Almost 5 1/2 years ago, Michelle Nicole Photography was born, and 4 years ago on July 2011, I said goodbye to my corporate job of 4 years.

I still talk about quitting my job today, as if yesterday felt like I was sitting in my office and talking to my coworkers, and my old manager.  My team was incredibly awesome, we all worked hard, and we played hard – and they will always forever remain family to me.  Recently I shared my story with my dear friends at SLR Lounge, and said about some of the reasons why I left my corporate job to become a full time photographer.  I can tell you that it wasn’t an easy decision but to this day, it was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made in my lifetime.
To figure out which milestone to celebrate is always confusing, but I always like to note July 1st as the anniversary day, because becoming a full time photographer has been a life changing experience.

     “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”  – Confucius

MNP + JMarcMedia

Fast forward to today, I don’t know where this last year has gone.  It almost feels like yesterday when I was celebrating my last MNP anniversary, and it’s crazy what happens in a year.  As of today, and collectively over the 4 years of being a full time photographer, it’s been quite the journey.  As I read over my last year’s anniversary post, I first thought that almost everything is the same, except it’s just a new year.  Actually, in retrospect it somewhat is, but over the course of this year, a lot of new things happened for MNP, which I am forever grateful for!!!

Everyone’s journey through this is different.  When it comes down to it, it’s all a matter of how much you put into it, and what you want out of it.  I could definitely say that this past year, I tried new things with my work and continued to perfect my artistry.  I currently feel that this past year, my learning has become a little bit more stagnant, as I was taught by Scott Robert Lim, when you first begin your photography career and learn photography through workshops, your learning curve exponentially grows fast.  After, when you reach your 3rd, 4th, and maybe 5th year, your learning curve begins changing in different ways, as your learning will start to level out because you’ve learned so much already.   Though, there’s always new things to learn and begin, and there’s ways to find inspiration and to improve your craft.  I feel when the day comes and you feel like you’ve learned it all, is the day that you’ve ended.

Over this past year, I’ve realized I’ve become a lot more thankful to have come this far, and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to embark on this journey.  I was given the choice to quit my job, and I took responsibility for those decisions I made.  I feel a part of it was all good timing, some of it was life falling into place, and the rest of it was many hours of editing in front of the computer.  I feel like I got lucky to find my passion early, and be able to try it out when I don’t have any huge financial responsibilities, or a family to take care of.  I’m very thankful that I had the investment for workshops, and I have a community to talk to when life gets lonely.  I’m also blessed to travel to a few destinations such as New York, Boston, and as well as Los Angeles.  Last but not least, I’m very thankful for the new experiences that I’ve had with the new people I met.  From the people I met at WPPI this past year, the many brides and grooms that have hired me, and to all the people who are close to my heart – thank you, for being my support, a friend, family, and a fan.  Without you, I would not be here today.

I wanted to share with you what I’ve been up to over the past year, so here it is in a nutshell:   

• Continued our Dessert Tour with Kelley from Picture Perfect Events, Alice from iLootPaperie, and James from Mr. & Mrs. Creamery (Dessert tour Facebook:  here  Instagram @desserttour  www.desserttour.com coming soon!  You can see our Dessert Tour blog posts here)
• Continuing our relationship and photography beauty venture with Shear Fashion Salon!  We’ve worked together on so many nails concepts and projects together over the past 5 years, and Rochelle and Phoebe have been such wonderful girls to work with on our projects.  I would do anything for these amazing ladies!
• We were nominated for the top 10 finalists for the cover of NAILS magazine‘s competition!  Again with Shear Fashion Salon – we had two images that placed within the top 8!

• Joined a studio in September, 2014 at Claremont Art Studios in San Mateo, was a part of a First Friday at Claremont Art Studios!  Became studio mates with Pili Lani Events, Passiflora Designs, and Branch out Floral and Event Design.  My dear friends at Delumpa Photography joined us in December 2014.

• Started to shoot newborn photography.  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!  #teambaby

• Collaborated on an inspirational project with my new studio mates, Passiflora Designs and Branch out Floral and Event Design, as well as Shear Fashion Salon.  We got published in Today’s Bride Magazine in January 2015

• Attended WPPI in 2015, and it was the best WPPI yet!  It just keeps getting better.
• Continued to expand my networks and work in Southern California!  I love working here!
• Featured on SLR Lounge and was interviewed by Pye!!  This was such an amazing experience.  I share with you what it’s like to quit your corporate job, how to prepare yourself, and how to continue education.  Thank you, James for believing in me!

