Daily Inspiration: Meet Nick Amrhein

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Amrhein.  

Hi Nick, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Skateboarding was the first passion and interest I picked up as a kid, and I became obsessed. I was around 10 years old and recall a kid down the street ollieing over a trash can, and I remember that caught my attention! 

I grew up with a single mother who raised 4 boys on her own. That shaped me to be in an independent person and it gave me a strong backbone to learn how to take things on for myself. 

I recall not having much money growing up, but we always got by. My mother was very religious and taught us to have manors and morals growing up which influenced me to be a humble person and appreciative. 

Growing up I do remember the kids in school dressing better than me or had the family dinners with their 3/4-bedroom houses. That would later only fuel me to want to do something with my life to be something that was big! 

I picked up my first camera when I around 15 years old because of skateboarding. It grabbed my attention and consumed me… I got my first job at Marcos pizza at 16 years old and saved up $2,000 from each end every check to purchase my camera the sony vx 2000, and it was full go from there. I would film anything and everything; that camera was connected to my hand at all times. 

A pivotal moment in my life is, I remember my teacher in high school pulled me aside saying Nick you really have a talent, you really got something, and you should pursue it. 

I noticed I was more into shooting and editing than any other students around me in my visual communications class in high school. I then realized that this was something I was meant for. 

Shortly after high school, I attended Owens community college for a short period of time, and while going to school there, I suddenly became sick and had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and it almost took my life when I had a blood sugar that was around 1500. It had awoken me, and I knew that the time was now or never to pursue my passion. 

I packed up my Honda Civic with 200,000 miles on it, took my $1,200 I had on me, and my friend Mico and I took off heading west to Los Angeles. I knew I needed to go to where the best of the best where at in the industry. 

I would spend the next 3 years shaping and molding my craft assisting and working under some great industry photographers while being a starving artist living off a loaf off peanut butter and bread at times. This was just another life lesson to learn that the tough times we go thru are shaping us only to eventually be better, do better. 

After the 3 years, I was burnt out looking for a break and put the pause on the constant grind. 

I came back to Toledo and started doing side gigs, and working as a server, then working designing and laying out t-shirts. Working a full-time job just didn’t satisfy me enough, I couldn’t stop thinking about photography and video, and what I could be doing with my time instead. 

So, I said screw it, let’s go full time with my business. You’ve gone thru rough times before, what would be the worst to happen? 

Business went boom! I was shooting anything and everything for money. I just wanted to shoot. 

Weddings, photobooths, senior photos, family photos, I didn’t care. 

Fast forward, I would realize that I didn’t have to take on every job that comes in my lap and it was time to start focusing on more of what I was really good at, and where my talents really shined. 

I decided to specialize in the commercial and advertising realm and made that my niche. I enjoyed shooting with brands, businesses, and personal messages. 

It’s now been 13 years since I last had to punch in for someone else. I enjoy having my own schedule, creating the work I want to create, and having a life that I love.

Being able to make it a professional photographer and director has been my life’s blessing and purpose, and not too many people can say that or ever find what they are truly passionate about… 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but that’s what builds character and disciple and makes the journey that much better, when you can look back and reflect on where you’ve come from. 

The lowest point of me being a starving artist in the high-priced place of California was having to sell some of my clothes to the local thrift store to scrounge up some money for rent. It was all worth it to me at the time because I was living!! Chasing after my passion, shooting, learning, and being a sponge with all the life lessons being thrown at me at an early age. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a full-time Photographer and Director. I specialize in commercial and advertising work that can be anything from Headshots, promotional videos, commercials, images for personal branding, and product photography. I would say what I’m most known for is my style of dramatic lighting with portraits and photography series that I’ve done in the past, along with my passion for shooting motorcycles. What I’m most proud of is creating photography series based around military veterans and also video work that ties into support for our military. I think the thing that sets me apart from others is that you’re working exclusively with me and not a company of others, I would say I’m always staying relevant within the industry and bring a creative approach and style that is not seen always so often.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned to remember to slow down at times because it’s easy to get caught up in the work trap of go! go! go! and to remember to just take some time to soak in life around you. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nickamrhein.com
• Instagram: @nickamphoto
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickAmrhein