Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lena Nikolaj. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Lena, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?

Although I do believe that our lives happen to us in the perfect order of when we’re ready. I do wish I had the courage to start earlier, I thought about it for years but I was just so conditioned to believe that being a successful photographer was an unrealistic path. The reason I appreciate this question is because I can inspire anyone that felt the same way I did years ago to just start. Like now. Trial and error. Stop being scared of “failing.” I don’t even believe in that word because it’s all just a learning experience.

After I graduated, I wasn’t really keen to work in the industry I studied so I kept my bartending job to figure things out. Eventually life started to feel very mundane and that I wasn’t living the life authentic to me. As a kid, I enjoyed anything that involved being creative and even found ways to make it a business. Selling bracelets I made, pillows, fake marker tattoos for 25 cents. I loved it. So in 2018, I tuned back into that and realized how much I wanted to start some kind of creative business. That’s when photography came into my life. Of course, wondering if I did start photography earlier is just a waste of time and energy but I’m happy to inspire anyone to just go for that thing that they can’t stop thinking about. I really am so grateful I pushed through the limiting beliefs to eventually begin my amazing journey. Thoughts can be powerful but if we really learn to control them, we can do anything we set our minds to. Now, please go start that dream project!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Hi, I’m Lena, an Albanian female brand and commercial photographer in NYC. I moved out of my family home in Michigan at age 21 and set out to define what success looked like for myself. I knew from a young age that I was too ambitious and stubborn to settle for the traditional life society had laid out for me as an Albanian woman. If we really only get one life to live, I was going to live it on my own terms. I lived in New York City and then Albania, modeled, studied music and marketing, learned photography, and took up travel blogging…it’s been a wild ride, my friends.

Fast forward to now, I’ve traveled the world, worked alongside incredibly talented creatives, and did the inner work necessary to create for myself the career I’ve always dreamt of. These past 31 years have been fueled by curiosity and filled with adventure. I’ve found so much joy in exploring my interests, nourishing my gifts and pursuing my passions.

I started as a travel photographer (which is still a huge passion of mine) and worked my way to dabbling in every area photography has to offer like fashion, weddings, couples, events, product, and real estate. I’ve done projects for Forbes, Dior and Rachel Zoe.

I’ve recently found my passion in photographing personal brands, fashion and commercial but what truly lights me up from the inside out (aside from travel) is supporting women entrepreneurs that are working on their dream business. I photograph mindful and ambitious females in a way that tells their story through imagery. In order to gain trust from your ideal client, the right images for your personal brand are essential. Nowadays, people want to see the person behind the brand. This is where I come in. I offer a white glove experience that helps curate impactful images that represent the founder and their brand. This is done by creating a planner and vision board based on my clients personality, brand colors, aesthetic and more. We then schedule a video call to finalize all details on location, props, set schedule, makeup artist, and stylist. This very detailed experience ensures that we have plenty of powerful images for marketing, website, PR, and social media that represent the essence of my clients brand. So if you or someone you know needs a brand or commercial photoshoot, I’m your girl!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Throughout my whole life I’ve always deeply admired ambitious and successful women. I aspired to be that and believe I am that today. Growing up, I was conditioned to believe that women were only valued if they had the beauty standard made up by society, got married, and made babies. All great things but many of the women in my culture have been suppressed of being their authentic selves and following their passions in life.

This is why I’m so fiercely motivated to encourage women to embrace and show the world who they are to the core. My mission is to photograph the mindful coaches, CEO’s, thought leaders, public figures and more to build confidence and create the empire they deserve.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is inspiring others to know what’s possible for them too. I appreciate that it helps me inspire myself even – daily. Because I get to look at my work and remind myself what I’m capable of, how far I’ve come, where I can improve and how far I can go.

Contact Info:

• Website: currently under construction
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lenanikolaj?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-nikolaj-7a535695/

Image Credits
Lena Nikolaj Photography