Malcolm Lee of North Hollywood on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Malcolm Lee shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Malcolm, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
One of the things I’m most proud of building right now—even if it flies under the radar—is my YouTube channel for my hobby.

Recently, I rekindled my childhood love for *Yu-Gi-Oh!, the trading card game. It’s been an incredibly fun (and admittedly expensive) journey, collecting high-end cards and creating content around them.

I started my channel, VeryNiceYGO, from scratch with zero subscribers. In just a year, I’ve grown it to 2,500 subscribers—and the community keeps growing! I’ve even launched merch tied to the hobby, which has sold out three times since its release. It’s been an amazing experience, and I’m truly grateful.

If you’re into Yu-Gi-Oh!, I’d love for you to check out the channel and subscribe: [VeryNiceYGO](https://www.youtube.com/VeryNiceYGO)

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Malcolm Lee. I’m from Newark, NJ, and I’m a photographer who specializes in Beauty! I’ve been a photographer for 9 years, and I love paying attention to detail. I’m inspired by shapes, colors, and unique faces that tell a story.

I moved to LA in 2021 after my mother’s passing to reignite my creative passion and find my niche. The past four years have been an incredible journey, but they’ve also had their challenges. In June 2024, my studio was robbed of over $90,000 worth of equipment, which disrupted my businesses.

I share this to say that nearly a year later, I’m discovering new ways to create and make progress toward my goals. Even when things seem grim, your dreams, ambitions, and drive are worth pursuing relentlessly. Never quit—what’s not meant for you won’t be given, including every level of struggle.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful is charging over 20K for one of my first big photography campaigns. It gave me a huge battery in my back being that I started photography from barbering. For someone to want to pay me my worth based on my skill and work was a blessing and validated why I do what I do now.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The biggest fear I had that was holding me back in life as loosing my mother. That actually happened and I had to re find myself. It showed me that your biggest fear often times is in your mind because life and the world will continue without you whether your scared to move on or not. Its best you move on and use life as lesson. Embrace your fear and make peace with it.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the photography industry tells is that there’s a RIGHT way to do things. There is a 1000 ways to skin a cat. The final result is all that matters as well aas the process

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story that I hope people will tell about me when I’m gone is how I beat every odd put up against me. I’ve come up against some crazy circumstances by chance and have weathered every storm and stood firm for what ever I believe in. Those that know me personally and from social media have witnessed my rise no matter what hand I was dealt.

Contact Info:

• Website: finessenshots,com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finessenshots/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@finessenshots92