Shoot Wisely the Creators Podcast with Amir Ebrahimi
Shoot Wisely podcast host Amir Ebrahimi has over 20 years of experience in production and has traveled the world as a documentarian covering a wide range of projects including the 2016 Olympics in Rio, social issues for the health ministry of Ethiopia, extensive global and national coverage of the NBA on and off the court, and documenting Cambodian orphanages to name a few. Host Amir Ebrahimi talks to guests about their process of creation and the road that led them to create for a living. The Shoot Wisely Podcast will have a heavy focus on photographers and videographers/DP's but will be open to inspiring creators such as artists, writers, designers, editors, etc. The main aim of the show is to talk to creates about their journey and process of creating to inspire people to create and shoot wisely. The show will have a very loose format but will touch on the who, what, where, and why. With a small portion of the conversation dedicated to the tools each creator utilizes. Thank you and please leave a review and share.
Shoot Wisely the Creators Podcast with Amir Ebrahimi
03 Jamel Shabazz, Legendary Street photographer
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Episode 03 — Jamel Shabazz
In Episode 03 of the Shoot Wisely podcast, I sit down with legendary NYC street photographer Jamel Shabazz for a powerful and honest conversation about photography, community, and purpose.
We talk about his photographic process, how he approached young people in the neighborhoods he documented, and why respect and relationship-building were central to his work. Jamel shares how he used photography as a bridge — not just to document culture, but to uplift and mentor the youth around him.
He also opens up about his time serving as a correctional officer, how that experience deepened his empathy, and how returning from war to find his Brooklyn neighborhood drastically changed pushed him to pick up a camera with renewed urgency. Inspired by questions similar to Marvin Gaye’s anthem What's Going On, Jamel wanted to understand what was happening to his community — and photography became his way of searching for answers.
In this episode, we also discuss why he didn’t fully connect with the documentary made about his life, and how he prefers his story — and his images — to speak directly to the people.
This is a conversation about legacy, accountability, and the responsibility of documenting your own community.
In This Episode
- Jamel’s street photography process
- Approaching and building trust with young people
- Photography as mentorship and community work
- His time as a correctional officer and how it shaped his perspective
- Returning home from war to a changed neighborhood
- The deeper question: “What’s going on?”
- Why he didn’t resonate with the documentary about his life
About the Guest
Jamel Shabazz is an iconic New York City street photographer known for documenting urban life and culture from the 1980s onward. His work captures style, resilience, and the spirit of community, preserving important chapters of NYC history while mentoring the next generation of image-makers.