Story & Lesson Highlights with Nikolay Mikheev of Northridge

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nikolay Mikheev. Check out our conversation below.

Nikolay, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
One of the most common misconceptions about photography is that it’s easy and requires little more than pressing a button. In reality, professional photography involves experience, creative vision, technical knowledge, editing expertise, and significant investment in equipment. These elements are what clients are truly paying for — not just the moment the shutter clicks.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a fashion and jewelry photographer specializing in fashion, portrait, commercial, and high-end jewelry imagery. I’ve spent years refining my eye for detail, texture, and storytelling through visuals. Currently, I work full-time for a jewelry manufacturer, where I create product photography and visual content that highlight the craftsmanship and beauty of each piece.

What makes my work unique is my ability to blend artistic vision with technical precision. Whether I’m shooting fashion editorials or intricate jewelry close-ups, I focus on capturing the emotion and character behind every subject. I love creating images that are both visually striking and commercially effective, and I’m always exploring new techniques and styles to push my work further.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a kid who lived inside imagination. I was always passionate about art and visual images, constantly paying attention to shapes, colors, and textures around me. My imagination worked effortlessly, and visual creativity was simply a natural part of how I understood the world. That creative instinct stayed with me as I grew. Right after graduating high school, I was fortunate to land my first job as a graphic designer at a local newspaper. It was my first real step into the visual world I had always been drawn to, and it confirmed something I’d always felt deep down: that creativity wasn’t just a hobby for me — it was the foundation of who I am.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most is the fear of failure — not just failing, but what it would say about me. I grew up putting a lot of pressure on myself to get things right the first time, so whenever I stepped into something new, there was always this voice in the back of my mind saying, “What if you’re not good enough?” That fear followed me into my creative work. There were ideas I didn’t pursue, opportunities I hesitated on, and moments where I stayed quiet instead of showing what I could do. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t afraid of the actual failure — I was afraid of being judged for it.

A quote by Eleanor Roosevelt has stayed with me for years: “What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?” It shifted something in me. I started to understand that failure isn’t proof that you’re not capable; it’s part of the path that makes you better.

I’m still learning to quiet that fear, but I’ve gotten better at pushing through it. Each time I take a risk — even a small one — I prove to myself that growth matters more than perfection. And that mindset has opened doors I once would’ve been too scared to walk through.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is real, but it’s only one part of who I am. In my work, people see the confident, creative side — the one who directs shoots, communicates with clients, and presents ideas with clarity. That’s genuinely me, but it’s also the version I intentionally bring forward for my career.

Privately, I’m much more introverted. I keep my circle small, I need quiet to recharge, and I spend a lot of time in my own thoughts. I’m reflective, sometimes over-analytical, and I process the world internally long before I express anything out loud. Those parts don’t always show up publicly, not because I’m hiding them, but because they’re the parts of me that feel the most personal and grounded.

So yes, the public me is real — but the private me is deeper, quieter, and more introspective. It’s the side people see only when they’re truly close to me.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I meditate. Sitting in stillness helps me quiet the noise in my mind and reconnect with myself in a way nothing else does. Over the years, I’ve realized that I value peace even more than happiness — happiness comes and goes, but peace feels deeper, steadier, and much more essential.

I even carry that reminder with me every day: I have a tattoo created by a Tibetan calligrapher that translates to “Tame the mind. Peace.” It’s a simple phrase, but it captures the whole idea — that real peace comes from within, from learning to calm your thoughts and be fully present.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nikolaymikheev.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikolaymikheev/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolaymikheev/
• Other: https://www.jewelryphoto.us

Image Credits
nikolaymikheev1.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | CD and MUA Asia Park | Retoucher Maryna Marchenko | Wardrobe stylist Patrick Flippin | Models Arabelle Gregoire and Vilena Potreba | Hair stylist Marci Shears

nikolaymikheev2.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | CD and MUA Asia Park | Wardrobe stylist Patrick Flippin | Model Vilena Potreba | Hair stylist Marci Shears

nikolaymikheev3.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | Fashion Stylist Dom Christoph Style by Christopher Giron | Makeup Artist Josephine Blankstein | Hairstylist Christina Mcdonald | Model Mia Maguire | Assistant Jordan Hamilton

nikolaymikheev4.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | MUA & Hair Anton Nizhnik | Model Polly Goriaeva

nikolaymikheev5.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | Model Natalia Lesnikovskaya | MUA & Hair Elena Novichkova | Wardrobe stylist Lada Arzumanova

nikolaymikheev6.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | Model Paul Gemmati | Wardrobe designed by Annie Elisabetta

nikolaymikheev7.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | Model – Dasha Davidova

nikolaymikheev8.jpg – Photographer Nikolay Mikheev | Fashion Stylist Dom Christoph Style by Christopher Giron | Makeup Artist Josephine Blankstein | Hairstylist Christina Mcdonald | Model Mia Maguire | Assistant Jordan Hamilton