It was something I genuinely loved, capturing moments in the highest quality possible. My friends saw that passion and encouraged me, telling me it was something I was truly good at. That support gave me the confidence to invest in myself and buy my first camera. From there, the rest is history. With the unwavering support of my friends, family, and the communities I’ve been part of, I’ve been able to keep growing in this craft and building something meaningful.
Born in the bustling city of Edmonton Alberta, Nonso Morah is a graduating student at the University of Ottawa, majoring in Conflict Studies and Human Rights with a minor in Creative Writing. Before moving to Ottawa to pursue her studies, she was a competitive athlete and community advocate. In 2020, she became a student representative at the Alberta Student Voice Summit and a council member for MLA Searle Turton’s Youth Council. In 2021, she was selected to join the inaugural cohort of the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program and researched under the tutelage of Dr. Jared Wesley at the University of Alberta. This led to her contribution to the creation of the Becoming Albertan Project. After graduating from Spruce Grove Composite High School as valedictorian, she was selected as a fellow with Operation Black Vote Canada’s 1834 Fellowship and one of fifteen students across Canada to work the prestigious role of a Senate Page. In 2022, she became administrative and media assistant to the Honourable Senator Paula Simons and the Program and then her special assistant in 2024 & Mentorship Coordinator for the 1834 Fellowship until early 2025. Beyond her work, she remains a dedicated community innovator through her work as a spoken-word poet and photographer, having worked with the Government of Canada, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and the National Art Gallery of Canada. She has been awarded several accolades such as the 2023 RBC Future Launch Scholarship and as of recently, the McCall MacBain Scholarship.
What’s a lesson from your childhood that has proven valuable as a businessperson?
I wouldn’t say there’s one specific lesson, but watching my parents (entrepreneurs in their own right) has definitely given me valuable insight into how to run my own business.
Though there are many, one of lessons I have found most valuable over my career is the importance of community care and cohesion. It is one thing to lead an individual life filled of success, however, I’ve found that many people whose focuses have only been tether to their own personal fulfillment find an emptiness at the end and even during their pursuits. I’ve found more joy in community collaboration than solely self-satisfactory aims.
Who has been an inspiration on your entrepreneurial journey?
As I mentioned earlier, it was my friend who first gave me the confidence to pursue photography. But someone who truly gave me that extra push was Mrs. Oloi from April Studio Photography. She had captured our family photos so beautifully that it challenged me I found myself thinking, “I can do this… maybe even better.” That sense of healthy competition sparked something in me. And even now, I still look at her work for inspiration. She shares tips and advice with me from time to time, so in many ways, she’s become a mentor to me in this photography journey.
My parents. Growing up, I never understood how fortunate I was and to what scale they worked to facilitate a guaranteed future for me if I were to apply myself properly. They poured themselves into my siblings and I, even in moments when we couldn’t tell how draining or difficult it was, and they asked nothing back from us. It is only now that I have met more people and become more well-travelled that I realized there is a rare quality to the selflessness of genuine parents.
What are three core principles that shape your vision for your business?
Quality, Smiles & Grace
My three core principles evolve as much as I do simply because our cores tend to shift as time does, however, at this point they are: 1. Focus on the skill and not the title. 2. Do not sacrifice your creative inclinations for pragmatic ones, merge them & remold them. 3. Do not forget where you come from.
Special Abilities or Claims to Fame
What if I told you I could bring out the colour in a B & W photo?
2025 McCall MacBain Scholar, Poet, Youth Advocate
Social media handles (Instagram/Linkedln/web)2 response @lexarenpictures
Ig: @nonsomorahh, Linkedin: Nonso Morah, Web: nonsomorah.ca
PHOTO – please attach a link to a high resolution photo or send via email to: taneya@thenodhq.com
(Full body or half body; not a headshot) 1 response
