Meet Nurefsan Gokalp Gurkaynak of NurDigitalPrints

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nurefsan Gokalp Gurkaynak.

Nurefsan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am originally from Turkey, and I moved to Colorado in 2017. After moving here, I worked for a company as a chemical engineer for almost two years until 2019. From 2019 to 2020, I have been looking for a new job which gave me some time to explore Colorado. I love photography, and Colorado has great places to see and take photos.

I have started traveling to take photos which open up the doors for a new business opportunity. I have been digitally selling all my photos for almost two years now on Etsy. Photography was my hobby before this business. Although it is my side job, for now, I am trying to improve myself by online classes to be a better photographer.

Recently, digital sign designs are added as new items to my shop. The idea of adding a couple of digital signs to my shop was just to have a broader product diversity, but then customers really liked the designs, and now I am making more new designs to add more digital products.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am a Chemical Engineer, and I have no background in digital marketing. At the time I opened an online shop, I thought that it will be like posting photos on social media, but it was not… There are rules even about how to write the product titles.

If you do not organize your shop depend on digital marketing -SEO- rules, it does not matter how beautiful your products are, people will not even see your products, and it becomes impossible to sell them. Because of that, I have spent significant time just to understand how to post a product on my shop. I have made a logo for my shop and learned how to make market research etc. So that was not very straightforward.

Another thing is that English is not my first language, and I believe I have spent more time than other shop owners just writing an item description. All in all, it was not a smooth road, but I am so glad that I have started this business. Because that helped me to use my photos to make money, learn new skills, and improve my English.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about NurDigitalPrints?
Although I have been selling my photos for almost two years, I have been taking photos since 2015. First, I was taking photos by phone unprofessionally, and then it turned into a passion. I generally take nature photos since that time, and I think the beauty of nature is the first thing that encouraged me about photography. I love nature and catching the moment, and photography allows you to immortalize the moment. I have joined some events of photography clubs to learn how to take professional photos.

Moreover, I took some online courses about photography, and then I have tested whatever I have learned with a professional camera. In 2017, I have moved to Colorado, and here I have also started to take wildlife photography. Colorado is one of the greatest places to take landscape and animal pictures. I have traveled not only in Colorado but also in the United States, and I expanded my photo album. I was also printing some of them to use for my home decoration, and all my friends really liked them. That is how my hobby turned into a small business. Firstly, I have opened an Instagram account and a 500px account to show my work to people. It is a good way to see people’s reactions and have opinions objectively.

Then I have opened a shop on Etsy through a friend’s recommendation. I had no idea about Etsy or selling online. I have watched a lot of videos to learn about selling on Etsy, and digital marketing. It took at least six months to figure out every detail, and I still have a lot of things to learn. And it is not a hobby anymore because you need to spend time and work full time if you really want to be successful.

After I opened my Etsy shop “NurDigitalPhotography”, I have searched if there are other items that I could sell as a digital download. I was planning to add new products to my shop and reach more people. Then I have seen some people are selling digital signs, and I really liked that idea. I always like custom design items because they are unique. After I have decided to sell digital signs, I have learned to use Canva to make signs online.

Same as my photographs, I have posted my digital signs on my Instagram account first. People seemed that they liked them, and I have started to add digital signs to my Etsy shop. I also changed my shop name to “NurDigitalPrints” and right now I am selling both photography and signs.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think that you will always need good luck to reach your goals however it does not enough to succeed. I believe I am lucky that I have traveled to some countries in Europe and took beautiful pictures over there. I am lucky that I have moved to Colorado, and I am taking beautiful nature photos every day here.

I am lucky that I can notice how beautiful the nature of earth, sky, animals, plants, etc. I am lucky that I have met some people who introduced me to Etsy and I have opened my shop thanks to them. And I am lucky, I was able to spend time learning new skills to start a business on my own.

However, I always work hard and highly believe that luck does not bring any success without working. And I cannot change the feeling of accomplishment after a long effort to anything. “No Pain, No Gain.”

Contact Info:

• Email: nurdigitalprints@gmail.com
• Website: https://nurdigitalprints.wixsite.com/wallartstore
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurdigitalprints/
  https://www.instagram.com/nurdigitalphotography/
• Facebook: https://bit.ly/nurdigitalprints
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NurDigitalPrints

Image Credits
NurDigitalPrints