Meet Nicole Van Zutphen | Conservation Storyteller

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

Hi Nicole, how does your business help the community?
I’m so thankful that more conversations are arising regarding environmental action and our rapidly changing climate is getting some much-needed attention. The way I’ve always wanted to help is to make scientifically complex or complicated topics more digestible to an everyday audience. So many people, like me, don’t come from science backgrounds but want to help, and I think conservation communication is a great vehicle for spreading the word and sharing ideas through stories. Photography, films, creative writing – these are powerful tools that can inspire people and change behaviors.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been a creative person and wanted to jump into a career that involves art, and for a long time I thought that meant I couldn’t have a job surrounding conservation that would actually make an impact. After I graduated from a program specializing in Creative Industries, I (quite spontaneously) applied for a multi-media internship in the Peruvian Amazon. I ended up staying there over 6 months, learning everything I could about conservation communication and media work. Now I work at as photographer, videographer, conservation storyteller, and I get to tell stories visually that (hopefully) not just tell, but show people what’s going on in our world and (again, hopefully) inspire them to act. Wildlife, nature, outdoors, adventure, conservation – sometimes I struggle to correctly label myself, but I’ve landed on “storyteller” and that seems to be a good fit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Definitely The White Tanks – such a great spot for a jaunt and to enjoy some great views. The Japanese Friendship Garden is also beautiful, another one of my favorite spots for a stroll.

If you love a good paddle, you can get a kayak to take along The Salt River … just take a good drybag for your camera if you plan to snap some wildlife photos.

As for food… Chino Bandito is a very tasty Chinese/Mexican fusion place. Also, The Greek Wraps on 83rd Ave and Bell – best Greek food in The Valley.

And a fav shop has to be Zia Records

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was lucky enough to have an incredible mentor while completing an internship in the Peruvian Amazon. Pierre Giraud is an incredibly talented wildlife photographer and teacher, who not only taught me technical skills surrounding photography and filmmaking, but who spent hours on hours trekking through the jungle with me while teaching me bird calls, ethical behavior around wildlife, and just general life lessons I’ll carry with me forever.

Website: nicolevanzutphen.com

Instagram: @nicolevan.zutphen

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanzutphennicole/

Image Credits
All wildlife images are mine as is the image of the truck through the trees, all others are taken by Pierre Giraud