We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Wlock. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear a story from back when you were an intern or apprentice. What’s a memorable story you can share with us?

When I graduated college in 2011 with a business degree I really had no direction on where I wanted to go. I was gifted a digital camera and was closely taking photos of animals, friends and family. I moved down to South Carolina for two years and got a job with Starbucks in the morning and a hunter jumper show barn in the afternoon. I started taking pictures at shows and of the horses and their owners. I then moved up to Cape Cod at the end of 2013 which was the same time my high school friend graduated from RTI and moved to Boston to start his Wedding Photography Business. He connected with me because he was in need of a second shooter in the greater Boston/ southern New England area. The hands on learning that I got with another professional made me the photographer I am today. I not only shadowed and learned from him but I took courses, practiced on my own and went to workshops. You get out of your learning what you put into it. I realized this was the path I wanted to take with my business degree and it was made possible by apprenticing. Being given the opportunity to learn all about the ins and out of the industry as well as tips and tricks with my equipment is something you cannot learn solely from taking classes.

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?

I am a wedding photographer who use to service all of New England but moved to Metro Detroit area with my Military Spouse. I started my own business in 2015 after second shooting and interning with a high school friend who was an established wedding photographer in the Boston Area. I have been slowly building up clientele in the Detroit area as well as picking up second shooting and associate weddings.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I use a couple different platforms to build my clientele. I have a page on Wedding Wire and Zola (I use to pay to be on the first page starting out but now I do not.) I created a google business page where I put as much information in it as I can, I also utilize customer reviews. After a shoot I ask my clients to leave a review on my google business page and then I put that on my website so real client input gets double the exposure. I also do a lot of networking with other professionals and constantly update social media platforms. My last secret weapon which is growing by word of mouth. The more jobs I work the more I am in front of potential clients. I give my 100% at each event which is a great way to show case my talents, work ethics and give potential clients a snap shot into the experience they might get if they hire me.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2018 I went full time with my business which flowed well into 2019. As I was starting to bookings and deposits for summer 2020 as well as getting ready to pay my business taxes, the great pandemic of Covid happened. I had 4 weddings in the process of booking back out, I had 2 weddings cancel after they booked me as well as 4 weddings change their date multiple times. I also got forloatherd from my part time job and I had just purchased a house. I was in a state of panic as everyone else was. 2020 was a year of readjustment where I had to go back full time with my corporate job and move my weddings to the side again. Between moving in 2021 and still trying to build back my business after the pandemic, I have finally in 2024 have full bookings again in two different states. Patience and believing with myself and my business was crucial as well as never giving up. It’s been a long journey but that is the nature of small businesses, it’s not always an linear upward line of growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inspiredbynmphoto.com
• Instagram: Inspiredbynmphoto
• Facebook: Inspiredbynmphoto
• Linkedin: Nicole Wlock

Image Credits
NM Photography