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| Drexina Nelson |
DREXINA DEFYING THE ODDS
Written by Pearl
Fils-Aime
Edited by Denise
Sarkor
It is 3pm. I enter her office for our interview.
“Pearl,” says a warm and inviting voice from behind a wall—she must have heard
the sound of the door shutting behind me. I follow her voice into a photography
studio. There, a sprightly Chihuahua runs up to and greets me. As I look up from the Chihuahua, I
recognize a team of people—all seated—having lunch together. Drexina is among
them, but rises to welcome me with a beautiful smile and warm hug.
Drexina Nelson is a beauty, fashion and
advertising photographer with a remarkable eye. She is defying the odds in the
photography industry, being one of few African-American female photographers in
the business.
Drexina has captured some of the most beautiful
and talented people in the world of entertainment, including Idris Elba, Kanye
West, Tracie Ellis Ross, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Ludacris, Kandi Burgess, Cynthia
Bailey, and NeNe Leakes to name a few.
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I had the opportunity to shoot with Drexina in
December of 2014, and the experience had a profound impact on me. Beyond awe at
her accomplishments, I was so greatly impressed by her spirit that I had to
acknowledge her in this featured article for the launch of PEARL, the magazine.
Drexina was born in Albany, GA and raised in Atlanta, the
capital—and most densely populated city—of Georgia. As a child she dreamt of
being Motown’s pop star, Diana Ross. She loved beauty and fashion, and
envisioned a career as a fashion designer. While attending the
illustrious Clark Atlanta University, Drexina commenced her studies in Fashion.
However, like many college students, she switched her major after realizing it
was not the right path for her. Drexina became an Art major; it was a perfect
fit. After graduating, she immediately pursued her MBA.
“To be
completely transparent, Pearl, I did not want to be a starving artist. So, I
got my MBA right after I graduated with my Art degree.”
With an MBA in her toolkit, Drexina served as a
global implementation analyst for a major corporation. She worked in this
capacity for several years before transitioning into the beauty industry as a
full-time, make-up artist.
“I
remember taking my portfolio to an agency. They said they loved the make-up,
but the photography wasn’t strong.”
Unafraid of a challenge, Drexina purchased a
professional camera and lights, and became the photographer for her make-up
work. She began shooting dolls and neighbors as her first subjects. Her
competitive drive kept her studying hard, day and night. Soon after, Drexina
became a sought-after photographer.
“My first
big shoot was with Akon. Opportunities were coming left and right. Within a
year, I was able to shoot Idris Elba for Vogue.”
How did she separate herself from the rest of
the market, and get noticed so quickly? Drexina explains that when she
entered the market, many photographers were shooting for magazines such as KING and Black Men, using a style that focused on the assets of women.
“I aimed
to capture the beauty of a woman as opposed to the booty of a woman,”
Drexina says with a chuckle.
Next Chapter for Drexina
“Photography
is spiritual to me. Recently there has been a shift in my work. I have a life
coach/healer, and she has helped me work through certain blocks in my life;
it’s changing my approach to photography. I used to see things for what I
wanted them to be, now I see them for what they are,” says Drexina.
Drexina is in her 10th year of
photography. “I am more authentic. I am
ready to come out the way that I am supposed to with my work. It is about
women’s empowerment. That’s why I started. It’s about making women feel
beautiful, and changing lives.”
The Society Salon
One of Drexina’s newest ventures is The Society Salon. It is a branch of her
beauty empire. The Society Salon is a
membership-based salon geared towards empowering women through its network of
members.
Pearls of Wisdom from Drexina Nelson
“It’s not
about the spotlight. It’s not about the fame. It’s about staying true to your
passion and mastering your craft.”
“When
building your business, be sure not to be influenced by everyone else. You can
only be you. Stay true to yourself.”
“Don’t
expect anybody to give you anything. You have to work for it. No free lunch.”
“I believe
in growing like a tree. I don’t want to grow fast, and have no substance. I
want to be a tree that lasts forever.”
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