February 20, 2024 • 40 mins
Step into the world of Nicole Romanoff, an extraordinary photographer who's taken a talent and made it a successful career. Join host, Mackenzie Kilshaw, as we traverse the remarkable path Nicole has blazed, from post-grad uncertainty to the pinnacle of photo artistry. Her story isn't just about capturing stunning images; it's a masterclass in harnessing the raw power of passion and transforming it into a flourishing career. Nicole's narrative is filled with gems for those who aspire to turn their creative sparks into roaring fires of success.
Nicole's journey illustrates the power of collaboration in building a career that resonates with one's true calling. Within this conversation, we navigate the practical steps she took, from leveraging every networking opportunity to establishing a standout personal brand. The organic growth from her grassroots endeavors and the strategic pivot from self-promotion to adding real value on social media underline her savvy approach to a competitive industry. As a result, Nicole's expansive portfolio and her venture, White Space, are not just testaments to her prowess but also an inspiration for photographers and creatives alike.
Nicole shares insights from the studio floor of White Space, where her blend of artistry and entrepreneurship comes to life. The studio isn't just a space for creativity; it's a cultural hub that fosters growth, mentorship, and community. Nicole's evolution from photographer to educator and her aspirations for passive income streams paint a picture of the multifaceted journey of a modern entrepreneur. Her story encourages us to push past self-doubt, seize new opportunities, and find harmony between ambition and well-being.
Mackenzie Kilshaw Co. offers comprehensive business coaching, and consulting tailored to your needs.
With Mackenzie's award winning entrepreneurial expertise in strategy, leadership, business development, branding, website development, social media management, SEO, sales and customer service training and more, clients receive personalized guidance to drive growth and success.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Shauna Foster (00:06):
Winning is your guide to making it in business.
Join our award-winning host andentrepreneur, Mackenzie Kilshaw
, and special guests in casualconversations that will educate
and inspire you on your businessjourney.
Winning will help you learn thehard lessons the easy way, with
guidance from celebratedentrepreneurs and business
(00:26):
leaders.
It's fun, it's informative,it's Winning.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (00:32):
Hello, welcome to Winning.
I'm your host, MackenzieKilshaw, and my guest today is
Nicole Romanoff.
Hi Nicole, hi Mackenzie, howare you?
I'm doing really well.
How are you?
I'm so good.
I was just telling Nicole howI'm so excited to have her on,
because Nicole is what I wouldsay is such an amazing, talented
(00:53):
photographer who has built thiscareer based on her talent, and
I'm so excited to go throughwith you and how you did that.
So, if you don't know Nicole,she is an award-winning
photographer based out ofSaskatoon.
She started her professionalcareer in 2015 and has quickly
made a name for herself in theindustry.
(01:13):
She specializes in branding,headshots, commercial and
fashion photography, which Ithink we'll talk about because
we work together a few times onfashion.
Nicole's work has been featuredin print and fashion magazine
in Canada and tons of otherinternational magazines, and on
billboards.
She was on a billboard inToronto's Yonge Street, which is
super cool, and Nicole alsoowns a White Space photo studio
(01:36):
in Saskatoon which is a rentalspace for photographers and
creatives, so you have a lotgoing on.
Nicole Romanoff (01:42):
I do.
It's a lot to manage, but Ilove it, but you love it.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (01:47):
I love that.
So I kind of gave the K notesversion of you a Nicole.
But why don't you tell thelisteners a little bit more
about you and kind of where youstarted and how did you get now
to where you are?
Nicole Romanoff (02:01):
Oh gosh.
Well, it's been a journey and Iwould say, unlike maybe a lot
of photographers or maybe Ishouldn't say that it kind of
took me a long time to figureout what my path was and
especially where I fit in in theindustry.
(02:21):
So photography has just alwaysbeen something that I've been
kind of interested in andpassionate about, but never
really.
When I was younger, I would say, I didn't really think of it as
a career path.
I always was like, oh, thatwould be so cool to shoot for
National Geographic.
Shauna Foster (02:42):
I'm not sure.
Nicole Romanoff (02:46):
I just love the idea of traveling to different
places and just working withcool people.
But I would say, once I hituniversity I was like oh gosh,
I'm at a real crossroads here.
I don't really know how topursue that.
(03:07):
So I ended up going intocommerce, getting my commerce
degree, as I think you do aswell.
Yeah, you bet Alumni and I feellike that really helped me in a
lot of different ways, just withmore of a professional aspect
and understanding business.
