We recently connected with Linda Nickell and have shared our conversation below.

Linda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

Photography has been an interest for a long time but I started taking this art form more seriously in 2017. After a trip with some very experienced photographers to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I came to a realization that photography was an creative outlet and with practice I could improve my skill set. Finding the time to practice composition, creating images, and developing my style were challenging but having mentors were the key elements of my progress. Five years later, my work is more refined and purposeful, had I started earlier I would have taken more classes to learn how to use my camera and the fundamentals. But instead, I had to learn on the fly while creating images I’m proud to put my name on.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a Texas-based photographer but my passport is my most treasured possession and my love for travel and photography are a perfect pairing. My favorite subjects are nature, wildlife, and macrophotography but I enjoy wandering along backroads that highlight the diverse landscapes of Texas. I host a weekly photography webinar series called the “Happiness Hour” which provides photographers a platform to connect, inspire, and create. I’ve been recognized by texashighways.com as one of the “Top 25 Travel Photographers to Follow on Instagram.” As an active user of Instagram, I curate multiple feature accounts to promote the work of other photographers. My images have been published and licensed for commercial use.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is fun and frustrating at the same time. BUT, using it to promote your work and developing a network is an essential part of marketing yourself. I have met so many people via Instagram and it is also the point of entry where clients “discovered” my work. A place they were able to look at my work to get a feel for what I can produce before they jumped over to my website. To be noticed, post your best images and stories about those images. For someone to stop scrolling, you have to let them get to know you and your story.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My favorite part of being considered a “creative” is the ability to share my travels and interests with like-minded people. The people that find my work interesting are the people that I most connect with — the ones that want to learn about new places, crave a little adventure, and are curious about the world outside of their comfort zone. Selling a print or publishing an image is satisfying and helps me monetize my work but showing someone a different perspective or an unexpected view is the joy of sharing my photography.

Contact Info:

• Website: lindanickell.com
• Instagram: @coznlinda
• Linkedin: Linda Nickell
• Youtube: Linda Nickell’s Happiness Hour