Your Full Name.
Nicole Marsh
Tell us about you.
I’m 21 and finishing up my Associate’s degree in Video Production. I work for a local television news station at the moment, but I’ll probably end up being an eternal student.
Where are you located?
Currently, I live in the suburbs outside Portland, OR, USA.
A great photographer is…..
I think it’s difficult to determine what makes a GREAT photographer, artist, etc., because it’s all a matter of taste.
But I think there is a key difference between a TRUE artist and a hobbyist. It’s not success or recognition, but the individual’s need to create.
Hobbyists do it to pass the time, artists do it because they can’t NOT do it.
What drove you to become a photographer?
It all began with narcissism. I received a digital camera as a Christmas gift when I was 15 and began taking self-portraits for MySpace, etc.
Eventually I discovered the benefits of manual settings and good lighting, and it just took off from there.
Tell us about your unique style and the creative process behind it?
All of my best work has been pure luck.
If you were not a photographer, what would be the alternative career path you choose?
Well, as much as I enjoy photography, I’m aiming for a career in video/film production. Photography keeps me creatively stimulated when I’m not busy with a video project.
How do you promote yourself?
I have my website and business cards, but the majority of connections I’ve made have been through school and deviantART.com.
What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting the visual communication business?
The Internet has, more or less, made my career what it is. I’m painfully shy, so it’s difficult to make contacts or promote myself in person. But with the Internet, it’s essentially anonymous, so I’m able to express myself as I would if I were more outgoing.
Could you share any insight for people just entering the profession?
I would tell other aspiring photographers to develop other skills outside of photography. In other words, don’t quit your day job. Photography is a wonderful creative outlet, but with the accessibility of digital SLRs and Photoshop, anyone can be a photographer. It’s getting increasingly more difficult to make a living at it.
Who is the person that you look up to in the professional world? Why so?
David LaChappelle is definitely a favorite of mine. I love the exaggerated, surreal look of his work, and the amount of planning that must go into every shoot shouldn’t be underestimated.
What music are you listening lately?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Rocky Votolato lately, some Leonard Cohen, and of course my top three favorites: Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Modest Mouse.
Name 3 your favorite books.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, On The Road by Jack Kerouac, and Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk.
What do you like the smell of?
When my cat comes inside from a day outdoors, she smells like pine needles and fresh air. And cat. It’s the best smell in the world.
If you have online portfolio (website/awards/credits/client’s showcase), what is the URL?
http://nikkimarsh.com/
http://nikx.deviantart.com/
http://nikxstock.deviantart.com/
http://vimeo.com/user1410204
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CHARITY: The Trailer. from Nikki Marsh on Vimeo.
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