We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Elliott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was never a good student. I always struggled academically. My mind was not made for Math or Science. Didn’t care too much about History so I could never retain that info. I was super social and loved my peer interactions. School for me was a place to connect with my friends and have fun.
I stumbled through my education, a C average student, I did enough to not fail.
I was the kid that others would have thought would never amount to much. A small part of myself believed it too.

It wasn’t until High School that I found a subject that made me come alive. It awakened something in me I never knew existed. Photography.
I would spend hours in the Dark Room creating beautiful images. Learning to use a film camera, composition, lighting, all of it was so exciting to me. For once I felt a passion for something and worked hard to learn everything I could about it. Not only did I love the art of it, I loved the business aspect of it as well.
I come from a long line of Mom Entrepreneurs that didn’t do very well in school. But killed it in the real world of business and commerce.
I soon realized that I was not defined by my shortcomings and lack of interest in what others excelled in, I would re-define my life as a passionate creative with a tenacity to explore new places of creativity and entrepreneurialism within myself.
Soon after that, God brought a photography mentor into my life that taught me how to make money out of my passion. I began the process of defining my desires. Setting goals and walking them out.
I started my first business when I was 18.
Over 2 decades later – I’ve never looked back and am still in love with this beautiful art form.

Find what your passionate about. Find others that are doing that thing well and learn everything you can from them. Set a time line for your learning phase. Then, LAUNCH!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
“Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 For me, this verse has been a foundational stone that my entire company has been built upon. At times I have felt so frail, incapable of handling the weight of paralyzing decisions, destructive interactions and crippling workloads, but a divinely sustaining strength has always held me.

The journey of starting your own business is never an easy one. If it’s easy, then it’s not challenging. If it’s not challenging then you never get the opportunity to get stronger, braver, taller. Growth will happen, which means challenges will too. So we embrace it. Like painful growing pains, we do not fight the process but move with it because we know it will produce necessary growth that will equip you for the next season of life.

Don’t quit when it’s hard. Pause. Take a step back, look at the situation from a different perspective. Ask for advice from trusted people. See if there are areas that need course correction.
Keep moving forward.

Remember these words of wisdom from the ones that have gone before you:
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good, to go for the great.” John Rockefeller.
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would start with breakfast at Hash Tag in Central Park. Then go to the Denver Art Museum.
Then hike around Red Rocks with a picnic lunch.
Shopping at Stanley Marketplace.
Dinner at a whole in the wall Lebanese place with the BEST Hummus – House of Kabob.
Kick up our feet at a late night movie.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
JuliAnne Jonker of Jonker Portrait Gallery. My mentor and dear friend. She saw a light in me when I couldn’t see it in myself. She stoked the flame of my passion and helped me to become the photographer and business owner I am today. I am forever grateful to God for her loving hand in my life.

Website: studioelliott.com

Instagram: @nicoleelliott.inspire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicoleelliott.inspire

Image Credits
Nicole Elliott

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