Local StoriesDecember 22, 2025

Check Out Nicole Mines’s Story

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Mines.

Hi Nicole, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved capturing moments…the ones that pass by too quickly, the ones you wish you could hold onto just a little longer. To me, photography has always been about more than just an image; it’s about storytelling, emotion, and preserving a feeling.

About ten years ago, my mom surprised me with a Sony A9 that she purchased from a friend. At the time, I didn’t realize how meaningful that gift would become. I mostly used it casually…photographing my son at his sporting events and experimenting here and there. Without the right lenses or direction, photography was simply a hobby.

That changed in 2016, when I received a better lens and began doing portrait photography for friends, family, and coworkers. What started as practice quickly turned into something deeper. Photography became an escape…a way to step away from stress and life’s pressures and pour myself into something creative. That’s when I launched Yolo Photo, which later evolved into Yolo Media Solutions.

The name “Yolo” comes from a phrase I grew up saying …You Only Live Once. While the saying can mean different things to different people, to me it represents seizing the moment, taking risks, and stepping outside of your comfort zone. It aligns perfectly with photography: capturing fleeting moments that will never happen again.

For several years, I focused on portrait photography, often doing free sessions to build confidence and refine my craft. Then life changed abruptly. My stepdad passed away suddenly in a car accident, deeply impacting my family. Three years later, my brother died by suicide. Those losses shook me to my core, and for nearly five years, I barely touched my camera. Looking back, I sometimes wonder why I didn’t lean into photography during that time…but grief doesn’t follow logic.

Everything shifted again in March of 2025.

While on spring break in Corpus Christi, Texas, with my son and his friend, I reconnected with photography in an unexpected way. A close friend of mine plays for the professional indoor football team, the Salina Liberty. We spent time talking on the beach about life, photography, and whether I should pick the camera back up…but this time, in a new direction. I told him I didn’t want to return to portrait photography and was curious about sports or concert photography instead.

He encouraged me to bring my camera to the game and just try.

I didn’t make it past security… professional camera, detachable lens, no media pass. But that moment lit a fire. After the game, we talked more, and he pushed me to figure out how to gain access to sporting events if that’s what I truly wanted to do.

So, I did.

When I returned home, I researched, joined a freelance photography organization, and began reaching out to teams and venues for media credentials. Rejections came quickly…especially from concert venues asking for portfolios I didn’t yet have. It was discouraging, but I understood that stepping into a new genre meant starting from zero again.

Then came a yes.

The Colorado Spartans indoor football team welcomed me in without hesitation.

On May 3rd, 2025, I shot my first professional football game. I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. When I got home and reviewed my images, the excitement quickly turned into disappointment…motion blur, missed focus, and technical limitations from my lens. But instead of quitting, I learned. I researched. I invested in better gear. And I kept going.

From there, everything accelerated.

I’ve since photographed professional indoor football teams including the Salina Liberty, Kansas Southwest Storm, and Colorado Spartans, as well as the semi-pro NOCO Nightmare. I earned a CHSAA media pass, allowing me to cover numerous high school programs and championship games at CSU for 3A, 4A, and 5A classifications. I’ve photographed the UNC Bears football season, a game for the Colorado School of Mines, countless youth football games, and provided team photos for a youth league. I was also able to cover a University Of Providence Hockey game.

Along the way, I discovered another passion…sports graphics. Game-day graphics, athlete features, and creative visuals became another outlet for my love of art and storytelling.

I’ve also had the opportunity to shoot Denver Fashion Week across three different days and am currently expanding into basketball. The Berthoud Varsity Girls Basketball program reached out after seeing my work, and I now photograph their season.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much my life has changed from one conversation on a beach. Photography is no longer just something I enjoy… it’s how I tell stories, honor moments, and remind myself that even after loss, growth is possible.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all…and it’s been challenging in more ways than one.

Professionally, one of the biggest struggles was starting over in a new genre with no portfolio. Reaching out to teams and venues often meant hearing “no” or not hearing back at all, especially when I didn’t yet have sports or concert work to show. That was discouraging, but I understood that earning trust takes time and consistency.

There were also technical hurdles early on. At my first professional football game, I quickly learned that my equipment wasn’t quite suited for fast-paced sports. Many of my images had motion blur, which was frustrating in the moment, but it pushed me to learn faster, invest in better gear, and refine my skills.

On a personal level, balancing everything has been one of the hardest parts. I work a full-time 9-to-5 job while also being a single parent. Between providing for my child, managing everyday life stresses, and carving out time to shoot, edit, network, and create, there were moments when it felt overwhelming. Building a photography business doesn’t stop when the workday ends…a lot of the growth has happened late nights, early mornings, and weekends.

There’s also the pressure of wanting to succeed…not just creatively, but financially…so that photography can eventually become my full-time career. Trying to be present as a parent while chasing a dream that demands so much time, and energy is a constant balancing act.

Despite all of that, I’ve learned that persistence matters more than perfection. The struggles taught me discipline, time management, and resilience. Every obstacle has reinforced why I’m doing this…not just to build a career I love, but to show my son what it looks like to take a leap of faith and work relentlessly toward something meaningful.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a sports and event photographer focusing mainly on whatever sport is in season, and live events, but I still shoot portrait photography as well. Portraits were my foundation, and they continue to shape how I approach sports…especially when it comes to emotion and storytelling. Right now, I’m really enjoying action photography and the challenge of capturing fast-paced moments while continuing to try new things creatively.

I’m known for documenting more than just the action. I focus on the moments around the play…sideline reactions, celebrations, adversity, and the details that tell the full story. I also create sports graphics like game-day visuals and athlete features, which allows teams to extend their storytelling beyond the field.

What I’m most proud of is building my sports portfolio from the ground up in a short amount of time. I earned media credentials through persistence and consistency and now cover professional, collegiate, high school, and youth programs. What sets me apart is my work ethic and willingness to adapt—I don’t take access for granted, and I approach every opportunity ready to learn, grow, and capture meaningful moments.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I see myself continuing to grow as a professional visual storyteller and building photography into a full-time career. Right now, I’m really enjoying sports and action photography, but I don’t want to limit myself to one lane. I plan to keep learning, experimenting, and expanding my skill set, including tapping more into videography to create well-rounded, game-day and short-form content.

My goal is to deepen my presence in sports media by working closely with teams, schools, and organizations to tell complete stories through photography, video, and creative visuals. Long term, I would love the opportunity to shoot at the highest levels of sports, including an NFL or NBA game. I’m realistic about the work it takes to get there, and I see every level I’ve shot so far as preparation for the next step.

Ultimately, I want to build a career rooted in adaptability, trust, and storytelling. Wherever the industry evolves, I see myself growing with it…staying curious, pushing creative boundaries, and capturing meaningful moments that people connect with and remember.

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