Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Nikolaeva.
Hi Maria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Russia and I came to the Bay Area when I was four, from there on I moved a lot around that area. I moved out to Downtown San Jose when I 20 and finished my psychology degree. I told myself once I graduate, I want to move to LA and strictly focus on Photography. I thought I had a clear plan and path to my photography goals. Little did I know…..I didn’t know anything! I didn’t know how to market myself, didn’t know how to network and connect with businesses and models, I was very overwhelmed and lost. But with the great support of my friends and other local artists I learned, grew a lot, developed so many skills, finding new and different ways of making art through photography. This journey has been one hell of a ride but I’m not stopping here! THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, growing your photography career from nothing and turning it into a business is very difficult, but we have the resources and support to overcome those struggles. As long as I have passion, I won’t stop.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for the bright colors of fashion and set designs. The most recent thing I’m proud of is I built a realistic Hollywood mountain and city, while my model was dressed as a sun goddess of Hollywood, sitting behind the Hollywood mountain. I studied the mountain from all angles and different street views that point up to the sign itself. It took a lot of time and resources but it was very much worth it in the end. What sets me apart from many other artists is because I can make any idea into reality, no matter how crazy or small it is, I will find a way or I will teach myself editing programs to achieve the result.
Any big plans?
My main goal is to work with so many other great artists so I would learn from them. My goal is for my name and my work to be well known, I want to make outside the box thinking art with others, I want to have a great team behind me.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nik.olsm/
Image Credits:
Katey @kxtydid – Makeup Artist
