On this episode of The PHYS Podcast, Tyson Martin sits down with Chicago-based photographer Nolis Anderson for a conversation about risk, purpose, storytelling, and what happens when you choose creativity over certainty.

Before becoming a professional photographer, Nolis was on a very different path.

He earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Chicago State University and built a career in medicine, following a profession that offered stability, structure, and a clearly defined future.

From the outside, everything looked secure.

But internally, something was missing.

Photography had become more than a hobby.

More than a creative outlet.

It had become a calling.

Eventually, Nolis faced a decision many creatives wrestle with: continue down the safe path or take a leap into the unknown.

He chose the unknown.

Walking away from a career in medicine wasn't easy.

There were no guarantees.

No roadmap.

No certainty that it would work.

Only a belief that the creative life he envisioned was worth pursuing.

Over the last decade, that decision has transformed into an extraordinary photography career built on authenticity, curiosity, and a commitment to documenting real people and real stories.

Today, Nolis is recognized for work that blends documentary, editorial, commercial, and portrait photography, creating images that feel deeply human while remaining visually powerful.

His photographs explore culture, identity, community, and lived experience, often finding meaningful moments in everyday life.

That approach has led to collaborations with some of the world's most recognized brands and publications, including Nike, Apple, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone.

Yet despite the commercial success, the foundation of his work remains unchanged.

People come first.

Story comes first.

Connection comes first.

One of the defining moments discussed in this conversation is Nolis' experience documenting President Barack Obama's farewell speech in Chicago, a historic event that reflected both the significance of the moment and the responsibility photographers carry when documenting history as it unfolds.

Tyson and Nolis discuss the realities of creative risk, building a sustainable career, and learning to trust your own path even when it doesn't make sense to anyone else.

In This Episode:

• Leaving a career in pharmacy to pursue photography full-time
• The challenges and rewards of creative risk-taking
• Building a photography career from the ground up
• Documenting culture, identity, and community through photography
• Working with Nike, Apple, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone
• Photographing Barack Obama's farewell speech in Chicago
• Balancing commercial assignments with personal vision
• The importance of storytelling in documentary and editorial photography
• Trusting your instincts and embracing uncertainty
• Finding purpose through creative work

Nolis' story is a reminder that meaningful careers are rarely built through comfort alone.

Sometimes growth requires risk.

Sometimes purpose requires uncertainty.

And sometimes the most important step is the one that feels impossible at the time.

His work reflects a commitment to seeing people honestly and documenting stories with empathy, curiosity, and respect.

This conversation is about photography, identity, purpose, entrepreneurship, and the courage required to build a life around the things that matter most.

Whether you're a photographer, creative entrepreneur, artist, student, or someone standing at a crossroads between stability and passion, this episode offers valuable insight into what can happen when you trust yourself enough to take the leap.

Because the path forward isn't always visible.

Sometimes you create it by walking.

Follow Nolis Anderson
Instagram: @nolis
Threads: @nolis
Website: www.nolisanderson.com

Follow South Facing Windows
Instagram: @southfacingwindows
Threads: @southfacingwindows
Website: www.southfacingwindows.com

Featured Clients & Publications

• Nike
• Apple
• The New York Times
• Rolling Stone