Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Nickel.
Hi Jeff, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I got started in photography back in high school when film was still king. Once I got to college, photo classes were limited to photography majors, so I gave up those dreams and took a Digital Media path. After college, I had been working at a marketing agency when an opportunity at a major theme park opened in their Photo Imaging department. Now, 13 years later, I am still making magic there and fully involved in photography at work and in my personal life!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Early on in my career, I was responsible for producing many different photoshoots and wrangling talent from many different disciplines. I always made sure to pay attention to what worked and what did not until I felt confident enough to dip my toe in as the lead photographer on these shoots. Trial by fire is scary, and I made several mistakes along the way, but I was able to learn and adapt to make less mistakes on each shoot.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Before COVID, I was happiest photographing people in a studio environment, whether against a backdrop or on location. I enjoy playing with light and using strobe lights to layer a scene and bring story to my work. Getting published is usually the end goal, but collaboration with other artists, from models to hair & makeup artists to stylists, is the real value. Bringing together people who are experts in their craft makes the final work that much better!
During lockdown, my love for film has been rekindled and I have been enjoying all aspects of the analog process. When I’m limited to 10-12 images on a roll of medium format film, I tend to slow down and really take my time when making images. Once we can all co-mingle again, I hope to blend both film and portraiture much more frequently.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Technology continues to dominate the photography industry, with smartphones making huge leaps in quality. What was once a specialty field is now readily available in everyone’s pocket and in many cases, can directly compete with the best photographers. It’s not something I plan to fight. I intend to adapt and continue on for as long as I can still hold on.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://nickelphoto.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/nickelmedia
- Other: http://instagram.com/negativenickel (my new film photography account) http://waistlevel.com (my film blog)
