Meet Nicole Mayes | Photographer

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

Hi Nicole, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in Germany and my brother and I always were very close. We came from a one parent family and had to rely on each other quite a lot. I was married young to a serviceman and had two children. We moved to America and I was so overwhelmed at the vast open spaces, the culture and the people. When my marriage ended it was a time of remembrance for me, I had two children to raise as an only parent. In spite of all the challenges we pulled together and worked out a rhythm. When I met my current husband I was introduced to real freedom. I was able to strike out and work for me in jobs I truly loved. But, I had a passion that burned within me. Photography. My brother and I worked out a business and together we learned what it meant to truly capture a thought or a feeling. The struggles we have in life are not always bad, sometimes, they bring us to our full potential.

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’ve traveled on photo trips with different groups because I’m always trying to learn something new. One group in particular used to poke fun at me because to me taking a picture wasn’t always from a tripod. I would be the one hanging on the side of a rock, face down in the dirt, waist deep in water….it didn’t matter, I had to do what needed to be done to get the shot. Through these tests, I’ve created a persona with my pictures, go anywhere, at any time to get the right shot. I wait for hours for the right sun or moon, climb up the side of mountains ( and my husband hates that !) My pictures are art, my husband picked many of them for printing and our house is covered in my work. From and old rusted car from Colorado to the castle of Neuschwanstein in Germany and everything in between.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I couldn’t even name just one. I have so many favorite places all over the world. I love the wildlife and the country side of Estes Park in Colorado, but also the canals and pasta in Venice, Italy. The coastline and the lighthouses in the Bretagne, France. The mountains and the beer in Austria ( that’s the German in me I think ) The small little cities in Sicily, Italy. And with being stationed overseas and all these possibilities we had over the years, I was lucky enough to see so much.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My brother, Dominik, he was my biggest fan, most cruel critic, full of inspiration all rolled into one. Together we had a photography business that spanned two continents and I think of him always. He passed away some years back but his words echo through my mind every day. And of course my husband, who supports and encourages me in every thing I do, sends me off to the most beautiful places all over and when his works allows it, comes along to carry my gear. Without him none of this would be possible.

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