Meet Trailblazer Nicole Domanico

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

Nicole, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Photography has always been a part of my life. I can’t remember a time I didn’t enjoy documenting my life and finding ways to abstract seemingly mundane scenes through interesting compositions. I knew at a young age I just HAD to go to art school, and eventually, I did after a few years at community college where I also studied photography with an amazing instructor, Art Hand. He was a very big inspiration on my path and always offered words of encouragement and perseverance. He encouraged play and experimentation, and I have always strived to keep that alive in my practice. After community college, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts. It was a wonderful and challenging time that helped me to think differently, utilize other mediums, and really find what I was passionate about. Milwaukee is a very creative city, and it was amazing to be in that energy all the time. After graduation, I decided it was time for a big change, moved out to Colorado, and finally feel like I have a focused direction with my business. It is a work in progress, but it is a path I am passionate and excited about pursuing and I cannot wait to see where it takes me.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would not say it has been a smooth road, I am still on the journey to achieving my goals, and it is very bumpy and there have been many detours. It has also been a struggle to decidedly determine what type of photography I would like to specialize in and be known for. I am always thinking of new ideas and plans, with no way to harness them to come to fruition. I am easily distracted, I am very full of Vata energy in that way.

Another thing I have always struggled with is self-worth and valuing my time which is something I’m still working on to this day, and man, the universe is being real tough about it. I attended a talk by Sally Mann several years ago where she put it best, “I have self-doubt so profound, it masquerades as vanity.” When I heard that, I was like, are you talking about me? I am a person who is riddled with anxiety, very in their head, who needs time to process, and I can come off very aloof and cold. It is not for a lack of caring, just taking it all in and processing and being extremely cautious. I do not always know what to say and I am not socially graceful. Sometimes, it comes off charming, but most often not. I’m still figuring it all out. I finally had the courage to put my business name out there, and am still working on a website and aligning my actions with my goals. It has been difficult to build a business while working 2 jobs, but I hope to change that in the new year and really have the time to dive into my photography.

And as far as advice for other women starting out, I would say to never lose that spark and interest in what if. Always experiment and have fun. If you’re not having fun or challenging yourself, it’s not worth it. And don’t let anyone try to tell you what you can and cannot achieve. Money is not the only indicator of value and worth. You can create just to create and if it goes somewhere, GREAT, if it doesn’t, all that matters is that you’ve been fulfilled by creating. Everyone has an opinion, and their opinion is not a fact. Even an instructor’s opinion or your family’s. And you do not have to meet certain criteria until you can call yourself a photographer. I used to believe I had to check everything off the list until I could officially call myself a photographer. That’s just not true. And you will come across certain people that will tell you, you have to meet this, this, and this to be a “professional” photographer. But who makes these rules?? You can make your own rules or you can throw them out the window.

Please tell us about Portrait Obscura – what should we know?
I consider myself a fine art and portrait photographer who most enjoys boudoir and studio sessions as well as traditional processes. I’d say I’m known for experimenting with different processes and effects, always trying to add a magical or ethereal element to my work. A common thread throughout all of my work is the strength in the feminine and our connection to something divine, whatever that may be to you. I really enjoy helping a woman find and step into her strengths, whether that be as a boss babe, sensual goddess, or warrior woman. My senior thesis, that is a continuing series, Painted Ladies, definitely stems from these topics of feminine societal issues, including any human in touch with their feminine side. These issues are something I see mirrored in myself and I think it is a therapeutic and encouraging practice for my own struggles and ways of coping and processing.

What sets me apart as a photographer is the willingness to connect with a client on a deeper level, to strive to make them feel strong and confident, and in control. I like my sessions to be a collaboration between my subject and I. I want every frame to feel natural and show the way you move through the world as an individual.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I believe that my experiences have made me a more compassionate human concerned with things beyond the material which has caused me to create deeper and more meaningful connections that I think ultimately will lead to my success.

Contact Info:

• Email: portraitobscura@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portraitobscura/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portraitobscura/

Image Credit:
All images my own. Neca Gonzalez, makeup artist. Katie Teutenberg, makeup artist.

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.