Meet Nicole Nichols | Boudoir & Intimate Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Nicole, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in New Orleans, a city that breathes art. My grandmother was an artist, and I was always interested in being a professional artist.

In college, I studied all forms of art, but nude figure drawing was one of the classes that impacted me the most. It shifted how I saw the human body—not as something to hide or judge, but as art in itself, in every shape and gender. That perspective is still the foundation of how I photograph people today.

While living in New Orleans, I sold my abstract and street photography in galleries, art shows, and markets. When I moved to Denver, selling fine art photography was much harder, so I pivoted into portraiture and wedding photography. I did my first boudoir shoot in New Orleans 20 years ago, and after many twists and turns, I found my way back to it in 2019. Now, boudoir is my main creative focus—a way I blend art with empowerment, helping people see themselves as the works of art they truly are.

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’m a professional photographer passionate about helping people of every size, age, and gender see themselves from a different perspective that leaves them feeling bold, badass, and beautiful. I run a small boutique business with a studio in central Denver, and I love creating custom artwork for my clients and their significant others.
My clients always tell me how comfortable they feel behind my camera—and how much they love their photos. That’s everything to me.

What sets me apart? Very few boudoir photographers photograph men. For years, I didn’t either. But after a few life plot twists, I began healing my relationship with the masculine, and I realized men need this work too. They want to feel sexy and seen, but rarely get a safe space to explore that. Now, men make up about half of my clients, as I offer a safe space for ALL genders to embrace their bodies and show their true, authentic selves through my lens. One male client recently drove over 3 hours to work with me because he couldn’t find anyone else he felt comfortable with that would photograph fine art nudes for men.

Was it easy getting here? Not at all. Running your own business isn’t for the weak or the fearful. There have been many months—and years—of barely making any money, and I’ve gotten very good at saving for rainy days. I’ve had countless moments of being so overwhelmed and exhausted that I wanted to quit. But I take a step back, find my inspiration again, and trust that everything will work out. And it always does.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know, it’s that your body is art, your story deserves to be captured, and you deserve to feel amazing in your own skin—no matter who you are.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them on a road trip to hike around the Rocky Mountains and visit my favorite hot springs- Mt. Princeton and Valley View. We would spend the weekend hitting up my favorite restaurants on South Broadway, dancing at my favorite music venues in RINO, and paddle boarding at Chatfield Reservoir.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents were always supportive of my passion to be a professional photographer, even if they really hoped I would chose something more financially stable.

Website: https://www.nicolenichols.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nicolenichols_boudoir

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolenicholsphoto/

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