Meet Ami Nicole ACRONYM

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ami Nicole ACRONYM. 

Hi Ami, 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 backstories with our readers?
At the age of 13, I began my Photography journey by learning Darkroom and then branched out to Digital Photography, Graphic and Web Design, and creating physical works of art on clothing, decals, and more. 

Postgrad, I began working as a Portrait Photographer under the name ACRONYM, and with an initial emphasis on Tattoo and Alternative Modeling. I have been published in multiple magazines including Inked Magazine, Dark Beauty Magazine, Skin and Ink Magazine, and Product Photography with clothing brands like InkAddict and Sullen Art Collective. 

Simultaneously, I expanded my footprint within Landscapes, specializing in Urban Exploring Photography (the art of Photography within accessible Abandoned Buildings). Combining both Portraiture and Urbex, I worked to pioneer a grunge-esque portraiture style in the city of Detroit. In 2017, I received Hour Detroit’s “Best of Detroit” Award for “Best Portrait Photographer” (and also won “Best Local Website” in the same year for my Journalistic efforts). 

During the daytime hours, I began working for Beasley Media Group (formerly Greater Media) and used my success with my independent online zine to get my foot in the door. I became a Professional Music and Pop Culture Journalist for over 60 Radio Station websites across the U.S., as well as picking up bylines in High Times Magazine, The Oakland Press, The Macomb Daily, and my own outlet, ACRONYM. 

Radio skyrocketed my Concert Photography career, gaining me access to big league players like Rob Zombie, Halestorm, Five Finger Death Punch, Greta Van Fleet, Rise Against, A Day To Remember, and more. Fulfilling my Concert Photography dreams, I was able to layer this onto ACRONYM’s expanding infrastructure, harboring Photography, Design, Journalistic Writing, Social Media Strategy, and more. 

Once I felt I had reached the ceiling in Radio, I split off from the salary job in order to pursue ACRONYM full time. Fulfilling portraits, print sales, writing, and social media growth for brands, as well as Influencer Marketing and directing Music Videos. 

My directorial debut with Matt Warren’s “Get On Up” landed my first music video on MTV, BET, and VH1, and garnered over 100K views. The passion for it drove me to create more music videos with the label Wake Up! Music Group. I’ve since worked with the Label CEO, Pepper Gomez, to create a Body Positive music video with women of every size, which also landed a debut on MTV for AFTR’s “Humboldt Swagger.” 

Since Music and Art have been a big part of my drive and design, I began curating a larger scale arts and music festival named ‘Found in the Underground,’ which ran bi-annually for about 3 years in Detroit, Michigan. The show boasts large crowds of over 300 attendees, 2 music stages, and over 50 artists, as well as performers, food vendors, and more. 

Simultaneously, my Influencer accolades drove me headfirst into the Cannabis world, which accelerated during the Coronavirus 2020 Pandemic. I began in 2016, when I was offered to work with brands such as OozeLife.com, MagicalButter.com, Cannasmack.com, and expanded my reach into affiliate and influencer marketing for multiple brands on short-term and long-term capacities, both in and out of the Cannabis field. Some highlights include Citizen App, TikTok, High Times Magazine, STIIIZY, and Patron Tequila. 

ACRONYM ZINE, my journalistic project, has covered some of the most pivotal and important boots-on-the-ground information from Culture to Cannabis, Music and Concert Coverage, Mental Health, and more. Using ACRONYM, I find a line between telling it exactly like it is and informing viewers and readers of information that isn’t necessarily shared by mainstream media in fear of losing their funding from corporate backing. 

I have also covered large-scale events such as Forbes Under 30 Summit, High Times Cannabis Cups in Clio and Detroit, as well as photographing A-List Artists like Snoop Dogg, Billie Eilish, 2 Chainz, Quavo of the Migos, The Chainsmokers, Normani, and many more. 

In July of 2019, I was offered a brand opportunity to create 30 videos within 30 days for a new social media network called TikTok, and by the time the COVID-19 Pandemic occurred, I had already expanded my network following by thousands and viewership by millions. The now-popular app is one of my favorite social media outlets, and I am working toward verification as a TikTok personality, among my other achievements. 

