Welcome back to one of our favorite features, BP4U-ers: The Featured Photographer. Today we’re showcasing Nicole Speer of Nicole Speer Photography, who just so happens to be working on a few upcoming guides for BP4U, so stay tuned! Before we dig into her Q/A, here’s a little bit about her.
“Hey! I’m Nicole! I’m a 30 something with three daughters and have been married to my other — I’m the better! — half for 11 years. I live literally in the middle of four cornfields, but dream a big city lifestyle. I’m silly, loud, honest to a fault and I’ve never met a stranger! I love art, wine, the sun, music and anything and everything vintage and funky. Confession: I spent the majority of my summers as a kid living with my parents out of a VW bus as we followed The Grateful Dead on tour. We once lived in a campground for six months!”
Q&A With Nicole Speer
When did you first realize you wanted to be a photographer?
It’s kind of funny, actually, because I wasn’t really the one who realized I wanted to be a photographer. I purchased an ancient DSLR from a neighbor and started playing around with it, taking pictures of my kids and mostly inanimate objects. A good friend saw what I was producing and pushed me to challenge myself more and thought that what I was doing could possibly be lucrative in the future. Definitely one of those “Why not try making money at something I love to do?” moments. Obviously, it didn’t take off like I was hoping and it’s been a long road, but there is absolutely nothing I would rather be doing as a profession. Everyone dreams of turning their passion into a job and I was so fortunate to be able to do so.
When and how did you start out in photography?
I started officially in Spring of 2011, but had been hobby shooting for three years by that point. I shot free sessions for everyone who would let me! Another photographer had a “Come to Jesus” moment with me and told me I was crazy for allowing myself to continue shooting free sessions when I was producing decent (keyword decent) work. So I started by pricing myself low and gave myself a timeline of raising my rates every six months.
How would you describe your style?
Warm, inviting, realistic and stylish.
What’s in your gear bag?
All Nikon equipment. I’m a Nikon girl through and through.
What’s one lens you can’t live without?
Well, it’s always been my 50mm 1.4f, but recently I’ve been thinking about purchasing the 35/1.4! I’m pretty sure I need it.
How did know when the right time to start charging was?
I didn’t. HA! Someone else had to tell me! I would have given free sessions away forever if someone else hadn’t seen that potential and urged me to start charging.
How much did you charge for your first session and how much are you charging for the same type of session now?
I think I charged $50 for my first session and it was two hours long. Nowadays I charge $400 for up to an hour and half.
How did you market yourself when you started out?
Facebook has really played a huge part for me throughout my business. Aside from Facebook, though, word of mouth from some super fabulous friends who have believed in me from the get go. And business cards! I handed a business card to every person I met that first year in business!
We are going to play a game. Name the first person or business that comes to mind for each time of photography.
- Newborn photographer: Laura Brett
- Wedding photographer: Jessica Strickland
- Lifestyle photographer: Jessica Vaughn
- Most inspiration person: Hunter Leone of Three Nails Photography. He shot his own wedding at like, 19 years old or whatever. Come on!
- Prop vendor: Strawberry Girl Couture
- Photography blog: The CoffeeShop Blog
Did you go to school for photography or were you self- taught? If self-taught, what helped you the most?
I am completely self taught with the help of some amazing photographer friends. And those friends are what have helped me the most!
What has been some of the hardest things to overcome in your business?
Pricing and marketing. Hands down. Two things I am constantly working on!
Do you have any tips for photographers just starting out?
The best advice I can give is to not be afraid to seek help from other photographers. Ask questions and seek advice and constructive criticism. Never stop learning. Don’t be so intimidated by the people who you think are your competition because chances are those people will become some of your greatest assets and allies in this business.
If for some reason you couldn’t be a photographer what do you think you would be?
Probably the same thing I was doing before I became a photographer: being a stay at home mom to my girls.
What’s the best lesson in photography that you’ve learned so far?
Comparison is the thief of joy. Also, stay true to yourself!
What are your thoughts on props?
So, when I first started out I totally had the mindset that “The more props the better! Never enough props!” It didn’t quite register that while yes, props can be good, they need to be done correctly. I’ll admit that some of my early stuff probably looks like Olan Mills circa 1994 puked all over my images. That’s not good. I have come to the conclusion that I am not really a prop photographer. I love my styled sessions when I do them, but I put a lot of time and effort into those sessions to make them look amazing and to make it all work. I want the focus of my sessions to be my subjects and allow all of the other stuff to frame them and make them look better. I don’t want it to look like my clients are modeling my props, so I keep my props incredibly minimal. I take a wooden crate and a quilt to all of my sessions and half the time the crate stays in my van. My favorite saying ever? “K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stupid!” I had to remind myself of this a lot in the beginning!
Learn More About Nicole Speer Photography Online
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