Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Leone.
Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi I’m a Jacksonville local photographer who specializes in Small/Intimate Weddings, Elopements, Seniors/Graduations, Newborn, Couples, and Families. Pretty much anything with people in it. I’m also making strides to do more branding photography for small businesses.
I got started in college by just taking photos of anything and everyone I knew. I brought my camera on every trip, adventure, and outing with friends. I even started to take photos for my campus ministry’s Instagram page. I learned so much by just stepping out and taking photos. I spent hours in Lightroom learning how to edit photos through videos and by just playing around with the settings. I ended up creating my own presets from all that I learned, and I frequently tweak them for each session I do.
After finishing college, I continued to perfect my skills until I set out to spend a full year really focusing only on photography and building a client base after getting married in 2019. This was a big year for me where I perfected the coloring of my photos and booked my first wedding.
In February 2021, I officially launched my business. I couldn’t (and still can’t) believe I got to do this full-time for a living. I had a goal when I launched my business that I still hold onto today which is to glorify God with everything I do in this business. Both in the way I represent myself and also in my photos. I continue to work hard to do this in every part of my business.
I love working with my clients to really dream up their sessions. Anything from outfits to the location to what they are wanting to shine through in their photos. Photography just gives me so much joy and life. I love what I do and continue to praise God for all that He has provided for me in this business.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Well of course there will always be challenges in owning a business, especially a type of business that can be very subjective. However, I honestly feel as if I’m in my first challenging season currently with finding the balance of being a wife, a mother, and a business owner. My husband and I had our first child in January of this year and are so in love with her.
I truly love having all three of these roles and am grateful to be able to serve my family in such a special way. I have found myself having a lot of dreams, ideas, and so much vision for my business ever since becoming a mom. I wouldn’t have imagined having all of that while being a new mom, yet I have found it tough in this season to do anything additional besides communication, sessions, and editing with such a young child. This might be partly due to my daughter being awful at taking naps. Although she is sleeping through the night so I can’t complain too much.
Even though it’s tough having so many dreams for this business and not much time to execute them, I know this is only a season and that I am supposed to be in all of these wonderful roles. I also know that God can continue making room to do the things He has called me to, no matter how tough they seem.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently focusing on Small/Intimate Weddings, Elopements, Newborn, Senior/Graduation, Families, and Couples photography. I am probably most known for Family photography.
I am most proud of how I have continued to grow as a photographer and how far I have come. In the last five years, I started photography as a hobby and turned it into a small business. I am also proud of taking so many opportunities to serve my local church in photography to grow my skills over the years.
I also have this desire to help raise up the next generation of creatives. I want to aid them in building and growing their talents. By doing this, I believe in encouraging others to pursue their giftings and creating fun community events that help them overcome challenges they may be facing.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have a passion for interior design. I almost majored in this in college but found myself sticking with business. My husband and I dream of building our own home one day. Our plan is to have an architect draw up the official plans with our guidance of what we are thinking we want, and we would design it. I am planning on, of course, having a studio/office for photography in our dream home. I cannot wait for that season! Honestly, if I ever decided that my season of photography was ending, I would most likely attempt to work in the interior design world.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.nicoleleonephoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleleonephoto/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicoleleonephoto
Image Credits
Sol Beautiful Makeup, Style Betsy Pro Makeup Artistry Love, A Bridal Boutique Braid Bar St. Augustine Foxhound Florals, Kiara Shannelle Makeup Artistry, and Epping Forest Yacht Club
