Nicole Bowman of North Phoenix on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Nicole Bowman and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Nicole, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
This year I have been really trying to focus on who I am. For me that means spending time with friends, reading books, listening to a ton of Taylor Swift, snuggling dogs, and rock climbing. Life is too short not to find what you love, and spend as much time as you can doing that.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an Arizona photographer specializing in families, professional branding, and dogs. I have worn many hats in my life, and was an elementary school teacher, a dog rescue director, employed with a large corporate brand, and have managed social media accounts for local businesses. Because of this, I am uniquely positioned to help bring out the joy in your kids, make your pets feel comfortable, and to help make your brand shine!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
The pressures of this world can be so challenging to navigate. In my early years, joy came to me so easily, and I didn’t feel the need to be what was deemed “cool.” As I got older, it became less important to focus on the things that I loved, but what I needed to do to fit in.

It’s amazing what life in your 30’s and a fantastic therapist can do to change perspective. I am no longer focused on impressing those around me, and have been able to find myself both as a person and a photographer.

Getting into photography, the comparison game is so easy to fall in to. It’s so difficult to take a step back, and find your own style and confidence in your work. After being in this business for nearly 10 years, I am now able to see that I am creating one-of-a-kind art, and that my relationship with my clients is the soul of what I do.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
As an adult, I was once told, “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” I wish I had been told that so much earlier in life. Being a perfectionist can make some of your best work stay hidden, and stop you from reaching your highest potential.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The photography industry is full of people who will tell you that the market is saturated and everyone is your competition. I have found so many friends within this industry, and some of my best supporters are fellow-photographers. Mentoring and supporting new photographers brings me so much joy!

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
This is such an important concept to recognize! There are many niches in photography, and we can’t be amazing at all of them! I love to try new things, but I can recognize when the new challenge is so high that I am not presenting my best work. These instances allow me to take a step back and decide if this is a route that I would be interested in learning about further, or if the best option is to refer the work out to someone who excels at that niche. Having a network of other photographers is so helpful in either learning the new skill or finding someone who can do the work much better than I ever could!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nicolebowmanphotography@gmail.com
• Instagram: @nicolebowmanphotography