Playing Catch Up!

Been a while since my last blog post! I got a full page photo published in a recent issue of Blvds Magazine! It was a fun collaboration with Susan Tosches-Deneau of Altered Nation Designs. Debra Weite did the hair and make up for that shoot, and the models were Amy Boland and Bianca Vaughn-Fereday. To see a digital copy of that issue, click here.

I also got mentioned in popular fashion blog, Lollie Shopping! They posted a couple of photos I did, also in collaboration with Susan. Fun, fun stuff!

I also launched a new website: RemedieCreations.com. I used to work as a web & graphic designer, and I've decided to revisit it and pursue work in that field again. If you are in need of a graphic designer or web designer, do not hesitate to contact me. I've fortunately been pretty busy this past month or so with lots of photo shoots. I've been playing a lot of catch up! But I'm finally finishing everything up and I can't wait to get started on some new creative shoot ideas. I have lots of new inspiration in my life and I can't wait to explore it. Must keep learning and perfecting my craft if I ever want to be great! :)

Fashion Shoots

Long time since my last blog! I really need to get better at blogging. I did a couple of photo shoots in collaboration with Susan Tosches-Deneau of Altered Nation Designs. One of the pictures from our first shoot (Independence Couture) landed in this week's issue of Vegas Seven Magazine.

I'm credited incorrectly, it says that I took the USO girls photo when I actually took photo #2. But oh well. I'm not going to raise a stink about that. The shoot was so much fun to do despite the hot desert heat. Debra Weite did the make up and hair for that shoot, and the models were Amy Boland and Bianca Vaughn-Fereday. Susan and I collaborated for another shoot (Freedom Couture), but more on that in my next blog! :) You can see the full series of photos on my website within the next month!

Summer Lovin'

Been a little while since my last blog post! A lot has happened since that last post. I am actually working on something super big and super top secret, so I won't be discussing it on my blog. But stay tuned for some changes happening this year!!!!! :)

I got a few more pictures published in the March issue of 944! It was an article featuring the cigar lounge inside Caesar's Palace, Casa Fuente. I'll have some more pictures in another issue coming up.

Other than my top secret plans, not much else is new! Just doing freelance work and meeting with different people for upcoming projects. I'm also going out of town in May! Going to spend a few days in Los Angeles and then my best friend and I will be going on a 7 day cruise!!!! Fun fun fun. I'm excited to get away and have a little vacation.

WPPI 2011

WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) convention is in town! It is my first year attending, although I've been meaning to attend for a while now. Just took my first couple of classes tonight which were decent. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's set of classes. The convention couldn't come at a more perfect time. I've been restructuring my business... well... more like "structuring" my business. My business had to have a structure in the first place in order to "re" structure it. ;)

I've only been out of college for about 2 months and I am already learning so much. I've created a more professional Pricing Brochure and incorporated new marketing strategies. I've been using what little money I make from shoots on more equipment. I've dabbled in nightclub photography which was an interesting experience. However, after listening to tonight's speakers at WPPI, I've realized just how caught up I've been with the "business" side of things.

While being a smart business person is extremely important in my industry, I feel that I've been neglecting the technical aspect. I think the last time I just went out and shot photos "for fun" was when I was in school! This was an extremely disappointing realization. I want to grow as a business, but I also want to grow as a photographer. I'm never going to achieve the latter if I don't practice, practice, PRACTICE. It's easy to forget that there is so much I DON'T know. I miss experimenting with my camera and trying new things. My portfolio in its current state is not where I would like it to be at all. It's difficult to stay focused on the type of photography I eventually want to do. Do I want to be a wedding photographer? No. And yet, I just shot a wedding for the February issue of 944. Do I want to be a nightclub photographer? No. And yet I just did photos for Eve Nightclub. It seems like everything I said I wouldn't do (birthdays, children, etc.), I find myself doing. Everyone is giving me different advice left and right. "No, you shouldn't take on that assignment" or "Yes! Do it for the experience!" or "Just do that shoot for free" or "Are you crazy?! Be firm! Charge them!"

It's hard to make decisions when I still feel so new. On the one hand, I don't want to be picky. I need to take on any assignments I can get! On the other hand, I know my worth. I just spent over 4 years studying my craft whereas some people just pick up a camera and start calling themselves a "professional". It's hard to stand firm when everyone around me just wants a hook up. I realize I don't have "a connection" to get my foot in the door to do the type of photography I really want to do. So I have to pay my dues. I can only hope that eventually everything will pay off. The way I see it: keep as many doors open as possible. Even if certain doors don't lead to where you want to go... Eventually, it may open another door.

Busy Bee

Been a while since my last blog post! But it's a good thing! I've been keeping busy. I had a few photos printed in the February issue of 944, so make sure you pick up a copy! I will have some more photos in 944, but it will probably be the March issue. So stay tuned!

I've also been keeping busy with my freelance work. A couple of the shoots are up on my website under "Fashion & Beauty". A few of the others won't be on the site until after Valentine's Day (because they were shoots done for that occasion). I've also been researching and talking to people about starting my own LLC (under a different name - it wouldn't be "Nicole Mehrman"). So that has also been in the works. More on that as it unfolds! It's nice to be working. Keep the clients coming! Spread the word: www.NicoleMehrman.com

Changes, Changes, CHANGES

It's been a crazy month, lots of changes happening! The major happening was GRADUATION! I finally graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Photography. :) All that hard work and money paid off! It is such a relief to be finished with school. One less thing to worry about!

I also got a photo published in Vegas Seven magazine. Nothing big, but it was still cool. :) I have a few things in the works with some other publications around town, so fingers crossed! It's a hard knock life for an artist straight out of school!

A lot of new changes have been happening with my website as well. I'm completely re-organizing my portfolio so that it is hopefully easier to follow. I have a book called "Shades of Grey" which features some of my black and white photography. In the book, each photo shoot is preceded by an introduction - often a quote from a movie, play, or book that inspired the shoot. I miss having these intros on my web portfolio, as I feel it gives a lot of context for each shoot. So I'm in the process of adding the proper intros to my website. A couple of sections are still under construction, but I have added a new shoot entitled "Fragmentation". SO CHECK IT OUT! And keep checking back to see the new sections as they finish. NicoleMehrman.com

What Happens Here, Stays Here

Just did a new photo shoot entitled, "What Happens Here, Stays Here". It was a collaboration with Sonia Gamboa who also did the make up for this shoot. The concept centers around misconceptions and stereotypes of Las Vegas, prostitution, and other naughty activities. From my various experiences in the hospitality industry on the Las Vegas Strip, I've come across thousands of tourists. I always found it fascinating how people come to this city and act in ways that would be completely unacceptable in their hometown, but since this is "Sin City", it's suddenly okay. The advertisements, commercials, and other media portrays Vegas as a glamourous, lawless city where anything goes - and so it is understandable where tourists get these impressions. I sought to capture these images in a similar way that the tourism industry would in order to target their demographic. Some are very glamourous. It makes you want to visit the City of Sin. Other images may do the opposite - it uncovers more of the reality. This shoot was so much fun to do and to see the series, visit NicoleMehrman.com!