Ni Yiru is deeply passionate about the vast expression of visual arts, and photography is one of them. Over time, she has extensively explored various realms, makeup artistry, modeling, digital painting, AI-driven creations, and more. These endeavors have culminated in a cross-disciplinary fusion, with image serving as the ultimate medium of expression. At the heart of it all, she sees herself as a “storyteller behind the lens,” a distinct identity she hold dear.

Ni was introduced to photography in 2010, when her father gifted her a digital camera as a graduation present from elementary school. He pointed to a tree outside and said, “The same tree could be the subject of your photo all year round, as you can capture its buds in spring, its foliage in summer, its leaves in autumn, and its barren branches in winter. Putting them together, they form a conversation that transcends time and space.” Since then, photography has been her constant companion, a passion she nurture and uphold.

Creative Portraiture

Ni Yiru is currently focused on creating and promoting her unique visual art concept, NFF, which is the New Fusionism and Feminism. New fusionism, as she defines it, is blending of diverse cultures, the harmonious integration of the subject with the background, and the artist’s personal experiences imbeded into their artworks. Feminism, meanwhile, threads through her creations, celebrating the strength, resilience, and beauty of women. Her aspiration is to utilize photographic works to shatter stereotypes, reshape perceptions, and celebrate multiculturalism. These three pillars also mirror my lighting techniques: disrupting conventional lighting technique, reshaping subjects through light, and seamlessly merging them into their surroundings.

For most of the outdoor shoots, Ni Yiru often venture to locations across the United States, such as antique stores and vintage arcade museums. When engaging with people, she proudly introduces myself as a Chinese photographer engaged in the art of cultural fusion of the east and west. In her mind, good art works can evoke emotions within viewers and, ideally, inspire positive change. This drives her, as a portrait photographer and visual artist, to relentlessly pursue her creative endeavors.