Creator spotlight · N3W ERA STORIES
PUBLISHED FEATURE · NJCreator Spotlight 01: Behind the Lens with Hamzan Akhtar
Our first Creator Spotlight.
BEHIND THE ACTION WITH HAMZAN AKHTAR
THE STORY
BEHIND THE MOMENT.
Our first Creator Spotlight.
The photographer behind Hamzan’s Media talks about his family’s influence, developing his own style, and what it means to become N3W ERA’s first Creator Highlight.
For Hamzan Akhtar, photography started with family.
Growing up, Hamzan was surrounded by people who enjoyed taking pictures, traveling, and creating together. His parents documented everything, leaving his family with more than 20 albums filled with memories they can still revisit today.
That experience taught Hamzan how much a photograph can mean years after it is taken. Now, through Hamzan’s Media, he creates those memories for athletes, teams, and communities across New Jersey.
His work focuses on more than what happens during a game. He wants people to feel the emotion and energy behind every moment.
After being selected by the community, Hamzan Akhtar is officially N3W ERA’s first Creator Highlight.
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MEET HAMZAN
For those meeting you for the first time, who are you and what kind of work do you create?
My name is Hamzan Akhtar, pronounced Hum-zon Ak-tar. Most people know me through my brand, Hamzan’s Media.
I’m a photographer and videographer based in Sicklerville, New Jersey. I mainly specialize in sports and event photography. I also dabble in highlight videos and mixtapes during certain seasons.
A lot of my work focuses on the story behind the action. It’s mostly centered around capturing athletes in moments that they can look back on and be proud of.
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WHERE IT STARTED
What first inspired you to pick up a camera?
I originally got inspired to pick up a camera because of my family. My brothers and cousins used to go out, do photoshoots, travel around, and create in different places. I always loved being around that energy.
Even when I was really little, my parents always had a camera and were constantly taking pictures of everything. Because of that, we now have more than 20 memory albums filled with moments I can look back on.
It was the idea of freezing moments in time and being able to relive them later.
Hamzan Akhtar“It was the idea of freezing moments in time and being able to relive them later.”
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FINDING HIS STYLE
How would you describe your style, and what do you want people to recognize in your work?
I’d describe my style as energetic, clean, and focused on the moment. Especially with sports, I like photos that make you feel like you’re actually there and allow the viewer to feel what was going down.
I want the athlete’s emotion, intensity, and personality to come through instead of just having a technically good photo.
I’m also constantly experimenting. I don’t want every photo I take to look exactly the same. I’ve spent a lot of time learning editing, lighting, composition, and video. I’ve never watched an editing tutorial because I want to keep developing my own style instead of just copying what everyone else is doing.
Hamzan Akhtar“I want the athlete’s emotion, intensity, and personality to come through instead of just having a technically good photo.”
MORE FROM
THE MOMENT.
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MAKING PEOPLE FEEL THE MOMENT
What do you want people to feel when they look at your work?
I’m trying to capture real moments and emotions that people can connect with. Whether I’m photographing sports, portraits, events, or just everyday moments, I want the photos to feel genuine and tell a story.
I want people to look at my work and feel something, whether that’s excitement, happiness, nostalgia, confidence, or even just the feeling of being in that moment.
To me, photography is about more than just making something look good. It’s about preserving a moment and giving people a way to remember exactly how it felt.
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LETTING GO OF THE “PERFECT” PHOTO
What has been your biggest challenge as a creator, and what helped you move past it?
I think my biggest challenge has been finding my own style and not comparing my work to everyone else’s.
When I first started, I was focused a lot on getting the “perfect” photo. Over time, I realized photography is more about capturing a feeling or moment. I started focusing more on energy, emotion, and making the viewer feel like they were actually there.
That helped me develop a style that feels more like me and that people love.
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MORE THAN A BASEBALL GAME
What piece of work are you most proud of, and why does it mean so much to you?
The work I’m most proud of is the photos I captured at a Cherry Hill West versus Eastern Regional High School baseball game.
It was an important game, with both teams fighting for the No. 3 spot in South Jersey and a top-10 ranking in the state. The game stayed extremely close and came down to the final moments.
What made it even more special was the relationship I have with the Cherry Hill West team. I’ve spent a lot of time around the team and built genuine relationships with the players, so being there to capture such an important game felt different.
Funny as it sounds, I wasn’t just photographing a game. It felt like I was a part of the team.
I captured some of my favorite photos that day because I wanted to show the intensity, emotion, and energy of the game. Those photos represent what I love most about photography: being able to capture a moment that means something to the people in it and make someone looking at the photo feel like they were there.
Hamzan Akhtar“Funny as it sounds, I wasn’t just photographing a game. It felt like I was a part of the team.”
MORE FROM
THE MOMENT.
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CHOSEN BY THE COMMUNITY
What does being selected as the first N3W ERA Creator Highlight mean to you?
It honestly means a lot because photography is something I’ve put a lot of time and effort into growing.
Being chosen by the community makes it feel even more meaningful because it isn’t just recognition for a photo. It feels like recognition for the journey, the work, and the person behind it.
Being the first Creator Highlight is also something I’m really proud of, and it motivates me to keep pushing myself creatively.
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WHAT COMES NEXT
Where do you hope photography takes you, and what can people expect from you next?
My ultimate vision is to either become a photographer for a major sports company or build a career as an event and wedding photographer. I could see myself either building my own creative team around me or joining an established team and growing from there.
No matter which direction I take, I want to continue developing my style, building relationships, and creating work that people can connect with.
I don’t want to limit myself to just one type of photography. I want to keep learning, take on bigger opportunities, and eventually build something that goes beyond just me as a photographer.
For now, people can expect me to keep experimenting, taking on new opportunities, and continuing to grow.
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CREATOR PROFILE
Name: Hamzan Akhtar
Creative brand: Hamzan’s Media
Based in: Sicklerville, New Jersey
Specialties: Sports photography, event photography, videography, and mixtapes
N3W ERA status: Creator Directory member
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QUICK HITS
What is your favorite sport to cover?
Baseball or wrestling. I love how much storytelling you can get from one game or match: the emotion, the atmosphere, the big moments, and everything happening between plays.
Day game or night game?
Day game by far. I love the natural light, the colors, and the overall atmosphere of shooting during the day. I feel like it gives me more freedom with my photos.
What is your favorite lens?
My Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8. It gives me a lot of flexibility while still letting me get those tight, emotional moments without having to constantly switch lenses.
Sideline or courtside?
Sideline. Being right there with the action and being able to capture the athletes, reactions, and energy up close is what I enjoy most.
Natural light or flash?
Flash. Ever since I started using flash, I’ve really grown to love it. I like how much control it gives me over the look and feel of a photo, especially for nighttime games, events, portraits, and nighttime shoots.
I still love natural light, but lately I’ve been having a lot more fun with flash.
Planned shot or unexpected moment?
Unexpected moment. The shots you don’t plan for are usually the ones that end up having the most emotion and personality. You can still get some great planned shots, though!
What is your dream event or venue to photograph?
Honestly, I’d love to shoot something like an NBA championship or the World Cup. Really, any major event with a crazy atmosphere and a lot happening would be a dream.
I love being in environments where I can capture the energy, emotion, and moments that people will remember.
Describe your work in three words.
Story-driven. Emotional. Energetic.
Follow Hamzan’s Media and view more of his work through his N3W ERA Creator Directory profile.
THE FINAL WORD
YOUR MOMENT.
THE REACH IT DESERVES.
N3W ERA STORIES turns athlete, creator, team, and community submissions into professionally presented features built to be read, shared, and remembered.