photographer feature: tiffany dawn nicholson

Name

Tiffany

website | flickr | tumblr | fb

Age

27

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Who or what sparked your interest in photography?

Initially An ex boyfriend but then I remember different photo shoots I Liked to set up as a kid and think the interest was there all along.. I just didnt rediscover it until I met him.

Who are some of your favorite photographers?

Lina Scheynius, Stephen Shore, Tamara Lichtenstein, Stephen Tamiesie, Ryan Mcginley

Do you have any formal education in photography or are you self taught?

I graduated from Miami University of Oxford in Oxford, Ohio in December of 2007 with a B.F.A concentrations in photography.

Is photography your career?

I have managed to make a living in the past year but that has not always been the case

How long did it take you to turn photography from a hobby into a career?

I have been out of school now for four years. In those four years my career has had various forms. It wasn’t until last year that I began working solely as a photographer. I find myself in 2012 in a new city (Chicago) and in some sense starting over again. I have no idea what is in store for me in 2012 but I do know I have some exciting shoots coming up.

Do you currently do portrait work as part of your career or does your income primarily come from print sales and publications?

Right now my income is coming mostly from assisting other photographers but just two months ago I was shooting catalog for the Zappos website and then doing editorial for A-Line Magazine in Cincinnati OH. A fun side project that my boyfriend, roommate and I have put together is our Etsy store- The Merchant Royal I sell prints on there and then collectively we find vintage goods to sell as well.

Do you have any tips for photographers who are trying to move from hobbyists to full time and earning a livable income?
I do. Its all about keeping yourself active everyday even when you don’t have a paying gig. Hard work pays off.  Stay motivated and keep yourself inspired. This is advice that I often have to remind myself.

Are you currently working on any photography projects?

I have a few projects I am working on. The one I am currently involved in is photographing portraits of individuals in the moped army

What is your favorite thing to photograph and why?

People. Annie Leibowitz said it best- “When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I'd like to know them. Anyone I know I photograph.”

Where do you find and how do you instruct your models?

I photograph mostly people I know or want to know. If I end up working with an agency model it is typically because I was hired on a gig and that's who the creative team chose but often when I shoot for my self I'm its people I know

Do you listen to music while you shoot? If so, what is on your photo shoot play list?

ALWAYS. I feel its important for setting the mood. I generally ask if they have anything they want to listen to. Go to choses for me if I'm making the decisions- yeasayer, arcade fire, animal collective or miami horror

What is in your camera bag?

Nikon d300 leica dlux5 and an array of lenses but the one that almost never leaves my side is my 50mm 1.4

What is your favorite lens and why?

50mm 1.4 Its an old vintage lens that gives me this amazing depth of field and it also captures color beautifully

Where do you find inspiration?

in dreams

Future photography goals?

To some day be peers with Ryan Mcginley. haha

Describe a day in your life that includes photography:

Everyday includes photography. I would like to say that I'm shooting all the time but an unfortunate amount of time is spent editing and doing others thinks like setting up shoots.

What does your work flow consist of?

Shoot. Edit. Plan.

Three interesting facts about yourself?

1. Whenever I burp it comes out in words. 
2. I have a constellation of the big dipper on my chest in freckles. 
3. I have a crooked pinky I received while reading a book at the age of 13.

What, if anything, do you do to promote your photography?

I belong to most social networks and am continuously updating and then there is places to submit your work. Im constantly looking

It sounds like you have a great system for sharing your work, approximately how much time do you spend per day/week on promoting your photography online?

It goes in waves but I would say that I probably spend a total of 15 hrs a week, sometimes less. Sometimes it is submitting to a magazine or a blog such as this one and then other times its contacting other photographers for assisting or companies for job inquiries.