And then, once I graduatedagain, I was like, oh god, what
(03:31):
do I do?
So I ended up working forCoca-Cola for a number of years
and actually more specificallyfor Vitamin Water and Smart
Water.
I worked as the businessdevelopment manager for the
province, which was such a cooljob and such a great opportunity
.
Just worked with all thesesuper cool people from across
(03:53):
Canada and got to travel thecountry.
I learned so much.
And then, once the brand wasmore established, I was actually
laid off from the company,which happens, and I think I
really do believe thateverything does happen for a
(04:15):
reason because, as much as Iloved it, I knew that it wasn't
my passion.
And so again, here I am at thiscrossroads Do I take the
corporate route?
Do I venture off and dosomething on my own?
And as you know I ventured offand tried something on my own,
but I would say it wasn't anautomatic decision for me.
(04:40):
It took a couple years.
I was doing all sorts of things.
I've always been a danceteacher and so I was doing that
full time and I was alsonannying for my sister who had
just had a baby.
I was working at Lulu emon andI'd picked up my camera again
and I always tell the story thatit was really like nannying for
(05:01):
my sister.
I would just practice takingphotos on her and just getting
into it and really what it waswas.
It was people that would be likewhy are you doing this?
And I was like I don't know.
I just didn't think that.
It was like, oh my goodness, Idon't know.
So that was really my journey.
(05:23):
And then once I got thisaffirmation from people or they
opened my eyes that no, you cando this, so you should do this
or at least try I jumped withboth feet in and it's been yeah,
I haven't looked back like nineyears now and just to think of
(05:46):
the progression and theevolution of even the business
aspect of it yes, even like thephotos that I've taken and now I
have like a studio space.
It's just, it's wild.
So, yeah, it took me about 13or 14 years to like actually
(06:07):
turn it into a career, which is,yeah, it's been a journey.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:12):
I think, though, Nicole, honestly, there
are so many people like you thatyou know you go to university
because you think that that'swhat you have to do to get a
good job.
I think it's changed a littlebit now, but years ago, right,
you had to get a trade, or youhad to go to school and get an
adult job all college.
I have that same thing.
(06:33):
When you said, you graduatedand you're like now what?
I felt that too, because I'mlike okay, now I'm an adult, I'm
done school, I'm in my you know, still early twenties, but now
I need, like, a big girl job.
So you just get a job becauseyou're like well, I have to pay
for stuff and have money.
Right, I have to have an income, exactly.
Nicole Romanoff (06:51):
You get that job, yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:54):
And then even if you're thinking, okay, I
like doing this, I really liketo do this as a career, it's
really hard to make that leapinto leaving what you know,
leaving an income in your what'scalled yeah, exactly, and in
your case, being laid off.
and so many people I talked tothey're like, well, I got laid
off.
And then you're like, okay, nowwhat?
(07:16):
Right?
And really, you, you stilltried some other things, but you
went right back to that takingphotos and you are so talented.
I'm sure that talent grew, likeI'm sure, when you first
started.
You're not how you are nowright.
No, no, you gotta look back andthink, oh geez.
Nicole Romanoff (07:35):
Yeah, totally, especially when I look back at
like some of the photos I'veedited, I'm like why would I do
that again?
It's like all it's all part ofthe process and just growing as
an artist and yeah, so I try andgive myself a little bit of
like.
You know, grace being like youknow, like that girl was just on
(07:57):
her way, you know, and she wasjust like learning and I, yeah,
I don't regret not jumping intophotography earlier, because I
do believe, like what you'reintended to do will find you if
you're open to it.
Yes, and it just wasn't like mytime.
(08:17):
I guess you could say, yeah,you know, like I wasn't ready.
I had to like learn these otherthings or, you know, whatever
it was, meet the right people.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (08:28):
Yeah, exactly .
Well, and think about you wentthrough commerce so you learned
a lot about business and thathelps you run a business.
Having you know job with CocaCola, Lululemon, like the amount
of people you've seen today inLululemon.
Right, that recognize your face, you maybe get to know them.
That networking really helpsyou to build your own business,
(08:50):
right.
Nicole Romanoff (08:51):
Absolutely yeah , and so even just you know,
saying yes to all thoseexperiences along the way is
daunting and tiring as it can be.
I think we'll always get you towhere you need to be in the end
, if that makes sense.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (09:08):
Yeah, I totally agree.
