Grant Humphrey's Mansion wedding picture

As a recent bride myself I attended a ton of bridal shows, usually left just feeling overwhelmed & dizzy by the endless rows of booths lined up trade show style.  It wasn’t until I started looking into doing bridal shows for my own business that I realized there were others out there with a whole different feel & personality.  The Quality Hill Bridal Show  in Denver, CO takes place in the beautiful Grant Humphrey’s Mansion, not a lame convention center.  They also host a limited number of vendors, so you don’t feel bombarded with sales tricks, and hold informative workshops along with a ton of other bonuses.   I would recommend this show to all brides looking for a little guidance with their wedding planning, as well as an enjoyable personable experience.  And make sure to stop by my booth upstairs in the bridesmaid room, I’ll be doing a drawing to give away a Bridal Boudoir photo shoot!  Scroll down for more info. or check out  Quality Hill Bridal Show.

Grant Humphrey's Mansion wedding picture

Sunday, January 30, 2011  •  11:00 am – 3:00 pm

• Taste incredible food from Colorado’s top caterers & bakers
• Talk one-on-one with experts: photographers, DJs, bridal salons, planners
• Obtain ideas by viewing work samples from linen companies, invitation designers, florists, and hair & make-up artists
• Observe live models boasting the latest wedding fashions
• Take with you an incredible canvas re-usable goodie bag which includes a keepsake 60-page wedding planning guide and lots of goodies!
• Listen to live pianist and take notes for your own wedding music!
• Click here to view the 2011 exhibiting vendors

Grant Humphrey's Mansion wedding picture

Grant Humphrey's Mansion wedding picture

To see more sexy samples, go to:  Nicole Nichols Wedding Website & click on “sexy & fun gallery”   & click on “boudoir” under blog categories.

New Orleans Engagement Photography

Kay & David met up with me for their engagement shoot near where they live & love, in downtown New Orleans. It was a frigid, windy day (yes, it does get cold in New Orleans) and we even considered rescheduling their photo shoot. However, we decided it would be best to just do it anyway and I promised to find some fun indoor spots to shoot. We met in New Orleans’ warehouse district and quickly walked around the neighborhood moving & shooting fast to stay warm. Luckily Kay & David had no problem snuggling to keep warm, and they were still able to have fun with the shoot, laughing & smiling the whole way. I really wanted to get some shots of them on the streetcar, but being the last stop on the line, it was so crowded that we didn’t think we would fit and opted to drive down to the French Quarter instead. We then took an Abita beer break at the W Hotel, where we warmed up and found a bunch of really cool spots for pictures. Once the sun went down we went to Coliseum Square Park where they got engaged and David got down on one knee to replay the proposal. We got a few more night shots but with the temperature dropping, we moved fast & called it a wrap. Thanks Kay & David for being good troopers, you guys were a blast to work with!

New Orleans Engagement pictures

downtown French Quarter

W Hotel in New Orleans

Colisseum Square Park in New Orleans

Before I got into weddings I used to photograph a lot of models and fashion related events. I love shooting fashion, but it has been a while since I have done it, so I was pretty excited when Eco-Bridal asked me to photograph the fashion show for them.   Below are some shots from Friday night’s Bridal Soiree wedding showcase at Kevin Taylor’s Opera House , and if you haven’t already seen it scroll down to the mini-music video I put together as well.  If you were a bride at the bridal soiree I would love to hear what you thought about the event. I personally thought Flawless, Timeless, & Blue did a fabulous hosting a unique bridal show that was not only an entertaining night out for couples, but provided an intimate real experience for brides….stark contrast to the huge trade show style wedding shows that I’m not personally a fan of.   Brides & grooms to be, what did you think of the Bridal Soiree?
And to see the rest of my pictures from the show, go to: Bridal Soiree Photo Gallery

