We were lucky to catch up with Nicole & Michael Gonzalez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole & Michael, thanks for joining us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? We’d love to hear the backstory the illustrates how you grew your brand.

This story is ICONIC! Meet the unstoppable duo: Michael and yours truly, Nicole! We’re the heart and soul behind our blossoming business, built entirely from the ground up. Now, this isn’t your everyday success story; oh no, it’s anything but ordinary!

Let’s rewind to the beginning: Michael, once a luminary in the concert scene, found himself without a job. But as fate would have it, a casual night out turned into the pivotal moment of his life. There he met a staff photographer who, unbeknownst to him, would set his future in motion. Discovering the photographer earned a whopping ten times more than he did, Michael took a leap of faith. With his last paycheck, he snagged a $300 camera off eBay, dived into the world of Craigslist, and voilà – photographed his very first wedding for a humble $100.

Fast forward two years and the plot thickens when Michael bumps into me – the love of his life – in a college photography class. Color me impressed; I was so enchanted by his skills that I immediately asked to tag along to a wedding. Learning from the master himself sparked a fire in me, leading me to ditch my $8.25-an-hour job and jump headfirst into photography full-time.

Together, Michael and I climbed the ladder of success, capturing around 40 weddings a year. Michael waved goodbye to his part-time gig, embracing his new role as a full-time videographer with open arms.

But here’s the secret sauce to our thriving business: education. Michael and I plunged into the world of mentorships, learning from the crème de la crème of photographers and videographers. Our mantra? To constantly evolve and become the best versions of ourselves. With every wedding, our skills and branding soar to new heights. We’re on a never-ending journey to excellence, always striving to top our personal best. Here’s to love, photography, and the endless pursuit of perfection!

Nicole & Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Oh, where do I even start? My journey kicked off the moment I laid hands on my first iPhone – I was utterly captivated by the world of photography. At the same time, I was diving into graphic design school, all while juggling a minimum-wage job, and then… I made the leap and bought my first beginner camera. Clueless but eager, I enrolled in a photography class, and that’s where the magic happened: I met Michael.

Picture this: Michael struts into our first class (oh, those memorable Tuesday and Thursday sessions) exuding confidence, armed with an arsenal of cameras, lenses, and lights. I was so inspired that I just had to ask him to teach me the secrets of wedding photography. Without hesitation, he grabbed my phone, keyed in his number, and told me to drop him a text.

Fast forward to Thursday night, I sent a message, only to receive a puzzled “who’s this?” back. Can you believe it? My future hubby had given me the wrong number! The agony of waiting until Tuesday to confront him was real. But when we finally reunited, I didn’t mince words – “You gave me the wrong number.” His response? Profuse apologies followed by a peace offering of cheese fries at Portillo’s. Talk about a quirky start to what would become an unforgettable journey!

Michael and I have truly blossomed in this business adventure together! Initially, we kicked things off as Millennium Moments, but oh, the twists and turns of entrepreneurship led us to a name change two years in – hello, Aspen Avenue! Why the switch, you ask? Well, let’s just say spelling ‘Millennium’ was a challenge all its own.

But oh, the transformation didn’t stop there! We dove headfirst into a rebrand, steering our venture towards a more high-fashion, edgy, and editorial vibe – think ultra-chic and boundary-pushing! Major shoutout to Salted Pages and Goodwitch for their EPIC touch in evaluating and elevating our brand. And our bold move paid off! We started turning heads and catching the eye of some truly amazing publications. It’s been a whirlwind of excitement and creativity ever since!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Our mission is to be different yet high-end. We’re not here to blend into the background with the ordinary and mundane. We’re all about infusing every moment with energy and provoking feelings.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Researching education and learning how important the community is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aspenavenue.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspenavenuestudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspenavenuestudios/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@aspenavenue