We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sani Mohammed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sani below.
Sani, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.
From a technical standpoint, I wouldn’t alter the progression. Looking back over the years to witness the growth in skill and evolution is valuable. However, I would change my mentality. Initially, I was in my own head and was unsure how to expand beyond my campus. If I could start over, I wouldn’t confine myself so strictly to A&T. Despite this self-imposed limitation, I often compared my work to other creators, feeling as though my work wasn’t valid because I wasn’t operating at their level. I wish I had realized sooner that comparison is the thief of joy, and that I needed to focus on my own path. The time spent worrying about others could have been better used in collaborating with others and getting experience.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
For those who don’t know me, hello! My name is Sani, and on Instagram, I’m known as shotsbysani. I’ve been into photography for about three years. It all started when I received a camera from my dad as a birthday gift. Initially, my aim was to take pictures of my friends and earn some money on the side. However, I’ve felt the desire to grow and evolve this into something greater. Recently, I’ve been helping clothing brands showcase their products creatively. In my opinion, in this era of social media with an ever-changing market, I bring a unique blend of originality that’s both innovative and familiar.If I had to choose a favorite from the brands I’ve worked on, it would be the “PASHY” Brent and Tyler tees I covered in 2023. They are particularly special to me because I had just acquired a new flash, and combined with the parking garage setting, they yielded incredible results. Additionally, this was one of the first brands to work with me and give me a chance so I felt the need to provide a great result
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe what helped me the most in developing my market was simply being authentic. Since I was on a college campus, maintaining a positive image was crucial. I generally don’t have trouble in social settings, so networking came quite naturally to me. Ultimately, it boils down to producing consistently high-quality work and treating people well, which can take you far.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
It’s quite amusing that I’m sharing this story, as it happened quite recently. One of my greatest fears is anything that flies with a stinger—I’m absolutely terrified. I had discovered a perfect spot near campus for taking pictures. It had a beautiful grey wall, ample space, and outlets for my lights; it was ideal. Initially, I was able to create content efficiently. However, I soon began to notice an increasing number of wasps during my photoshoots. Upon investigating, I found a wasp nest nearby. Given my fear, it would have been easy to abandon the spot and never return. But what did I do? I persevered, and after a few weeks, the wasps ceased to appear. I often reflect on that moment because if I had stopped using that area, who knows when I would have tried again. I view it as a lesson and a sign that I was doing something right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mohsjr02.wixsite.com/shotsbysani
- Instagram: shotsbysani
- Twitter: shotsbysani
Image Credits
Shotsbysani on Instagram