We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Nicole Oliver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel Nicole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

One of the best investments I’ve made, both in terms of time and money, was my college experience. I know plenty of incredibly talented creatives who haven’t stepped foot in a college classroom, but for me, pursuing a college education played a pivotal role in my artistic journey.

I took the scenic route to my undergraduate degree, spanning a whopping seven years. After getting my AS, I received a scholarship to put towards my BFA, so I transferred schools. It added quite a few semesters to my timeline, but it allowed me to weave learning seamlessly into my life, all while juggling the usual real-world responsibilities.

Pensacola State College provided a solid foundation in both analog and digital photography. I loved being able to learn film processing, print development, and work with a variety of cameras, including large format. This technical knowledge set me up to have a really good foundation when I later transferred to the University of West Florida.

At UWF, I continued studying photography but also explored other art mediums and delved into the philosophy behind why we create art in the first place. The years spent on my education instilled in me a profound desire to continuously learn and adapt, a trait that has become a cornerstone in my approach to art.

In the end, the people that I learned from and the friendships I formed have been the most meaningful. While I could have learned the technical skills from books or online courses, I would have missed out on the social interactions, artistic collaborations, and core friendships that were developed during that time, which was an irreplaceable part of my journey.

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?

Nature takes center stage in the theme of my art, and my specialty lies in crafting fine art photography prints that traverse the expansive beauty of landscapes, delve into the intricacies of macro photography, and explore the enchanting realm of photomicrography.

My professional journey started during college when I started second shooting for a local wedding photographer. I then spent seven years in the wedding and portrait industry, but my heart was always drawn to the allure of nature, and my spare time was mostly spent capturing landscapes.

A pivotal moment arrived when I conceptualized a timelapse photography project featuring molding fruits and vegetables for my BFA exit show at the University of West Florida. This propelled me to acquire my first macro lens, which revealed a captivating world of small-scale details that had gone unnoticed for too long. I loved being able to slow down and observe nature while also creating art. It was a big contrast to the stimulation and speed of wedding photography, but I welcomed the change.

Fueled by this newfound passion, I delved into the realm of photomicrography—venturing into the unseen wonders surrounding us, invisible to the naked eye. The goal is not just to capture these microscopic marvels but to bring them into the spotlight through large-scale prints, offering a unique perspective on the beauty of the microscopic world that surrounds us.

While photomicrography is still new to me, every day is a thrilling learning experience, and I’m excited to move forward into this next chapter in my business. My aim is to create mesmerizing images that will rekindle an appreciation for the intricate details that often slip past our awareness.

My journey with photography has had its share of ups and downs, and it hasn’t always been my primary source of income. However, it remains an enduring passion that I consistently return to. I take pride in not letting go of my dreams, even if their realization has taken a bit longer than planned.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

One of my favorite resources is definitely YouTube. It played a significant role when I was learning how to use my microscope, but the videos that I found most impactful are actually centered around mindset. Art wasn’t a prominent part of my upbringing; practicality took precedence in my parents’ values, and creative fields didn’t seem to fall into that category. I don’t recall ever visiting an art museum until I began studying photography in college.

However, our family always had a camera. I had a few inexpensive film cameras during my childhood, and when my family purchased a point-and-shoot digital camera, I claimed it as my own and took pictures nonstop. When I initially entered college, I chose business as my major, thinking it would be a more practical route. I’m immensely grateful that I changed my mind and pursued an artistic field instead, but it certainly came with its challenges.

Overcoming the ‘starving artist’ stereotype, which I had imagined during my youth, proved to be a challenging hurdle. This is where YouTube became an invaluable resource for me. My favorite categories on the platform include self-improvement and neuroscience. Understanding that I harbored limiting beliefs about both business and art truly helped me take the necessary steps to start my own business.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are so many rewarding aspects to being a creative, and it’s hard to pinpoint just one. What I absolutely cherish is the ability to pursue something I’m truly passionate about. Being a fine art photographer allows me the luxury of spending time in nature and relishing the slow moments in my day.

In the past, I was way too obsessed with productivity, where each day was meticulously planned, and my to-do list seemed endless. However, the process of creating my photographs has a transformative effect—it compels me to slow down. I find joy in the observation, and allowing my mind to wander.

A concept my professor used to emphasize stuck with me—the importance of the ‘incubation’ period in art. There’s only so much planning one can do before you need to shift focus and engage in something else. This break provides the mind with the necessary space to generate solutions. While there might be a scientific explanation for it, I still refer to it as incubation, and it has proven invaluable. Allowing myself to relax naturally leads to a recharge, and my creativity flourishes, motivating me to dive into the next project.

This process, the freedom to pause and recharge creatively, is a unique aspect that many jobs don’t offer. I believe it’s not only vital for creatives but for humans in general. It’s a rhythm that feeds into the ebb and flow of creativity, enriching not just my artistic endeavors but my overall well-being.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rachelnicoleoliver.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliverimagery

Image Credits
Personal Photo taken by themallorypaige.com