Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary and Jeremiah Nichols.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My story is probably one of the most unconventional ways of becoming a photographer. I was a yearbook nerd in high school. My senior year, I lied to my mom and told her that I needed a nice camera or I was going to get kicked out of the class. So what does any ride-or-die mom do? They get you a used Canon 50D. I was in heaven. My mom quickly figured out that I made up the whole story, but it was too late. She could tell how infatuated I was with taking pictures and editing them. I carried that camera around everywhere. But I never once thought about becoming a photographer.
Fast forward 2 years, I was a freshman in college at the University of North Georgia. I still had my “nice” camera, but I was not a photographer. My mom called me to tell me that her best friend’s daughter was getting married and they wanted me to take the pictures at the wedding…in 2 months. I quickly shot down the opportunity. After all, I only took pictures for fun– never hired since I saw it as too much pressure. Come to find out, it was a “shotgun wedding” in the North Georgia Mountains. It was a quick engagement, small budget, and thrown together wedding. My mother peer pressured me into shooting it. Although I was reluctant, it was the PERFECT start. It was the most intimate backyard wedding with less than 20 people, the sweetest back porch ceremony, and fellowship after. It was everything I needed to give me a push into considering the wedding industry.
Fast forward, almost 9 years later and I’ve created a full time business and brought my husband on-board. It’s so special being able to document and be a part of someone else’s story. It’s even sweeter when you document their life journey. I have some clients who I’ve shot their high school senior pictures and years later, I’m documenting proposals, engagements, maternity pictures, and new families! My husband and I believe in celebrating. So documenting these milestones for clients is such a treat for us. We love serving others and it’s an honor to serve them through during the most important parts of their lives.
Please tell us about your art.
Life should be full of many celebrations. There is nothing worth more than celebrating marriage, engagements, graduating high school, or becoming parents. I love capturing real, authentic relationships– not posing. My goal is to create art, but to also create a connection with my clients. When a client invites me into their circle and let’s down their guard, that’s when the magic happens.
I hope that my art is a direct reflection of my intentions to serve my clients: authentic. I want to serve my clients with beautiful images, but I want to get to know them. I love meeting new people.
My ultimate goal is to capture the intimacy between relationships, and share my clients’ stories.
I hope people walk away feeling full, but also feeling like they just hired someone who’s more than just a photographer– but a husband-wife duo who will put your veil in, cut your cake, soothe your baby, listen to your engagement story with intent, and invest in your family like their own.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Honestly, it bugs the crap out of me when cities require permits to shoot in public parks. I get having restrictions in regards to hosting a stylized shoot or some type of event/idea on a bigger scale. There’s nothing more discouraging as an artist than finding a location. There’s becoming more hoops to jump through, more permits to apply for, and more public areas being layered with restrictions. It’s become much harder to stay creative. If cities want to encourage artists, they need to let their public parks be public– and not have so many string attached. There’s a difference between taking pictures in a park and obtaining a filming permit to host a much larger project.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have a website, but Instagram is the best way to stay up to date on new content and fun Insta stories!
Contact Info:
- Website: hillaryleahphotography.com
- Email: hello@hillaryleahphotography.com
- Instagram: @hillaryleahphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillaryLeahPhotography/
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
