Meet Nicole Kovacs | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Kovacs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Very few days go by that I don’t think of the Mary Oliver quote, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

For me, I’ve always been deeply aware of time, how it passes, and how it can’t be brought back. When a moment passes us by, how will we remember it? When a loved one leaves this plane, what is left behind? I think that’s partly how I found my love of photography. Through the images I create, time stops for just a moment and that memory can be saved forever.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
To tell you about my art, I have to start off by saying that first and foremost, I’m a storyteller. Over the years, I have told stories in many ways, depending on how I can best serve that story. I’ve come alive as an actor, discovered new depths as a screenwriter, been empowered as a film director and feel wildly fulfilled as a photographer. All of these avenues of storytelling are incredibly special to me, but for the sake of this interview, I’ll narrow it down to photography today.

I think what sets me apart from other photographers is my love of storytelling and the emotional connection I have with my work. Every photo session I do is an opportunity to learn about others and present them in their best light, both literally and figuratively. It’s easy to make a pretty picture, but it takes genuine care and understanding to dig deeper with people in order to bring out their truest selves.

This journey hasn’t been easy, in fact, I’d be lying to you if I said it’s easy now– it’s not. There’s so much competition and it seems like every day, there’s more to keep up with. But not doing what I love isn’t even an option. A huge part of pursuing any artistic career is perseverance. I’ve been shooting since I was ten years old when my mom signed me up for a summer art camp. There was a portion dedicated to teaching us photography and I took to it immediately, first shooting on film and developing my works in the darkroom, to now shooting digitally and trading that darkroom for a computer (but oh, do I ever miss the tranquility and smells of the darkroom). Over the last couple decades, I’ve learned to look at things from new angles, how to play with light in a way that creates magic in the camera and how to form connections with people that go deeper than the lens. Even to this day, I’m still learning to be better at running a business, because after all, there’s more to this than just art. For me, the secret is to get organized, listen, be present, never stop learning and continue pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.

In the end, all we have are our memories. How will we pass down those moments if not through personal stories and photographs? It is my hope to help those around me to tell their story to future generations. I like to think that’s what my brand represents. Timelessness, honesty and connection.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s so much to pick from in Atlanta and throughout North Georgia! We would definitely have to hit up a couple of favorite restaurants, such as O-ku or St. Cecilia, then grab brunch at The Garden Room. Maybe we’d catch an improv show at Dad’s Garage or Whole World, or see who’s performing an acoustic show at Eddie’s Attic. If they’re here for a whole week, we’d make a day out of the North Georgia wineries, and even maybe stop by Painted Horse Winery to sip wine and pet animals. Plus, can you imagine all the photographic adventures we could have in between these destinations?!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m very fortunate to have a lot of cheerleaders in my life, but my first and lifelong cheerleader is definitely my mom. So many times, a child goes to their parents and expresses their creative dreams, only to be told that it’s a pipe dream, or that they should choose a more stable path, etc. But that wasn’t my experience. My mom has always supported my endeavors and encouraged me to do what makes me happy. I’m very grateful for her unwavering belief in me.

Website: www.NicoleKovacsPhoto.com

Instagram: @NicoleKovacsPhotography

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/nicolekovacsphotography/