Hi there! Photographer Nicole here! Let me tell you about my love of photography.
First off, I guess you could say I’m a photo-lover of the nostalgic, romantic type.
That means that I can sit and look at photographs of just about anyone or anything for hours on end—including family albums of people I don’t know! Of course this also means I need to have serious boundaries around social media so that I don’t scroll my thumbs and eyes off! But in all seriousness, I feel like every photo is a time capsule and a way to remember things we might otherwise forget. And, even better yet, to see the ones we love who aren’t nearby and smile at seeing them right there in front of us.
My fascination with and love for photographs is as old as I am. From as far back as I can remember, I absolutely loved looking at black and white photos of my parents and grandparents and their families! I loved seeing them when they were younger and when life was so very different! I loved being able to ask about the photo in front of me and being told the whole story around the moment that it was taken—from who was pictured, to how they got to be at that moment, to who was taking the photo and why.
What I also really loved was being able to see the passage of time in snapshot moments. Something about seeing younger versions of people and how they change over time has always captured my undivided attention. Imagining all that has happened between the moment of capture and the present moment is truly fascinating to me. And of course, once I had photos of myself to look back upon, I loved how just one image reminded me of everything—the sights, sounds, and feelings of the moment. To this day, even if there is no photo, I still store my memories as snapshots in time. Photos become a tangible, visual history. The proof of memories held in the hearts and minds of those I love.
I hope it goes without saying that if you love albums, you have come to the right place! I feel like every session deserves its own album that you can hold in your hands and share with others, in person, telling your stories. And wall art for those extra special captures is always encouraged. And, maybe because I am a nostalgic romantic, you will always have black and white options. To me, the impact of the simplicity of light, dark, and shadow is both classic and mesmerizing!
Have you ever considered that photos are the way we learn about life and the people we love in the time before we got here--and after? How photography visually grounds us in our family history? Thinking about the far-reaching impact of family photos makes it clear to me how necessary and wonderful my job as a photographer is!
I like to think of photography as giving the gift of yesterday to tomorrow. It’s about our legacy and proof of life before the present moment that will live on with those we love after we are gone—from childhood, from home, from youth, and yes, from this Earth.
My deepest desire is to capture who and what we love now, so that we can remember with a smile later. My greatest joy as a photographer is capturing someone’s true nature, their essence, the thing that remains in our hearts. As a photographer, I have become a storyteller, a truth seeker, and a legacy builder.
Let’s tell your story, find your truth, and build your legacy—together!