Meet Alicia Nicole | Photographer & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Alicia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always wanted to run businesses. For as long as I can remember, I never saw myself well suited in a typical ‘corporate’ style job. I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs so I have seen and experienced first-hand what it means to own a business. Majoring in Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation at Baylor University, I went into school knowing that if I could understand the foundations, then the options would be endless. Photography is unique in that most often it begins as a hobby… as do most arts. The decade prior to starting my photography business was spent launching a portfolio of my own businesses, mostly in marketing, and consulting for other startup businesses in various industries. I have always had a love for photography and did it as a hobby for many years. It was after having my first child that I decided to pursue photography as a business. Having a strong business background has been an advantage for me. I think often photographers, as artists, are brilliant behind a lens but often struggle to run a profitable business. Where for me, that is my superpower with my unorthodox background.

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.
I specialize in newborn, maternity, and family photography… I do small & intimate weddings as well. I provide my clients more than just a photoshoot, but a carefully curated experience and artwork. As part of the experience, my clients enjoy planning appointments, a client wardrobe, professional hair and makeup, ordering appointments, and fine-art prints customized for each client. Beyond providing my clients high-quality imagery, I am known for providing a luxurious experience that feels different than standard transactional photography, and more like a lasting relationship. I am very proud of where my business is today… it has taken a lot of investment, education, and risk. It was not easy. To be different and to stand out, requires that I do things differently than the status quo. It requires growth, professionalism, and holding myself to a higher standard so that I can provide an experience that far exceeds standard. Curating an experience that is customer-first is very important to me. I want my artwork to bless the families I have the pleasure of working with and in order to do that effectively, I take the time to get to know them, hear their desires, and prioritize their visions.

Gosh there have been so many lessons learned along the way. I would say one that I come back to as so important is the ability to communicate effectively, honestly, and in a timely manner. To lead in your business well means to show up in ways that your customer needs before they even know what they need. I find that comes from great communication. Also knowing your ideal client so well that you can anticipate their needs. Another lesson I would highlight is do what you say you are going to do, every time. Even when it’s hard.

I guess I would hope that the world can recognize that I am using my God-given talents to honor Him in all that I do by serving people well.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a big fan of the outdoors, I would definitely recommend some hikes in the area: Tom’s Thumb, Spur Cross, Gateway Loop, Lost Dutchman, or Usery to name a few! I also love going out to the Salt River and enjoying the recreational areas, or tubing along the river. Butcher Jones, Phon D Sutton, and Water Users are some of my favorite spots along the Salt River! If you’re lucky, you’ll even catch a glimpse of the wild horses! From there, I would head up north either to Sedona or the other side of the state to Payson or up towards Pinetop. Lots of beautiful hikes and a totally different landscape with mountains and pine trees!

Here in the valley, a few fun spots are Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek for your rodeo, country-western fix! We also love heading over to the east valley and visiting downtown Gilbert, peach picking at the Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, and grabbing a delicious bite to eat at the Queen Creek Olive Mill.

Right here in Scottsdale we are so lucky to have some of the best places to eat & drink… a few faves:
Coffee: Firefly Coffee (local and delicious)
Nice Dinner: The Ends in South Scottsdale
Family friendly dinner: Isabella’s Kitchen in Grayhawk
Lunch or Happy Hour: Amelias by Eat
Drinks: Global Ambassador

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?
Yes absolutely… my shoutout is to Amy & Jordan Demos, wedding photographers now in Tennessee, but previously here in the valley. Amy & Jordan actually took family photos for my family many, many years ago when I was in high school. I was so impacted by their people skills that I always remembered them and recalled how pleasant and enjoyable the photoshoots were… so much so, I would look forward to seeing them again for future family photos! More than 10 years after that, I went through training with Amy & Jordan to jumpstart my photography foundations. They inspired me long before I even knew I wanted to run a photography business of my own!

Website: https://www.alicianicolephotos.com

Instagram: @alicianicolephotos

Image Credits
Alicia Nicole Photos