3 REASONS SHE LEFT HER CORPORATE JOB FOR PHOTOGRAPHY | INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE NICOLE

3 TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING FROM DAY JOB TO FULL-TIME PHOTOGRAPHER | MICHELLE NICOLE INTERVIEW PART II

4 TIPS ON CONTINUING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION | MICHELLE NICOLE INTERVIEW PART III

• Started to have an admiration for other aspects of photography.

• After joining the studio, we moved to a much bigger space!  In April 2015, we created Studio 5, with Pili Lani Events, Passiflora Designs, Branch out Floral and Event Design, Delumpa Photography, BASH photo, and myself, Michelle Nicole Photography.  We’re still adding more vendors to our collective, so please let me know if you’re interested!

      “You never stop learning when you do what you love.” – Asha Tyson

Here are some MNP goals and projects for this next year:

• Continuing to shoot weddings!  I love my clients for this 2015  year!!  I also love my clients for 2016!  You’re the best!
• Photograph more newborns
• Continuing with our Dessert Tour!
• Helping Shear Fashion Salon enter in the NAHA North American Hairstyling Awards competitions, as well as continuing with photographing nails!
• Grow our Studio 5:  We’re just a little studio in the Peninsula right now, but I’m looking forward to growing it much bigger.
• Working with more assistants and second shooters to the Michelle Nicole Photography Team
• Do some humanitarian photography related work
• Begin shooting a little bit of fashion
• Just as long as my photography helps me reach to great lengths, and meet amazing people like you, I will be happy.

“I’m the type of girl who will always remind you to dream bigger.”

Thank you to everyone – my clients, friends, family, fans, loves, and even followers.  Last year I shared some great takeaways and I wanted to share them with you again, as I feel they are still relevant to my journey today.  I hope these can be relevant to you as well, as you may be in

• Find a mentor.  Find not one, find more.  Shortly after WPPI in March, I met with my mentor, Scott Robert Lim.  It’s been a long time since we’ve actually caught up and had a 1-on-1, and… let me just say, my batteries recharged, ten fold!
• If you have a passion, invest in it.  My passions are travel + beauty + music + desserts + babies + photography.  I haven’t figured out how to incorporate music yet, however, travel, desserts (Dessert Tour), beauty, and photography are slowly merging together.  Babies are a new addition to the passions, because they’re so cute!
• Surround yourself with people you want to be like.  Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of  the five people you spend the most time with.”  If you don’t like who you are and who you’re becoming, look at the people who are surrounding you.
• Meet people and network, but sometimes it takes a little bit more than shaking their hand and exchanging business cards.  Did you make an impact with them that sticks?
• Don’t give up.  Don’t let anyone stand in the way of making your dreams happen.  If so, you can wrap it all up in a present and give the gift to someone else who wants it more.
• Set goals for yourself.  Set long term goals that are 5 years down the line, but don’t forget to set shorter term goals that are easier to attain.  When you find you are reaching and achieving your short term goals, you will find that you are getting closer and closer to your long term goals.
• Immerse yourself with knowledge.  You can never stop learning.  Reading helps
• Stay positive.  Happiness will come.  😀

THANK YOU to:  My wonderful friends, fans, and amazing clients!  Thank you to my photography papa, Scott Robert Lim & the Scott Robert Photography Community who has taught me from the beginning and continue to support each other.  Thank you to the photography/videography friends of Shutter Clique, my friends in San Francisco Bay Area & Los Angeles who continuously share ideas, work, and love.  Thank you to the ladies at Shear Fashion Salon, who we continue to strive for greatness!  There Thank you to all the friends around the world who continue to share my work and my journey.  Thank you to my old coworkers who I continue to keep in touch with and share the “good ol times”, my old MOXY team, and thank you to my boss, aka “Faja,” your mentorship and leadership.  Thank you to my family in Los Angeles who offer a warm place to stay whenever I travel to LA!  Thank you to the future clients that I will meet, I look forward to working with you!!  Most of all, thank you to my parents who continue to support and believe in me – you are my #1 fans.  Without all of you, I would not be here today.  You all have an important place in my life and are all helping me make this dream happen!!!  Thank you all for sharing my craft and my story – cheers to many more to come!

Come take a look, watch the three articles featured on SLR Lounge:

• 3 REASONS SHE LEFT HER CORPORATE JOB FOR PHOTOGRAPHY | INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE NICOLE

• 3 TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING FROM DAY JOB TO FULL-TIME PHOTOGRAPHER | MICHELLE NICOLE INTERVIEW PART II

• 4 TIPS ON CONTINUING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION | MICHELLE NICOLE INTERVIEW PART III