Life & Work with Nadia Tyson of Inglewood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Tyson.

Hi Nadia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Los Angeles, but when I was thirteen I moved to Europe for three years. That experience really shifted how I saw the world and made travel feel so fun and easy and honestly kind of addictive.

During college a friend convinced me to spend a summer traveling through India – and that trip completely blew my mind. I brought my film camera and photographed nonstop. I remember the colors were unreal, the streets were chaotic and alive, cows wandered through traffic, and it all felt so humbling in the best way. When I got home and shared my printed photos with friends, roommates, and family, I realized just how powerful it was to tell stories through images and I was hooked.

I started picking up Lonely Planet guidebooks and traveling wherever I could, photographing what I saw along the way. Before the internet was what it is today, I naturally fell into documentary photography, learning my craft on the road and developing a my visual storytelling style.

In my twenties, I settled back in Los Angeles and became curious about acting. I went to photographer Peter Hurley for headshots and was impressed by his lighting setup and the strength of the images. I was so inspired that I rented the exact same Kino lights from a movie company and started photographing friends who wanted to act or model. From there I built a website, word spread, and I realized I could turn it into a real business. That’s how my headshot photography business was born.

At the same time, I never stopped my documentary work. I continued photographing personal projects, putting on small exhibitions, working on a few book projects, and taking on assignments for individuals who hired me for documentary-style photography. Today, I get to enjoy both worlds – creating polished headshots while continuing to tell real stories through documentary images.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been moments where I’ve questioned everything – from pricing and my website design to whether I should follow other trends or stay true to my creative instincts. Being a self-taught photographer without a roadmap meant learning everything through trial, error, and persistence: lighting setups, client communication, editing, posing people in front of the camera… all of it. Balancing the artistic side with the constant need to market myself, stay visible, and manage the business side has been one of the biggest challenges. But those experiences have shaped not just my work, but how I show up for every client.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist working across photography and fine art. On the photography side, I specialize in headshots, portraiture, and documentary-style storytelling. I’m known for creating bright, polished images using Kino lights…sort-of that clean, commercial look. But what matters most to me is that the photos still feel human. I want people to look elevated and confident, while still looking like themselves.

What I’m most proud of is building a body of work that helps people step into their next chapter – actors, professionals, creatives, everyday clients – and seeing how the right image can genuinely shift someone’s confidence and opportunities. I also love the documentary side because it lets me capture real moments and emotion with honesty.

In addition to my studio work, I teach middle school photography, which has really influenced how I approach my work. For example, it’s helped push me to articulate why things work, not just how. I’ve also created an online photography course on Udemy for middle school students, which reflects my passion for making photography feel accessible and empowering at any age.

What sets me apart is that I’m based in Inglewood and shoot in a studio I built right in my garage – with professional lighting, curtains, and flexible setups that I can quickly adjust depending on the look we’re going for. It’s a comfortable, low-pressure environment, which helps people relax and feel like themselves – but the final images still have that polished, high-end look. I also have strong retouching and editing skills, so the finished photos look clean, elevated, and professional while still feeling natural.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is my daughter. Becoming a mom completely sharpened how I see the world – it made me more present, more patient, and more aware of how fast everything changes. That perspective ties directly into my work as a photographer and artist: I’m always trying to capture what’s real and fleeting, and to create images that feel meaningful, not just “pretty.”

She’s also become part of my creative why. Watching her curiosity and confidence grow reminds me that creativity is something we’re born with – and I want my work (and the way I run my business) to model that: being brave, making things, taking risks, and showing up even when it’s imperfect. Photography and art are how I document life, but they’re also how I stay connected to the kind of wonder and imagination I want her to hold onto.

Pricing:

• 2 Looks indoor (2 outfits), 2 retouched, 25 minutes – $200
• 2 Looks outdoors (2 outfits), 2 retouched, 25 minutes – $200

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nadiatyson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadiatysonphotographer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadiatysonphotographer/
• Twitter: https://x.com/nadiatyson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nadiatyson
• Other: https://www.udemy.com/user/nadia-1872/