Meet Grace Slaven | Photographer & Scientist

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

Hi Grace, how does your business help the community?
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what else is it worth? Pictures can be priceless. They preserve emotions, experiences, and memories. They become time capsules for loved ones lost and homes left behind. They are the tangible fragments of neural firings in the brain. Photos preserve the human experience.
I am often told that my photos allow others to be where I’ve been. One of my favorite landscapes was captured at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park. That morning, a heavy blanket of clouds smothered the sunrise. Dense fog wrapped tendrils around the base of Mt. Moran. It was both overcast and disappointing. But suddenly, a burst of sunlight pushed through the clouds! The spring colors jumped to life. The aspens glowed, Mt. Moran turned blue, and the sun was golden. In jubilation, a chorus of goose-song rose to meet the sunrise. Ducks quacked happily as they sliced v-trails through the still water. Clack, clack, clack. My DSLR responded to the triumph.
And then at once, it was stilled. The gentle patter of rain on the river muted the colors again. The geese grew silent. Just like that, the scene was gone. It will never be experienced again. Yet, my photo lives on.
I know many people who will never travel to Wyoming. Some of my closest friends and family have health restrictions that may prevent them from ever traveling that far. Others are simply bound by life circumstances. I take photos to transport others to beautiful places. When they look at my sunrise at Oxbow Bend, I hope they can feel the soft river mud goosh under their shoes. I hope the goose-song echoes in their ears. I hope they smile at the burst of sunrise, and then let the smile slowly fade into peace with the falling rain.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then my message is one of rejoicing. My photos remind others that there are still things worth smiling about. Awe has not died simply because we have neglected it. My photos are reminiscent of bare toes in the summer grass, of blue desert skies on a perfect day, of wonder and wilderness, of family and home. There are still beautiful things in the world. I’m on a mission to find them, so that we may never forget.

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.
I would like to think I’m a little bit like Superman. In my case, Clark Kent wears a lab coat and safety glasses! I am a scientist by trade. I have a meticulous, analytical mind, so I have always been drawn to finding answers to my favorite question: “Why?” As soon as I graduated high school, I was doing scientific research. After a few thrilling internships, I landed a career in pharmaceutical research. It is an extremely rewarding field. Being people-oriented, I love knowing that my work is making a difference in the world. I am a storyteller at heart, though. The fluidity of a narrative arc holds much allure. I first learned the impact of storytelling when I learned to play the violin at age 6. Music is a powerful vessel. Between the bars and measures lies the ability to make someone weep or laugh. Invisible tales are written in the vibrations of sound waves. I became a writer as well, penning essays and stories alike. When I began my national park journey with my husband, I found hidden stories everywhere. Every person is a story. Every landscape is a tale. It is a marvelous existence! I began a travel blog to capture some of these visual narratives. And then, suddenly, I was a photographer too.
My photography is a conglomeration of myself. I am analytical, always searching for new methodology to improve my craft. I am a storyteller, crafting scenescapes through the perfect angle and lighting. I am people-oriented, focusing on capturing the best version of every subject for the enjoyment of others. This element motivates me the most in my photography. I want to make people happy with my work. When they look at my photos, I hope they smile. That’s how I chose my business name: That’s Nice! Photography. It started as a joke, actually. As I washed dishes one evening after supper, I found my mind wandering (as it often does). I was pondering my photography business. Every photographer needs a name. Grace Slaven Photography was the obvious choice, but my storyteller side wouldn’t allow it. Surely there had to be something more creative. Suddenly, the funniest quip in the world (in my opinion) burst into my head.
“Tyler!” I shouted into the dining room. “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if somebody named their business ‘that’s nice photography’?”
I was giggling over my dirty dishes. That’s nice photography. It was a declarative statement, but could also be an exclamation. That’s nice! It was a phrase I often uttered when I was reviewing images after a particularly good photo shoot. The more I considered it, the more I liked it. It was my target, my headline, and a joke at once. My driving aim at That’s Nice! Photography is simply this: capture photos that evoke a reaction from my viewers. In an ideal world, we will all be saying, “That’s nice!”
For that goal, I constantly strive.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m an Ohio-based photographer who loves where she lives. Ohio is a great place to be! If my best friend was visiting at the end of June, I would be sure to bring her to my town’s local hot air balloon festival. Ever since I was a little girl, the hot air balloons have been a highlight of my summer. They launch from a big meadow in the center of town, dispersing across our fields and pastures like a mini Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. You never know where the balloons might land. They often drop down in backyards, delighting all of my hometown’s children and quite a few adults too. Last year, a hot air balloon landed right in the middle of Main Street!
After our balloon adventure, I would take my friend out for an afternoon on the town. Our opportunities in town are endless. If my friend is feeling artsy, we could go paint ceramics or canvases at this cute art hub called the Tin Can Chandelier. If she wanted to shop, I’d to take her to my favorite downtown stores. One of them specializes in cute national park decor. Another one is a family-owned chocolate shop. Their dark chocolates are to die for! If she is up for a hike, we’d drive to Cuyahoga National Park or its lesser-known cousin, Hocking Hills State Park. We could go kayaking at Mohican State Park, biking on the B&O bike trail, or both!
To wrap up my friend’s visit, I’d be sure to take her to an outdoor concert at the local band shell. Every Thursday and Sunday evening, they put on free concerts for the community. My favorite concert is the yearly Fourth of July concert performed by our local symphony orchestra. My hometown is one of the few small towns in the United States that boasts its own orchestra. Their Fourth of July concert is particularly excellent. They always perform a series of Americana and patriotic songs. To wrap up the night, they play Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with Civil War reenactors firing off cannons at the end of the song!
My friend would have a blast if she came to visit, and so would you! Come visit Ohio sometime and see why it is a great place to be!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank my husband, Tyler, for being such a supportive, wonderful partner. I wouldn’t be half of who I am without his encouragement along the way! When we got married, we decided to try to see all of the US national parks together. We began with seven national parks on our honeymoon and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. Since then, we have been to 42/63 national parks. We are so blessed! We wouldn’t be here without a lot of God’s provision and kindness. Tyler and I work to maintain an attitude of gratefulness because we know we’d never be on this wonderful journey by our own efforts. In gratitude, we try our best to return the blessings to our community too.
When you are lifted up, always remember to turn back and help the next one in line!

Website: https://thatsnicephotography59.mypixieset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsnice_photography?igsh=MTJibnV6c3RreXVmdA==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BkBkNDTTm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Other: My travel blog: https://homegrowntravelers.wixsite.com/travel