Who I am.
Photographer & Storyteller
Hello there. I am Nicole Mondestin. I am a portrait, headshot, and branding photographer based in NYC. My family means everything to me. I am a wife and mother of two beautiful little boys. When I am not behind my camera, you can find me spending time with my family, traveling, or cooking! Everyone in my family is a foodie: my two sons, the youngest 1! I’m very sleep-deprived, lol! I’m addicted to color, HGTV, and red velvet cupcakes. I’m the friend and partner who loves hard but will tell you the truth even when it’s hard. I believe in second chances, hard work, love, and pursuing happiness.
How it started
“as a village, we nurture the future. We guide and nurture their light, But who nurtures ours? Whether you are a parent or not, you are part of a village. It’s hard to share a light that is burned out. It’s my mission to light the fire.”
WHY I photograph portraits
Growing up, I was surrounded by people that did not love themselves. People were picking themselves apart. It was always I’m too big; I’m too small; my nose is too big; I need to lose weight before I can't take the next step. Where people saw flaws, I saw beauty marks. Unique characteristics that made them special. They have to look at it from a different angle. I believe everyone is beautiful in their own way, and they should be celebrated with the quarantine 15. Whether you are big, small, tall, or not photogenic (which is a lie), you are here and deserve to be celebrated. I love creating images that empower my clients and inspire them to be better and keep going.
how it started
“I was told that I had to strip away the best parts of me in order to be considered professional”
WHY I photograph headshots & Personal Branding Photos
I worked in the legal field for 11 years before becoming a photographer. When I loc’d my hair, everyone suddenly thought I was unprofessional, which was anything but true. Many professionals feel they must strip away all their unique qualities to fit into a cookie-cutter mold of what society deems to be professional. While working in the legal field, I decided I wanted to create headshots and business branding images that celebrated my clients, skin tone, hair, style, love of color, and all the characteristics that society said they had to tame or strip away to be considered professional. I create images for professionals that exude black girl magic and display their personality, all with a splash of color, style, and elegance.
FUN FACTS
01
Traveling is how I fell in love with photography. I plan to do more traveling now that my family is complete.
02
My family has a farm in Alabama. I spent many a summer down there and have collected a bunch of random skills that would come in handy on an episode of Survivor.
03
IDK, you should know this by now, but my favorite color is purple.
“I always looked at the world differently. probably because I’m 5’3 but it’s different”
What I do.
As an introvert with an eye for detail, I see things differently. I look for beauty in unexpected places, turn flaws into beauty marks, weaknesses into strengths, and highlight potential overlooked. I love to listen to my client's love stories, journeys, and, basically, what makes you establish a genuine connection with my clients. I use color, creativity, and my connection with my clients to create custom photo sessions, allowing me to create images that celebrate them! Whether it's showing a brown girl that there is beauty in melanin, helping a woman celebrate her curves with a kick-ass boudoir session, empowering an entrepreneur with banging business photos, or celebrating a union. My clients know that I have their best interests at heart. I want to provide them with art that is unique and has meaning to them—creating images that inspire, empower, and celebrate you! That is what I do.
“don’t listen to the world’s expectations of who you should be. you are here and you deserve to be celebrated! ”
WHo I serve
I'm so blessed that God has allowed me to find my dream job and that I'm able to create art that my clients love and value. My clients are generally looking for a custom experience, creative portraits with a splash of color, flawless final images that appear un-posed, and someone to tell them what to do with their hands! Lol. Most photo sessions take place on location or in my studio. My services include but are not limited to the following:
Individual/Couples/ Family/Graduate Portraits
Boudoir
Maternity
Professional Headshots/Branding for business, authors, and creative professionals