I always say never pass up anopportunity, because you will
probably learn something fromwhatever that is and meet some
people that down the line arereally going to help you along,
you know, along your journey.
Nicole Romanoff (09:25):
Absolutely.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (09:26):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
So when?
Okay.
So you're practicing on yourexcuse me your sister and people
are like you're really good,Nicole, you need to do this, so
you take this leap.
How did you find clients tostart growing your business when
you first started?
Nicole Romanoff (09:45):
Right, well, kind of going back to my last,
the last thing I said, I sayingyes to everything.
I said yes to everything.
So if anyone wanted me tophotograph anything, I'd be like
, yes, I will.
And just starting to marketmyself on Instagram or push out
my work so that it was seen on alarger audience, and just
(10:07):
starting to interact with morepeople.
And actually my sister was themarketing director for the
Saskatchewan Jazz Festival atthe time and I was like, hey,
can I just like shoot whatevershows I or like can I shoot it?
And she's like, yeah for sure,here's the pass, like go at it.
So I shot every single nightlike as many shows as I possibly
(10:33):
could be at, as like one person, and I would stay up till like
3am just editing.
So I was.
It was a hustle, but you know,when people see you out with a
camera, they start to identifyyou more as a, as a photographer
or you know, whatever, whateverit is that you're kind of like
putting out there.
(10:53):
And so because I think I've,I've already, I've was that
person that said yes to so manythings along the way and already
had that network.
You know, when people startidentifying you as something new
, they start sharing your nameand so really it was like very
much like a grassroots sort oflike spread and just saying yes
(11:15):
and learning what it is that Ienjoy to do, because I would say
that, like, what I was shootingin the very beginning is is not
what I'm shooting today, and soit's just really interesting to
see, like, how wide my net wasand now where, where that's
(11:36):
brought me today in terms of,like, the style that I shoot and
the clients that I have.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (11:41):
So, yeah, and I think that's really important
too, because when you have atalent and you make that into
your career, you still have toniche where you are, because not
many photographers shoot familyphotos and weddings and
headshots and sports teams andright, like you have to fashion,
(12:04):
like you have to find out.
Okay, I love fashion, I okay,and if you, you guys got to go
into Nicole's Instagram becauseyou do love fashion, because I
can tell by what you wear, andbut also that I know I alluded
to it at the beginning, butNicole and I, the first time I
ever met Nicole or knew who youwere, you came to my store and I
(12:28):
don't remember what it was for,but you said, hey, could I
borrow some clothes for thesemodels to wear for me to take
pictures and then I'll tag youin the photos.
And I was like sure, because Ialso was just starting out and
for me that was a way to okay,Nicole's going to take some
really awesome pictures that nowpeople are going to see the
(12:48):
clothes are from me and they'regoing to probably come to me,
right, so it worked out reallywell, but that's that was how I
first first met you and knew whoyou were.
Nicole Romanoff (12:58):
The collaboration and I kind of
completely forgot.
So you're part of my story in away, because that was the issue
that I originally did, and itwas I was volunteering for SFDF,
which is the Saskatoon Fashionand Design Festival.
N time and I was running theirblog, and so I was trying to
(13:20):
like bridge those relationshipsby you know getting partners
like you who own like coolclothing stores and then you
know creating like these sort ofeditorial blog pieces for them,
and I yes, I remember that thatwas like one of my first sort
of like I guess you could callit like fashion shoots with
(13:41):
Megan Kardash and it wasactually.
She was like a big part of youknow encouraging me as well.
She's like you know, you'rereally good right.
I was like what?
Yeah, you're like well, not goodyeah you always don't yourself
everybody else see the talentand in your own self, I'm like
well, I'm fine, I'm not thatgreat oh yeah, this is just me,
(14:06):
I don't know like, yeah, oh,anyways, yeah, I can't believe I
, yeah, forgot about that, but Ilove, I love how those images
turned out.
But, yeah, really comes down tocollaboration as well.
And yeah, just trying to offersomething, yeah, and offer
something, and then networking alittle.
(14:28):
You know, I did.
Sometimes that word networkingcan sound a little bit too like
I don't know.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (14:35):
Yeah, use car sales m kind of.
I know exactly, yeah, I feel.
Shauna Foster (14:40):
I feel the same way too.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (14:42):
It's building relationships for me right,
more than just like handing outbusiness cards and like, oh hey,
nice to me too, and then younever talked to that person
again.
