To read more about Nolan in his own words, see below:

I come from the “other side.” At least, that’s how I like to think about. Let me explain:

For a big portion of my life, I allowed societal norms and others to dictate my path. I followed the straight and arrow – got good grades, attended a great university, and got a high-flying job working in finance in New York. This was all fine and good, but there was a serious problem: deep down I knew this was not what I wanted so my life began to show cracks. I was not sleeping, I was not taking care of myself physically or mentally, and frankly I was miserable. After years of slogging through a state of over-work and mild depression, the world sent me a sign in the form of a minor health scare at my desk brought on by stress and lack of sleep. I got the message and began a serious journey to course correct.

That journey began in 2017 when my wife and I sold most of our belongings, left NYC, and embarked on a year-long trip to unplug, unwind, and travel the world. During this period, I allowed my built-up stress and anxiety to slowly wash away and I started taking stock of what is truly important in this life. Furthermore, I began discovering the creative outlet of photography to document our experiences. It never occurred to me at this time that it could be a career path, but eventually those signs would start presenting themselves. 

After one of the best years of our lives, we returned to our hometown in Maryland to settle back in. I began helping to run a family home contracting business and started taking pictures of finished projects for our website and social media feeds. Eventually, some of our partners asked me to do the same for them and offered to start paying me. So in 2020, as the pandemic forced me to be at home, I decided to use my time to form a small business around my photography side hustle. Later that same year, I was offered my first commercial gig shooting adventure and lifestyle content for a ski lodge. I also had the exciting experience of having my first images published in a magazine. These experiences were so eye opening for me that I finally started connecting the dots and seeing that there was a path to combine my passion of photography with my livelihood. Having an opportunity to earn a living traveling, adventuring, and taking images was like a dream. From there, I knew I had to begin the relentless pursuit of making this my life’s work.

I don’t do things half way. If I get into something, I get INTO something. I began pouring my life into photography – the technical, the art, the business of it, and I knew that if this was to be MY thing, I needed to commit. Failure was not an option and knowing this made my fears (fears that had haunted me most of life) go away. So, in late 2022 I made the jump to go full-time and have been building my brand and my business ever since. I have had the incredible opportunity to work with some amazing clients in some amazing locations over these few short years. However, this journey is still just beginning.

There are a ton of capable and inspiring creatives out there. However, I believe I am in a unique position because of my perspective. I started this excerpt by saying that I came from the other side, and I did. THAT is what drives me. I remember being the person who sat at his desk depressed and yearning to be out there and in the photos I saw. Well, maybe I am slowly becoming that person and I don’t take a second of that for granted. I bring that drive and that energy into every project I take on. 

Aside from the important job of delivering for my clients, my goals are broader. I didn’t get here by myself – there have been mentors, inspirations, and people willing to educate me on how to succeed in this business. I want to be one of those people and inspire the next wave. Whatever the thing is, I hope I can in some small way help inspire others to find the courage and the strength to pursue it. I know how hard that leap can be, but I also know how truly rewarding and life-changing it can be as well. 

Get out there and do your thing.

~Nolan