A Day With Nickel City Studios

There are some funny things that happen when you plan a cross-country move. You would think (having been through it before) that I would be prepared for all of it, but somehow it is brand new again. In the midst of packing and saying goodbye to old friends (hoping and praying we will find new ones where we’re going), you actually find yourself reevaluating all of your priorities. Giving away or throwing out things that no longer serve you, letting go of habits that aren’t helping you (so hard for this control freak/perfectionist), and spending time and energy where it matters most. Somehow, amidst the chaos, I am reaching an entirely new level of clarity.

I’ve said that this move is bittersweet and that still holds true. I have moments of incredible excitement mixed with flashes of crippling doubt. I can’t believe this is happening so fast. There were so many people we wanted to see and things we wanted to do one last time that will probably have to wait for our first visit back (Summer 2012 latest!). With time running short and a to do list threatening to swallow me whole I just couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something critical I was missing. One thing I had to do, for myself and for my business, before I left Buffalo…

If you live in WNY and you are interested in photography, have ever gotten married, or are just plain awesome, you have probably heard of Nickel City Studios. When I decided to follow my heart and pursue photography full time Rich and Alyssa were the first photographers I came across when scoping out the lay of the land. I was immediately blown away by their work and I am still amazed with every visit to their blog. They set the bar REALLY high for those of us working to make it in this industry. I wanted to be them. Okay, maybe not be them, but I thought it would unbelievable to to learn from them. I tucked it away in my mind in the “maybe some day” category and moved on with my life. Fast forward almost a year and I randomly bumped into them before a family session behind Albright Knox. In our 3 minute conversation I realized that they were exactly who I thought they would be. Not only were they insanely talented photographers, but they were real and authentic ambassadors of their brand…exactly what I aspire to be! The want to learn from them quickly turned into a this has to happen!!! Not long after this chance encounter we solidified our moving plans. I quickly decided that I could not leave Buffalo without having a mentoring session with Rich and Alyssa. I would take on as much additional work as I needed to pay for it. And it was easily of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

So Nickel City Studios is really known for their wedding and engagement photography, but I’m going to step out and say that their true genius is in what they do with families. Rich + Alyssa are incredible people and parents and they just have this innate sense of how to make people feel comfortable. Not only that, but they are in tune with the good stuff…those subtle and fast fleeting moments that when captured, make a photograph something way more special than we were all in this place together on this day, smiling at the camera. It is something more meaningful, a photograph that makes you laugh or tear up when you relieve the memory of the moment. It is magic. That is exactly what Nickel City Studios works with their families…magic. To see it firsthand and shoot alongside of them is not something I will soon forget. It reminded me of why I chose to make this my career, my life. And it reaffirmed what I told them when we were planning the day, that as much as I love my brides (boy do I love them!), kids and families are at the heart of my business. I am most me, most authentic, when I’m working with families. I’m still fine tuning the details, but that it is what will be my focus in San Diego. It feels like a big step, but the right one.

I’d like to share some of the photos we made that day. Our model family (Leo, Leni, Keri + Josh) were an absolute joy to work with! They were fun, stylish, real, and completely in love with each other. It was a dream session (dream day, really) and I’m so grateful to Rich + Alyssa for who they are and what they do. R+A, thanks again for everything. You guys are the real deal! Please do not hesitate to ask if you ever need anything at all. Maybe a sunny place to crash when Buffalo is (still) putting on her winter show in February? You just let me know