Media is only as good as its quality in documentation, storytelling, and target audience engaged. Often overlooked are the experts that capture those moments and provide the quality references to tell that story with validity. One of the most iconic staples of those storytellers is the legend Johnny Nunez. For the misinformed, Mr. Nunez is one of the most iconic photographers of the past 30 years.
Nufero, was graced with the outstanding opportunity to have a chat with Nunez during his busy schedule where he unlocked some of his path to legendary status, exclusive upcoming projects, and his plans to uplift the youth and our future communities.
See below and soak in some key knowledge about how to beat all odds.
Jazz Gordan
So, how’s everything going? Man?
Johnny Nunuz
I’m grinding brother, you know? Same Same old, same old, you know? How about you?
Jazz Gordan
I’m pretty well, out Atlanta right now. Just kicking it.
Johnny Nunez
And what does your podcast mainly consistent of?
Jazz Gordan
Yeah bro, so we are a media hub platform, where it’s multifaceted. But one, main thing is that it helps people monetize their likeness and their social currency in multiple different ways, alongside other people in their industry, and other creative geniuses. I had a magazines in the past, but what wanted to incorporated different ways of E commerce, different ways of incentivizing users to get involved, but also be able to have original content come out in a filtered way. but while also mainstream, it gives everybody a chance be discovered.
Johnny Nunuz
Appreciate it, alright. So let’s go I’m ready.
Jazz Gordan
OK, so what made you want to become a content creator, photographer, stuff like that? What was the inspiration for that?
Johnny Nunuz
Oh, I was going to school for radiation therapy oncology, which is the treatment of cancer with the usage of radiation. But after that didn’t work out, I basically prayed to God for an idea. And the idea came as photography. So once I felt like God said it in my heart, I asked if he helped me come up with a career. I was gonna go, you know, hustle and sell drugs. The next morning, I saw a camera in the air at a dinner. I went to grabbed the camera and my hand went through it. I just felt like, Okay, if this is what you want me to do, I’m gonna go for it. At the same time, I was reading a book called “Unlimited Power” by Anthony Robbins. Which he’s a source, a motivational speaker, and a life coach. His book, Unlimited Power gave me the blueprint to start my own company. Within a year, maybe even less, I was able to make, like, under $100,000. I went from living in a car to having my own apartment, you know? So when I hear people say, I can’t do it, I tell them to start believing in yourself. If you really, really want it, you go out and get it.
Jazz Gordan
I feel that man. What were you doing around all of that in order to make that happen for you?
Johnny Nunuz
I was delivering pizza. I was being a home health aide, taking care of elderly people. Being a male home health aide is a little bit of a rough situation. Because you usually get these old men that like to perversely touch women. And when they see that their female aide is not there no more but, a dude. They were like, don’t to touch me with your ni**er hands, Please. One dude was like, “Hello, 9-1-1”. Yes. “What is your emergency?” “There’s someone in my room, in my apartment?
Jazz Gordan
Wow! That’s terrible man.
Johnny Nunuz
And guess what? I took the shifts that nobody wanted. So I would go in on Thursday, then come out on Monday. For like, four days of hell, three and a half were sheer terror. Me locked up in a house with an old racist man not once but like multiple old races like from the World War Two era. The Jim Crow era white people.
Jazz Gordan
Wow man. You made it out forreal.
Jazz Gordan
Yeah, so what would you say is your favorite camera setup. What kind of camera do you like to use?
Johnny Nunez
Um, I use a Canon. My first camera was a Canon Rebel G And, yeah, I work with a Canon DX Mark Two, the Rolls Royce of my kind of camera. But it’s absolutely there are other bigger brands, other bigger models.
Jazz Gordan
No I get it and I spent some time as a photographer so I used that DX Mark II before. Mainly, I was a 5D guy for a while and I was good kids.. What would you identify with like a specific moment that was your big break?
Johnny Nunez
One of my big breaks was when I was hired to shoot Damon Dash’s his birthday. And I was like, wow, okay, I’ll shoot his birthday. Oh, of course, you know, Jay Z was there, Beanie Sigel, the fleet, the whole Roc family in terms of socialites and well to do wealthy people. I did such a good job that, and I believe I turned over an album, the very next day. A nice one with an array of photos. And he was so happy that they were just getting ready to go to Europe.
The publicists who hired me to shoot the birthday said, “Johnny, do you know you have a passport?” And I was like, “No”. She’s like, “Oh, how soon can you get one?” I’m like, “I don’t even know.”
