Meet Nazla Anna Rowan | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nazla Anna Rowan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nazla Anna, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
What’s that saying, “Without risk there is no reward”? I feel like I’ve known that I my whole life. It is what has lead me to being an entrepreneur. I knew that I never wanted to work for someone. I wanted to be the leader of my own success. I didn’t realize that the paths my careers took me would bring me to this moment. The moment I became my own boss and saw that I could be successful on my own, I knew there was no going back. The anxiety of the unknown but trusting the process has continued to lead me to my calling. Taking the risk to invest in myself and my passion has proven to give great rewards.

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.

When learning something new, it isn’t easy or comfortable. I’ve learned that getting uncomfortable is where the magic happens in all aspects of life. And while it can get sticky and the feeling to just walk away comes up, sitting back down and trying again until it clicks is worth it. Because If it was, we’d all be successful right out the gate! I would hope, like anyone, we are never done learning. I’ve spent hours and hours and hours and will spend more hours learning know my worth. I say that because the previous careers that led me here have all presented frustrations and that feeling of “am I ever going to get this?”. I hope that if someone is reading this an feels that way in any point of their life right now, it gives them a little push to keep going.

With that said, I’ve invested in my myself through my gear, classes and workshops to never stop striving to be better when it comes to my photography. But honestly, I’ve never thought that I would be a photographer. I’ve always loved and appreciated the art behind it. I have always been artistic in some way, shape or musical form. I went to Denver School of the Arts for instrumental music playing the viola. I originally wanted to be a dancer, ballet to be exact, like my best friend.

The road to where I am today, led me to why I have pivoted my photography genre to mainly boudoir photography. While I love photographing families, especially with young children. Headshots and seniors are definitely my favorites too. I don’t know that I’ll ever stop and limit myself to just one genre. It took me until my 30’s to realize that I wanted to be a hair stylist and went back to school. I loved making women feel beautiful through coloring hair, extensions and all things hair, then giving eye lash extensions. That led to hair and make up for weddings. Even MUA for other photographers.

I fell into photography by complete accident. After my first son was born, my husband insisted on buying a nice camera to photograph him. Well, he didn’t take many pictures of him since he worked during the week and I was the one taking them every month to document his grown with one of those monthly chalkboard boards you write on. Then one day after being photographed by one of my favorite photographers, Emily Hodge and seeing how stunning her photos are, I eventually (after modeling for her a few times) reached out asking for some guidance on editing programs and such. So my adventure began. I remember modeling for friends was always fun. Helping their art come to life was an honor, no matter how bad of a model I was. Hahahah… But to be trusted with that part of their journey was an honor.

What I do know is that my love of making women feel and look beautiful is what drove me to boudoir photography. That road I took for the last 13 years in my cosmetology career helped me not to have to hire out for the professional hair and make up artist. My passion for showing women how stunning and unique we all are no matter where we are in life at THIS moment, is what is the most important to me. My hope is to show them how gorgeous they are through my lens because they deserve to see what the world and those that love them, see.

After booking your session with me, usually over the phone, we will set the day for the magic to happen. When you arrive at my studio for your boudoir experience, you get it all! From start to finish. We will spend the first hour completing your hair and makeup, we go through the outfits you bring (I ask your to bring 6-8 pieces because not everything photographs well). You also have access to my client closet. Once we get that settled, the magic begins! We shoot for 2 hours. I tell you everything to do from the angles of your head, the whole way to your feet and I do most of the poses first before you. After we’re done shooting we pick a date for you to come back for your ordering appointment in person or a Zoom. And you make your purchasing decisions then. By the time you leave me, you feel like a goddess!

The presentation of my work is the best part! Not only do you get to see yourself on a big screen but you get to chose what high end vegan leather albums you want to print your photos in, wall art canvases, metal wall art or something as simple as a smartphone app. So many options based off of the package you go with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Oh my goodness! Well, depends on what time of year it is. I live right smack in the middle of Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. I think it would be fun to go from Glenwood Springs and hit every fun spot until Grand Junction.

We would start out at Hanging Lake. Especially since I haven’t visited that magical place yet either. They plan on reopening it this year, I heard. We would then have a nice dinner at a place called The Pullman. Ending the day in the waters at Iron Mountain hot springs.

The next day, I would take them to one of my all time favorite spots, Rifle Falls. Not only can you go next to, above and all around these cool waterfalls but you can hike around them into these caves. If we aren’t too tuckered out, we’d then hike another trail close by or hit up Harvey Gap.

The next day we would float the river from Parachute to West Parachute for free! Finish off the evening at the local El Tapatio for Mexican food. We could even head up into the Battlement Mesa trails that is literally in my back yard and where I take a ton of photos with clients.

Day 4, I would take my friend hiking the rim in Palisade then to do a bike winery tour in Palisade afterwards. In the tour we would go to my favorite winery called Maison la Belle Vie Winery where we would sit under these amazing trees in the courtyard, enjoy a glass of my favorite peach wine to go along with a charcuterie board.

The possibilities are endless with Grand Junction just 40 minutes west of me with more exploring within a vehicle or on foot in the national parks. We could take a tour somewhere in our Kawasaki Side X Side in the mountains with my husband and two young boys.

We would never get bored.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is going to be cheesy as heck but my person that deserves a little credit is definitely my husband, Bradley Rowan. This man of mine has been my biggest fan for the last 10 years, cheerleader and the one that pushes me to keep driving forward with my dreams to be free to live the life we have been fighting to create since we met.

No matter what new adventure in my career I come to him with, his question is always, “how can I help?”. The word support isn’t the word I would use when it comes to him. He helps me see the dream by giving ideas on how to make it reality.

My children for being my first models and the ones I do this life for. To create the freedom to be their mom and give them as much of the world that I can.

My mother in-law, Sandra Rowan for her expertise in all things crafts and sewing. She helps me figure out my sets, clothing and more.

Of course my Mom, Charmaine Guidry for raising me to never settle for less and keep pushing no matter what life throws at you.

And all my friends who have been so kind to model for me while I learn and grow.

Last but never least, my clients that have entrusted such a huge part of the glimpse into their lives that I was fortunate enough to capture for them.

Website: nazlaannaphotography.com

Instagram: instagram.com/nazla.anna.photography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inkandblushboudoir/ ; facebook.com/nazlaannaphotography

Other: My Ink and Blush VIP Boudoir Lounge group      https://www.facebook.com/groups/inkandblushboudoir/ ; https://www.facebook.com/groups/275783224651902