Nicole Romanoff (14:50):
Right, yeah, it's like what can you do for me
?
And versus like, okay, let'sget to know each other and see,
yeah, help one another.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (14:58):
Yeah, exactly , and really when you came to me
I didn't know that you werejust starting out.
You are so professional and tome I'm like she's really good
and I remember you sent me someof the pictures to use.
I put them on my website to andI never once doubted you like
that.
You were professional andtalented and you were very
friendly.
You were great to work with.
(15:19):
So if those times ever cameLike, I would have always said
yes, because it was good forboth of us and you're so awesome
to work with.
Nicole Romanoff (15:28):
Well, thank you for saying that.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (15:31):
Well, that's a testament to where you started
, to where you are now.
Right, really, it's, it's a lotit's you, it's a lot of just
you, and your personality too.
That's something.
Yeah, okay.
So you started out.
You're like I'm gonna do this,you take every job that you can
take and I'm gonna just put itout there that probably a lot of
(15:51):
those jobs you didn't get paidfor.
Nicole Romanoff (15:53):
Oh, I would say the majority, yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (15:56):
Yeah, yeah.
So you're putting yourself outthere.
How do you get from that tobeing in all of these editorials
?
And you're on billboards inToronto and internationally.
How is that journey of growth?
Nicole Romanoff (16:14):
I think it's just persistence and consistency
and, I think, just never givingup right.
So, like I, I've always beensomeone that's really driven to
achieve my goals and I've been,you know, very inspired by
fashion and just I guess there'slike a competitive part of me
(16:39):
too that's like, oh, I reallylike, I got it.
I got it like be my best or seehow good I can get, like can I
be on a billboard, can I get amagazine editorial?
And just always startedchallenging myself and pushing
myself forward.
So I would say, just yeah, I amnot someone that takes a lot of
(17:04):
breaks.
I know that's, that's somethingI'm working on and I am getting
better at it.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (17:09):
Yeah, but it's important to get me.
Nicole Romanoff (17:11):
Yeah, it really , really is, and but I would say
just constantly like, continueto do what I do, so kind of
shooting as much as I can, andjust continue to put high
quality work out there.
I catching work, stuff that'srelevant, and then, yeah, it
(17:36):
will just catch the eye of thosepeople that you want to to work
with and those opportunitieswill come.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (17:44):
Yeah, yeah, 100%, and, like we said, it's
building that community and it'sthe connections that you have
with other people, because nowyou've taken my headshots and
you know, like you're like, oh,I know someone, they're really
great.
I'm just I'm gonna just callright, like it just kind of I
think branches from there.
Yeah, absolutely yeah, wetalked before we started
(18:05):
recording.
Of course, we always talkbefore and I always say we
should have been recording this,but I just want to touch on
your Instagram page.
We all know how importantsocial media is for businesses
and we kind of were chattingabout but I think this is kind
of cool subject to talk about.
While recording, we chattedabout how, when your page
(18:25):
started, or when you firststarted your pages, was most
likely people that liked yourphotos, right, like, oh, that's
an awesome photo, thephotographer is great, I'm gonna
follow her.
But now you have reallybranched out and you're giving
so much advice now to otherphotographers and how I did the
(18:46):
shoot, how I change the lighting, all things like that.
Clearly, I don't know anythingabout photography.
You have really branched outand let's talk about that,
because you said, so many ofyour followers now are worldwide
and they're photographers,right, so that's also changed
your business yeah, it really,really has.
Nicole Romanoff (19:07):
I would say that for several years I, oh, to
be honest, I feel like I kindof had like this negative
mindset around Instagram andkind of like what it was about,
and in the summer or early falleven, I think, I really sort of
like switched my mindset aroundthat and thought about like okay
(19:31):
, like how can I use this as atool to kind of serve and
provide value, as opposed tojust like?
Oh, here's something I did andI would say in the last few
years, just overall in mybusiness, it's really come down
to you, how can I serve?
And more so than like, how canI just serve me?
(19:55):
It's like no.
I like provide value and shareand so in the fall I kind of I
joined this challenge is 10 dayreal challenge, and so that
really forced me to get in thehabit of just posting every day
and trying to share somethinguseful and knowledgeable and
(20:19):
learning about hooks and in all,all of things.
That kind of get more eyes onyou.
And I've kept up with thatreally good and I've kind of
switched like who who I've, Iguess, been targeting.
So it has been more of like howcan I serve other photographers
(20:39):
?
