Daily Inspiration: Meet Nick Norman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Norman.

Nick, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My photography journey began in my late teens. I had a basic, cheap camera, and took pictures of an assortment of things: Tigers at the zoo, fireworks in Washington DC, and once… a very scary-looking spider. After maybe 2 years of casual shooting, I gradually stopped photography.

Shortly after, I began my career in “the industry” as a model. I moved to Miami at the age of 20 with the hope and belief that I was going to be a top model in the game. That didn’t exactly happen haha, but I did manage to be successful enough to be a full-time, working commercial actor/model. A few years into my modeling career I became inspired to pick up my camera and photograph some of my friends (and my wife), who were also actors and models. I fell in love with photography and did my research to properly teach myself the technical aspects of it.

Throughout my career, I’ve been a talent manager, agent, and creative director whilst simultaneously doing photography professionally. I landed in Nashville on March 1st, 2023, and am excited to explore a new city and introduce my photography to this market.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a freelancer, there will always be ups and downs. I’ve been fortunate enough to have experience in different roles within the creative industry, so if photography work slowed down as an example, I could fall back on modeling.

Also, diversifying my work and marketing strategies is something I’ve had to be intentional about in order to create more awareness and demand for my brand.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a professional photographer that specializes in lifestyle, portrait, and pet photography. I’m more known for my fashion/lifestyle work with professional actors and models but am quickly establishing myself with my pet portraits as well.

I think I’m most proud of trusting my style and staying authentic to myself and what inspires me as a photographer.

I like creating vibrant, campaign-quality photos, whilst retaining a natural aesthetic. I think a lot of photography is either very edited or a full production where you can tell it’s very “produced”. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I like creating super captivating images with just my camera, the subject(s), and the power of natural sunlight.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Give a little to get a little. If you love what you do, and trust your work, you should be open to innovative ways of getting exposure. “Pound the pavement.” If you’re a food photographer, approach restaurants and ask to photograph their menu for free. You’ll get content, you can reference that restaurant as a client you’ve worked with, you can get a testimonial, etc.

This has been a game-changer for me. Don’t be afraid to give. Soon enough, people will come to you and ask. That’s when you charge.

Contact Info:

• Website: daneshots.com
• Instagram: @DaneShots