Fashion Show

Bridal Soiree

Last night was a blast working at Flawless, Timeless, & Blue’s Bridal Soiree at Kevin Taylor’s Opera House!  This venue is so beautiful, dramatic, and modern, that I’m crossing my fingers I book a wedding here soon!  Hypnotiq served up yummy cocktails, Kevin Taylor’s catering provided outstanding food, and Simply Entertainment entertained the crowd.  I had my Boudoir booth set up which drew a lot of attention…and smiles from the guys. One lucky bride won a “Bridal Boudoir” photo shoot, and so many prizes were given away I think most brides left with an unexpected prize. Check out the mini music video below to view the highlight of the night, the fashion show sponsored by Eco-Bridal & FTB. Thanks to all the sponsors & vendors for a fabulous night!

Brides & grooms to be, what are you doing this Friday night?

Enjoy an amazing evening out at The Bridal Soiree

This is not a boring lame convention center bridal show, this will be a fun date night at a beautiful location with entertainment, drinks by Hypnotiq, a fashion show, some of the best vendors in town, and soo much more!!

Check out my Bridal Boudoir booth for some secret specials & a chance to win a Bridal Boudoir photo shoot.

After a long holiday vacation I am back in Denver, back to work and excited about what is to come for 2011!  I have copied my 2010 Year in Review Newsletter below, if you would like to stay updated with photo tips, events, & photography specials, then please Sign up for my newsletters.
Cheers to 2011!
Nicole

2010 Year in Review & What’s Next for 2011

Changes in economy= change of focus. Art sales took one of the biggest hits in this tight economy.  One adjustment I made was taking a big step back from my fine art photography to focus more on portraits and weddings.   I used the slow season to stay educated through various photography conventions and workshops.  Despite the economy, I ended up staying extra busy this year with jobs in both Denver & New Orleans, and even booked a few destination weddings to keep me shooting (& warm) in the winter months.

A helping hand…In 2010 I volunteered countless hours of photography services and donated some of my fine art & photo sessions to help raise money for various non-profits including the Boulder Women’s Health Clinic & the Coastal Heritage Society of Louisiana.  I also kept my calendar full as a volunteer board member for American Society of Media Photographers and as an active member of Association of Bridal Consultants and The Wedding Connectors.

I added associate photographer, Ashley Anderson, to my team. We have been working together for a few years and now she also assists me in the office & covers any events I am unable to photograph myself.  She is a true artist & an engaging people-person and I’m thrilled to have her working with me.

100th Wedding & Video?! In 2010 Nikon starting integrating HD video into pro SDLR cameras…and always wanting to be on top of the tech world, I anxiously jumped on board!  I certainly do not intend on switching to video, but I am excited to play with the idea of collaborating video clips with my photography to create truly unique fusion documentaries.   For my 100th wedding, I attempted my first mini video (just 20 seconds), during their 2nd line parade through the French Quarter.  As my first, it is far from impressive, but I received this response from the unsuspecting bride:
We loved the video – thank you so much!! I just want to let you know how special the photos and video are — my dad passed away last week and so these are the last photographs I will ever have of him — and how precious they are to me.  Thank you for everything, we are more than pleased with it all.      – Lauren and Seth

Upcoming Events in 2011:
Fri. Jan.14: A Bridal Soiree at The Opera House in downtown Denver
Sun. Jan.30: Quality Hill Bridal Show at Grant Humphrey’s Mansion in Denver, Colorado
Sat. Feb.5: The Wedding Connectors Open House in Denver, CO
TBD: Nicole Nichols Photography Client & Vendor Appreciation Party in Denver, CO

Plans for 2011:
* New website
* Planning a trip to Africa in the Spring (part volunteer work & part pleasure)
* Expanding my Boudoir & Baby photography line, as well as further outreach to the LGBT community

Happy New Year Everyone!  And remember…while you are waiting to get frisked at the airport security line…keep a positive outlook because you never know who will be standing right next to you.  This year I booked a wedding after a lucky encounter with a bride-to-be in a long airport security line. It reminded me how interlaced my business is with my life, and you never know who you could meet while waiting in line!