We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Parker recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
When I started my career in photography, I was anxious and felt extremely insecure. In such a saturated industry and with so much to learn, I felt completely overwhelmed. In order to be successful, I had to learn to run alongside fear rather than let it control me or shut me down. I had to do things afraid. I had to be willing to make mistakes so I could learn from them. Photography has taught me that in order to succeed you often have to fail some along the way – but it’s how you handle those failures that matter most.
Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
In the fall of 2019, I bought a professional camera pretty much on a whim. What started out as “for fun” turned into charging small amounts which turned into my current, fulfilling career today in 2025. I found that my strengths both as a creative and people person, alongside my detail-oriented side, created an ability to thrive in the industry of wedding photographer. I think one of the things that sets me apart as a wedding photographer is the ability to make strangers feel comfortable almost instantly. That makes a huge difference in photography! If you feel nervous and not like yourself, the photos will show that. I try to capture a wedding as authentically as possible – capturing all the special in-between moments like the tear running down your dad’s face during your wedding ceremony. I also offer film alongside digital photos, which creates a really nostalgic feel to the photos. I’m proud of the fact that I know without a doubt I can provide an excellent wedding gallery from start to finish that helps a couple truly relive the day – including moments they didn’t get to see! I’m proud of the fact that I can bring about people’s authentic personality to the surface to be treasured in photos forever.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
A year or two into my photography business, I was discouraged. I wasn’t making enough, I didn’t love the results from my shoots, and I felt dissatisfied with my style. During that time, I actually decided to take a break and maybe even quit all together. Six months later, I was asked to do a shoot that I seriously considered turning down. However, I thought, “What the heck, what’s one more?” and agreed to do it. I left that shoot remembering every reason why I started being a photographer in the first place. The rush, the joy, the laughter, the creativity, the people. Since then, I haven’t stopped. Instead of quitting, I’ve learned, grown, and created a business I’m truly proud of.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Something that’s especially rewarding to me is the fact that 20 people could be capturing the same moment, but every shot will come out differently depending on who took the photo. The angle, the style, the editing. The same moment will produce 20 different results. Being a creative means being unique, and it’s important to build a brand on what sets you apart. The things that make you different or set you apart make your business what it is. Rather than comparing ourselves and trying to become the person next to us, it’s far more rewarding to own our style and run with it. It would be a boring world if we didn’t!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nicoleparkerphotography.com
- Instagram: nicoleparkerphotography
- Facebook: Nicole Parker Photography LLC
Image Credits
Nicole Parker Photography LLC