Meet Nicole Cardenas | Photographer

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

Hi Nicole, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The drive I had to get to know my clients and provide them with what they have dreamt up. I made the decision to treat clients like family vs being hired help. This was especially important to make my name as a child photographer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being a local photographer, you are competing with prices, location, equipment, but it’s all about the personal touch for your client. I offer traveling for low fees, as I want to be affordable for the average family. I choose places that are personal to them, not necessarily their home, but maybe the kids favorite park or the place their first date took place. It was not easy to start, I had to sell myself, and learn marketing and managing time. I have endless hours of learning my equipment and getting my name out there. I have learned not everything will go smoothly, you have to be quick on your toes to be thinking two steps ahead of the tired toddler, hungry infant, or the running late bride. You might be the creative mind behind the lens, but you become part of that family.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would have to see Red Rocks, in Morrison, Colorado. Here we would enjoy a drink of the Roof Top Tavern. It a patio bar with a view. We would see the huge M on the side of Look Out Mountain for the School of Mines, In Golden, Colorado. Venture out to Evergreen, Colorado for small town shopping. Explore Rockies National Park. Eat downtown at Stout Street Social. Catch a show at the clock tower. Headed south, we see the South Platte River traveling through Pike National Forest. And decide if we were adventure enough to climb the Manitou incline once reaching Colorado Springs, we will settle for dinner in a small town called Olde Colorado City.

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 was able to pursue my dream with the support of my partner Ryan Krebbs, he bought me my first camera and let me explore my options. In high school, I loved all forms of publishing, but catching and freezing the moment on film was the best feeling for me.

Website: https://stevienixphotography.wixsite.com/snp2019

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevienixphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevienixphotography