Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Elliott.
Hi Nicole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a mother, a wife and a wild dreamer. As a 4th generation “Mom-preneur” I come from a long line of dreamer women who had one goal in mind… to dare to push beyond their own limitations and make something amazing with what little they had. In doing so, they would leave a legacy that would empower the next generations to do the same.
I was 15 when I picked up my first camera. Back in the days of film; I would spend as much time as I could in the comfort of a dark room developing my black and white images. It was a glorious expression of what is now a long-lost art form. Now, memory cards and computers have taken the place of film and dark rooms, but one thing remains – the beauty and honor of capturing a moment in time, embodied in one single image that will bring back memories for generations to come.
Over the last 25 years I have photographed celebrities, national companies & magazines. I have developed camera products, won awards and have created art for countless families and businesses. But, all of this pales in comparison to the legacy I am passing on to my four young daughters. Just as I saw my immigrant mother fight her way in a foreign place to see her dream realized and heard stories of my grandmother’s triumphant journey from living on the streets to successful business owner, my daughters are seeing long years of ups and downs, failures and victories, faith and grit that one day will empower them to push beyond the limits and accomplish something incredible with their God-given talents!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
“The greatest tragedy is not that you aim too high and miss, but that you aim too low and make it.” – Michelangelo
When you reach higher than what you think you’re capable of, you’re bound to get some scrapes and bruises. But, it’s worth it!
One story I can tell you that was the hardest entrepreneurial path for me to walk down was when I designed and developed my camera strap.
A few years ago I set out to design the most comfortable strap ever created. After being in this industry for 25 years, I knew exactly what I wanted to create for my fellow photographers, world wide. I took my design que from my years of spending time in Ecuador (where my mother is from). There, women carry babies and heavy loads on their backs with shawls wrapped around their shoulders, evenly distributing the weight.
I set out to design a new strap that would completely take the pressure points away from the neck and shoulders to make your camera feel weightless, all based on the way women have been carrying their babies for centuries.
One problem – I had no idea what I was doing!
But the greatness of this idea in my soul fueled me to learn as much as I possibly could about designing, developing, manufacturing and distributing a product. Thank you YouTube! 😉
One month later I had a prototype, hand made by my mother in law. The next month I was oversees establishing relationships with manufactures, the next month I was in Chicago getting my product into distribution centers. The next month I launched! It was a FAST process.
I aimed high. Real High.
Then, I fell. Hard.
My strap started having structural issues, my distributor dropped me and I was issued a cease and desist letter. I kept thinking “Who was I to think I could do something like this?”
In a moment of total defeat, a friend of mine sent me a text with this verse- “Those who come against you will be as nothing, for I the Lord your God hold you by my right hand and say to you, “Do not be afraid, I will help you.” Isaiah 41: 11-12
I had a decision to make. Accept my loss and shut it all down. Or stand and fight, aim high, try again.
I aimed high….again.
I called one of the largest camera strap companies in the world, BLACKRAPID, and asked them if they could help me with my product. It was a shot in the dark, with one huge prayer behind it.
The next thing I knew, I had an audience with the owner and creator of the company. Two weeks later I was in Seattle conveying my heart and passion for my product and company. In that moment they decided to link arms with me, redesign the strap and re-launch it to a much larger national audience.
My strap has gone farther than I could have ever taken it on my own.
This journey had in it’s path lots of mountains to climb, torrential downpours and massive road blocks, but along with that came strengthening victories and mountain top views that have changed me forever.
You’ll never know what your capable of til you move beyond your zone of comfort and push past limiting beliefs.
Do it!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been in the photography industry for over 25 years. I have photographed families, bands, companies, celebrities and shot for publications. I have taught photography courses to know and understand your camera as well as branding and business strategies. My most recent endeavor has been designing and manufacturing my own camera strap called “Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID.” Available on Amazon.
This has been a long, hard journey but one with incredible views along the way!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
With the invention of digital cameras, we now have access to such a beautiful art medium that was once only for a specific few. However, what this has done is create a saturated industry and is now a hard swim out of a sea of photographers in order to set yourself apart. We all have access to the same cameras, equipment and editing software. So what sets you apart from every other photographer?
It’s you.
Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Picasso all had the same brushes, paint and canvases – what made them different?
Their own unique expression of the art within them through the same mediums but in completely different ways. YOU are what is going to set you apart from every other photographer.
Put engaging content out that draws people in to your story.
Get confident in your abilities. Take workshops, learn online, connect with photographers that you admire. Learn from people that cause you to elevate your skill and business.
Always keep reaching higher to learn and grow.
Move confidently. Be the face of your brand!
I actually have A LOT to say about this that just cant’ be quantified in just a couple paragraphs.
This video will explain everything!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_S1uBPo5Tc
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studioelliott.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicoleelliott.inspire
- Other: Photography Workshops link: https://studioelliott.com/product/portfolia/
- https://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Elliott-BLACKRAPID-Comfortable-Included/dp/B083F99614/ref=sr_1_3?crid=27JCTPGQZSXFN&keywords=nicole+elliott+by+blackrapid&qid=1657037765&sprefix=nicole+elliott+%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-3
Image Credits
Nicole Elliott Rachael Neva Women’s Business Summit