She said, “You can go down to the passport office down on Varick Street and request one for 24 hours. I’m like, “Whoa, ok I’ll do it but where are we going?” She’s like, “London, Paris, Milan. And we’re going to Cannes to the Cannes Film Festival.” Next thing I know, I was on the g4 private jet, leaving Teterboro airport traveling the world. That was just one of many private jet flights dealing with Damon Dash. And, you know, it was with all the artists, Kanye West, John legend, all of them got on that plane? And Kanye just finally signed a deal with Roc. He was no longer just a producer but an artist. I’m grateful for this trip. I went on his tour around the world. It was an international promotional tour, that people would know who he is.
Jazz Gordan
Wow. Yeah. That’s crazy, man. One day to the next. So overall like who would you say was like your favorite person to work with? Over this period of time?
Johnny Nunez
Um, I love working with everybody to be honest. Even the idiots are the people that are just nasty. But Fat Joe, Nas, Hov, Kanye, Rihanna, Beyonce, Trey Songz. I mean, honestly, every artist is like my friend. I don’t really ever have bad comments about any of them. Because before there was social media, my photos were their social media. Because I created a niche. Half of the artists that are relevant today I’m one of the people that got them their first photograph in a magazine, whether it be The Source or XXL. So a friend of mine said Johnny, you’re the original Instagram. I was laughing. Haha.
Jazz Gordan
Wow. So people were going to those magazines to see what you were shooting or not?
Johnny Nunez
Yea. Magazines would come to me and ask, where was the party? Who was this person? Like a lot of times, I would, and I still do sometimes even though I shoot digital, contribute to Getty Images. I am partner with these magazines, not just another worker. I have to tell them who these artist are.Like his name is Conway. He got shot? This is Benny the butcher. This is Dave East? You know? And the same happened with Kanye. I use to feel like how did these publications exist and they don’t know who these rap artists are? I would say, “You gotta like know a little bit.” They were like, “Oh, we’re gonna decide who we’re going to back.” It was like well, you know, we’re looking for this guy. That guy. I don’t know about this guy yet. No, who is he? His name is Talib Kweli. The editors back then, unless they heard it from the music world they wouldn’t care. But that was a benefit for me because now I’ve got images of ASAP Rocky, ASAP mob, a young Rihanna, young Drake, aka champagne Papi. Yeah, I got gems.
Jazz Gordan
That’s Dope. Wow. And that’s it’s definitely one of the things we were going to get to talk about how to turn that into the now and how to repurpose it in different ways. I’m definitely, from being a content creator I understand libraries like that. And how much value is there and how much people want to see that? So it would be really interested to explore. So what are you working on now? What’s coming up?
Johnny Nunez
Right now. I’m, I’m working on NFT’s. I’m working on clean energy programs, to clean oil, to cannabis productions. I’m working on traveling with exhibits. I have one coming up in Nashville. And, you know, shooting campaigns?
Jazz Gordan
There’s a lot of stuff going on. Super Dope. I think touched on it a little bit before but, what would say to aspiring people like what would you say to your younger self in that sense?
Johnny Nunez
Um, my younger self? Like, what would I tell myself if I can go back in time? Yeah, don’t give up.
Jazz Gordan
Yeah, absolutely. If there’s one thing if you wanted to change or one thing that you would want to be the staple for in the entertainment industry today. If you want to spearhead that movement, what would that be?
Johnny Nunez
Finding a way to incorporate foster care, and children that are in adopt spaces, you know, that need homes and families. To spearhead a program that would actually teach them a trade, but not just from some of my friends in the music industry. Have hands on actors teaching kids how to act, photographers teaching the kids how to shoot. Like with Wayne’s private sprinting company and exotic car company, taking some of these foster kids under his wing. And teaching them with writers in magazines. Taking these foster kids and teaching them. I was a foster care child myself. Give a kid, who has no parents, sometimes no family, you give them a chance. It could start a revolution. It could start a change that that child will never forget you for. Whether you have kids and you adopt another child, um, the good energy and karma that will come from it is just pure beauty. Pure light, pure God, you know. Because you’re taking a child, that person that could totally go the wrong way, and flipping it, so they go the right way. That’s magic. That’s blessing. He was me, you know, I too to this day feed the homeless. I feed the homeless every chance I get. And I try to, you know, do whatever I can to help charities.
Jazz Gordan
That was, oh man, I appreciate that. And I definitely feel you what you just said too many kids need experiences in order to know how to grow another opportunity. So that’s, so dope.
It was pleasure getting to speak with Mr. Nunez. As we continue to uncover what the future is for our society its refreshing to hear that we can relate to our legends and who we look up to.
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