As 2020 reared its ugly head, I was immersed and working to embody a vigilante of the written word, with hyper-localized coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests and corrupt practices of law enforcement, as well as covering the uprising of Trump Supporters in Detroit, Michigan in their “Stop The Steal” movement when President Biden won the state. Utilizing my online network, I speak up as an ally to BLM, am vocal about LGBTQ+ values and support (being a proud member myself), as well as speaking out on Cannabis in forms of Alternative Health, Federal Legalization, and reminding others that many are still in prison for practices we partake in daily. 

As we’re working to get out of the Pandemic lifestyle, Concert tours have once again graced the stages, and I’ve continued to work within this area as a life caster online, as well as showing others that people can conquer anything if they truly put their minds to it, even with high functioning anxiety and struggles along the way. The real-world stuff! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The 2020 Pandemic really put a wrench in my momentum. Months ago, I spoke with WXYZ Channel 7 about how the shutdown of the entertainment industry in Detroit closed a lot of doors on projects I had been working on for months, including my own weekly hardcopy version of ACRONYM ZINE with a national chain venue, events with newly opened venues around the city, and to start working toward promoting my work and message through larger channels. When the pandemic began, most of those things were put on hold or canceled, due to funding pulled from the investors, which left me with no choice but to soldier on and rebuild. 

As a freelancer, consistency is sometimes hard to achieve, and so for myself, when the pandemic hit, a lot of clients weren’t looking to shoot, and with no shows happening, there was little opportunity for paid photography or in-person events. The difference is, I chose to pivot into other skill sets, while watching others in my field sit idly by, waiting for shows and events to return. 

In order to continuously move, you must sometimes shift your perspective, or else you stay stagnant. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
To break it down to the basics, I’m a Photographer, Journalist, Director, Art and Event Coordinator, Influencer, Social Media Marketer, Cannabis Advocate, and honestly, there are about 20 more things I can do. I’m not great at niching! 

I am known for my Concert Photography and Cannabis Influencer work mostly out of all of my different facets, but I strive to make sure that I maintain balance within my fields. I share each facet on social media, rather than hyper-focusing on one branch of ACRONYM, and in contrast to when I just did photography, I became more of the brand than what I do. I will say, my biggest achievements were the full spread my photography was featured in for High Times Magazine called “Worth The Trip” on the highlights of Detroit living (in the 420 2020 Print Issue), as well as the time that Rob Zombie reposted a photo, I shot of him at a concert on his Instagram. In both of those moments, I felt like I “made it” for a hot second! 

People tune into my social media accounts to see what I’m up to, more so than “Let me look for an article to read” or “Let me go see concert photos.” It’s become “Let me see what Ami has to say,” or “Let me see what concert Ami shot this weekend.” I hid behind my camera for a long time. As a plus-size person, I was told time and time again that nobody wants to see “Me” but see what talents I have, and I’ve worked very hard to change that. 

I want to be a real person to my audience, while most want to look successful with no bumps in the road. I bare it all in hopes that people realize I’m human. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are many people who have helped me throughout my career but most have just been friends or average people. No celebrity or professional mentors necessarily. I learn a lot through experience, studying and finding inspiration from many people who don’t even know I exist, listening to audiobooks, and working to see all the ways things work and don’t work. 

I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve worked very hard to achieve, and once I was able to get my foot in the door with different experiences, I’ve been able to learn more through osmosis and hands-on baptism by fire than anything else. 

I wouldn’t be where I am today though without the kindness of friends and strangers who have supported this journey by snagging a portrait session, a product, or a service, and those who have sent me coffees on Ko-Fi (huge caffeine addict). That will always be my answer to a question such as this! 

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@acronymofficial.com
• Website: acronymis.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/acronymis
• Facebook: facebook.com/acronymis
• Twitter: twitter.com/acronymis
• Youtube: youtube.com/acronymis
• Other: tiktok.com/@acronymis

Image Credits
Ami Nicole ACRONYM