful. “I love the excitement of planning the shoot and finally watching it all piece together before my eyes. I love that moment when the client receives the retouched images and is in awe, their confidence shoots through the roof, and they are so grateful for the products and services I provided,” she says.

Nia says the photography industry is male-dominated, so for a woman who is also Black, she is typically the last option. “This can be discouraging for some, but I use it as an opportunity to go harder. I’m so appreciative of Polly Irungu, Founder & CEO of Black Photographers, who makes it her mission to create a lane for us and ensure we’re being hired,” she says.

She offers sound advice for those who may choose a path to follow like her. “As cliche as it may sound, never give up. It gets better. There are times when you feel like no one appreciates your art, but you have to remember why you started to stay grounded. As you grow, you develop goals that may seem impossible to reach, but nothing is impossible. Reach for the stars and you will receive the galaxy,” she says.