Meet Nicole Tyler | Professional Photographer

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

Hi Nicole, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my business back in 2010 was more of a “snowball effect” than a “thought process”. At that time, I was a massage therapist and I knew that because of how much of a toll that work took on my body, I was not going to be able to do that for very much longer. I asked my husband for a camera for Christmas and he bought it. I was determined to teach myself how to use the camera in Manual mode using the owner’s manual and Youtube University but there were still some dots that didn’t connect for me. Eventually, I decided to go to photography school and, long story made very short, 2 years later, I was awarded “Best Portfolio” of my graduating class. I hit-the-ground-running post-graduation. I took my camera EVERYWHERE and people seemed to be drawn to me asking me if I could take their photos. So, I built a quick website to display my work, bought a box of business cards and said “Yes! I can do that.” to every opportunity that came my way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Through experience, I’ve learned that EVERYONE is photogenic. You just need the right photographer to be able to capture it. When I tell people that I’m a photographer, they automatically assume that I have an easy job. I love being a photographer but first, I am a business owner. Business owners are “the only people who work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours.” Second, I’m a photographer. I believe Photographers are the unsung heroes in life. LOL. Not only are we photographers, but we are expected to also be invisible (sometimes), comedians, therapists, mind-readers, physicists, magicians, as well as a host of other occupations. My “Jack-of-all-Trade” personality has prepared me well for the multi-faceted title of “photographer”. This job is certainly not “easy” but still enjoyable.

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.
I LOVE food and Georgia has the Best of Food! Another Broken Egg (any location) has the best scrambles for breakfast. Red Sky Tapas and Bar in Marietta has amazing food and awesome drinks. For event space, “The Gathering Spot” is highly recommended. For a more classy night, the Red Phone Booth is top-notch for drinks and cigars and the Suite Lounge downtown is great for night-life.

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 owe much of my success to my husband. From being my business coach to my best friend, his support has not only helped me to pursue my passion but to build a successful business. I also owe much of my business mindset to my parents. My mother, being a business owner herself, taught me professionalism and work-ethic from a young age. She taught me that sometimes business owners have to wear many hats. At her salon, I’d have to answer the phones, book appointments, clean, and run errands for supplies and help out with other jobs. My father showed me creativity, discipline, independence, and how to turn my talents into profit. There are lots of others who pushed me along, who gave me advice, and those who also gave criticisms that all have helped me grow. I’m thankful for every one of those people.

Website: www.nicole-tyler.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/nicoletylerphoto

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletyler/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleTylerImaging/