Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Godinez-Medina.
Nicole, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles, West Covina, CA. Born to a musician father and super creative mother who were both incredibly hard-working entrepreneurs. I am really just a product of a lot of love, great inspiration, and artistic influence. My work in the creative life started as a kid growing up in the dance world for over many years, and with the encouragement of my mother I eventually was given the opportunity to dance with the Joffery Ballet of Chicago for their residency at the Music Center in Los Angeles for two years from 1995 to 1996 at the age of nine and ten.
Dance is incredibly challenging, not only physically but also mentally and artistically as well. Thru dance, I learned the discipline and hard work it took to be the best at whatever I did. Later on in college, I went to art school, where by chance I took a photography class as an elective. It was in that time discovering this medium where I fell in love with Picasso’s light painting photography. It was truly impactful to see what could be done visually thru his work and in that class I decided to change my major to photography.
I graduated with a BFA in Photography in 2009 from Cal State University Long Beach and continued studies at Art Center at Night. From there, I assisted many photographers and worked extremely hard to make ends meet waitressing while simultaneously building a portfolio on my days off. In 2014 I was hired as a full-time photographer at Revolve Clothing, which really immersed me in the world of fashion as well as e-commerce business. It was there I really grew as a professional photographer being surrounded by many talented creative professionals. This past year, I left my position at Revolve to go full force in my photography career on my own which has been incredibly fruitful and I have already shot for so many great campaigns and projects for great organizations such as We All Grow Latina where I was able to shoot Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, and also shot campaigns for LA Retro Girl, a great new boutique brand out of Los Angeles.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not sure if there is such a thing as a smooth road in anyone’s life, and I will be honest and say, it hasn’t always been an easy road for me either. Struggles are inevitable but it’s all how you handle it while you ride the wave of hardship. I always like the saying, “You can’t stop the waves but you can learn how to surf.” For me struggles came into my life thru my mom’s battle with ovarian cancer in 2011 and the passing of my father in 2013. It was not easy in the slightest watching my parents both ill, it feels like a strange scary film that you always want to escape but you can’t because it’s your parents but I looked to my faith in God to carry me thru all the scary days. In many ways, I was knocked off my feet but it also made me who I am today. I believe it made me work that much harder, dream bigger and pushed myself farther to make my parents proud and make me proud. The loss of my father and the illness of my mom in some ways inspired me take leaps I might have never would. I would say to anyone in the struggle of life and still trying to create, just take it a day at a time, be gentle with your self and try to set a schedule to create when you can, become financially savvy as possible to thrive and stay true to your artistic vision. There were many times I wasn’t able to focus on my career to take care of my family but I will never regret it because I would be more upset if I was not there to support them. There is always a way if you put forth effort and as always willing to put in the work.
Nicole Godinez Photography – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a photographer, I specialize in editorial portrait, fashion, and lifestyle photography and I love storytelling thru art direction as well. I am proud of the work I do because I do it with heart and I try to give more than what my clients ask for always. I feel my fine art background sets me apart visually due to all the years of studying the fundamentals of great artist and learning from some of greatest, along with having great exposure to working in a professional fashion world that I have a great knowledge of the dynamics of the profession. Everyone seems to wears many hats, but I seem to find ones that fit just right. Being creative at my core, I have utilized my skills to provide visual solutions for small to large organizations.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’m proud of it all, despite the tough moments. I am still here in it, living my best creative life and enjoying it all. I can’t pick just one. I will leave you with one quote I find to be true, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nicolegodinezphotography.com
- Phone: 6265336894
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @nicolegodinezphoto
- Facebook: Nicole Godinez Photography
- Yelp: Nicole Godinez Photography
Image Credit:
All photos Shot by Nicole Godinez-Medina
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