Meet Nicole Pasillas | Photographer, Coach & Teacher

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

Hi Nicole, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
I am a mother of two beautiful boys, and everyday I look at them I know no matter what is going on I have have to be the best version of myself. We have gone through so much in the last couple years and now as a single mother I hold two titles (Mom and Dad) but I take on that role with grace and love. I have a saying, “I make my own rainbows,” I say that because through any storm that we have been in or may go through I won’t wait for the storm to clear, I will make sure to get out of it and find the rainbow at the end. The most important thing I can do for my boys is to never give up, and never lose sight of all the amazing things that life has to offer. As they see me go after what I want with passion and happiness they will also gravitate towards going after their own dreams. I make sure to teach my boys how to be leaders rather than followers, how to work hard with positive intentions, I show them through my actions how to have hearts full of kindness and to carry themselves with a sense of humility, so along their paths they organically are able to help others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I would say I am a creative, I am a teacher on one hand but I am also a photographer. what sets me apart from others is what I want to do with my work. My favorite type of photography is documentary photography, images that tell stories and capture emotions. However, those I have found some from real people with real life tales to tell. I want to create platforms for activism and portraits that are unlike any other one day. I am a new photographer that is self-taught. That means on a single mother’s salary (Teacher pay scale) I a limited to what types of education I can take to learn at a quicker rate. However, the talent still shines on. I am working to start on series that I can relate to, boxing, women/ heritage empowerment and from there I will grow. I am taking on a task of doing work that I am excited even if it is a little different. I got into photography because it saved my life, I was in a deep depression because of my health at the time but picking up a camera is what sparked my imagination and creative art skills. Photography gifted me the chance to see other talents and outlets I could pursue and because of that I want to honor what I was given by going after the types of photography sessions that make me happy or tap into my imagination. Not everyone finds something that can make them see life in a different light and I am thankful I did.

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?
If my best friend was in town I would say we need to explore the outdoors, to the art districts to the many different food places Denver has to offer! I am a native of Colorado but I was gone for quite some time and now returning back as an adult I am re learning place in Colorado I love to go to. In a way we would explore the state together. I would start our week with food and culture by checking out Combi Taco and eating some concha French toast! Food is key to any good trip I am someone who likes plans but doesn’t mind being find changing things up. I would say that on the list (not in order) as long as we got to these places; The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide CO, Manito Incline in Colorado Springs, The History Colorado Center, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Arts Museum, if there happen to be any events going on around downtown we could grab a scooter and check it out. Maybe we could pamper ourselves and go check out the hot springs in steam boat, or have a low key night, get some food from cabron carbron and catch a movie. I would make time to go to the Invention room and do some roller skating! I have kids so we would have to make time to take the kids to the Colorado zoo, Washington park playground, Little Man’s Ice cream, swing by the Stanley market for some children’s books and biscuits the Denver biscuit company. All and all, we would get a some Horchata Lattes from Santos Cafe & Grill to finish off and plan what’s next.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would say that there have definitely been many influential people that have crossed my path that have help me to see the very best version of myself. However, I believe what has built my confidence, what has made me realize how strong I am has been the sport of boxing. It is a sport that not only connected to me a life long coach named Stephen Blea but it was what I used to prove to my dad just how fierce I am. In the sport of boxing you don’t have a team in the ring to help you when things get rough, you have a coach but even at that it depends on you at the end of the day if you hand is raised in the air or if you walk away in defeat. What you put into your craft is what will come of it. When life hit me with hardships, when I ever felt an ounce of doubt I remembered to keep going. In the ring I had to work really hard and prove others wrong to get respect and that instilled a sense of pride and confidence that you cannot get from anywhere else. Now with my business ventures and goals I have set for myself I push myself to do my very best. I want my photography to make people feel something when they look at a picture, to be more than a picture but rather a memory captured with just a click. My efforts are directed in a different way outside the ring now but my passion comes through in all I do.

Website: photoswithnicolenatalie.com

Instagram: photoswithnicolenatalie

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

Image Credits
Hitsquad Boxing -Daniel, “Junebug” Garcia Touch of Sleep Boxing