Because in the beginning Iwould say that I didn't really I
didn't have a mentor, I justpracticed all myself, I studied
as much as I could online, andso I was like how can I provide
value and what sort of tipswould be helpful for
(21:03):
photographers, and kind ofthinking about it in those terms
.
And I think it's grown myaccount since geez, I feel like
since even November, it's grownlike 13,000, like for
photographers, like from allover the world, and it's been so
(21:23):
great and there's so muchencouragement and people like
finding value in what I'msharing and like it's wild, it's
so cool and just to hear frompeople you know, like in Norway
or in the States and it's reallykind of leading me down this
(21:43):
path that I didn't see formyself, in terms of more of like
a mentor and kind of opening uplike more mentorship
opportunities for people thatwere, you know, in my shoes, you
know, a few years back, so it'sbeen so cool.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (22:00):
It's so crazy with Instagram and we've had an
episode recently on justInstagram and how you can be
successful on Instagram really,whoever your target audience is,
if you provide them contentthat's valuable and they're
interested in.
Like 13,000 new followers injust a few months is insane.
Nicole Romanoff (22:24):
It is insane, it's wild.
I congratulate every day.
I'm like what the heck you'relike what is?
Mackenzie Kilshaw (22:31):
happening.
Yeah, but me, as a nonphotographer that's followed
your page for a long time, I'mlike this is cool, like I watch
it real.
Because I'm like this is socool I'm not going to use it,
but it's still interesting to me, right, like I'm a photographer
, but it's still interesting tome.
I'm like that's really cool.
Nicole Romanoff (22:47):
Oh, that's great.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (22:48):
But yeah, but the photographer you've now
opened yourself up for a wholenew line of business really is
that you could, and you likelywill, have a mentorship program.
Someone can work with you andlearn how to do these things yes
, absolutely.
Nicole Romanoff (23:06):
And that I have been starting to hop on calls
with people that are interestedin me, mentoring them from all
over the world and just hearingwhat they need help with and how
can I help them.
And yeah, I'm just so excitedabout it and I just want to help
(23:28):
others.
I think that's it's reallyinteresting, because becoming a
photographer it's almost like wedo it for us.
It's like this is what I enjoy,and now it's kind of
transitioned into how can I giveand how can I be of service,
(23:48):
and then, once you kind offigure that out, it really
changes business.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (23:54):
For sure, and you're such a genuine person
and I think people see that likeyou can tell someone's
personality from these.
People in Norway don't know whoyou are, but they can tell
you're a genuinely good humanthat wants to help other people
and you're probably going tobenefit from it financially and
(24:16):
getting more clients and whatnot, but you're not doing it for
that.
You're doing it to serve people, which is what's important.
Nicole Romanoff (24:25):
Right, yeah, absolutely, and that's really
what makes you feel good.
You know, yeah, helping people,I think, is really what I don't
know.
That's why people volunteer,that's why people donate money.
You can't beat that feeling.
I don't think any sum of moneywould give you the same feeling
(24:47):
as helping others.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (24:50):
Oh, I fully agree.
I know you have done lots.
I've done lots in the community.
You don't do it for recognition.
You do it because you genuinelywant your community to be
better, right, right, yeah, Ilove that.
I want to talk a little bitabout White Space because, ok,
so you're a photographer, you'rereally well known in Saskatoon
(25:15):
and now you have White Space, sotell us a little bit about it
and who maybe would use it.
But also, why did you do that?
What made you branch out intohaving a space?
Nicole Romanoff (25:28):
Yeah, well, that's a great story.
Because I'm so interested infashion photography, I have
really focused a lot on studiolighting, and that's led me down
the path of what I'm mostlyshooting now which is a lot of
headshots and branding andexperimenting with fashion,
(25:51):
lighting and that sort of thing,and I used to shoot out of my
home or I did for many, manyyears and I would have to clean
my house first of all.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (26:03):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, people are coming right.
Yeah, I got that.
Nicole Romanoff (26:08):
All the furniture or like moving out of
the way.
And then I had two cats andpeople are allergic to cats, and
so I was like, man, I reallyneed to find a better solution
here, plus something that wouldgive me the opportunity to shoot
in a different way.
So, more natural lightphotography, because in my home
I was very limited.
(26:28):
I could really only do acertain number of studio
lighting setups.
Yeah Well, I would say that itwas a few years of looking for
different spaces and it justseemed like rent was ridiculous
and I was like, yep, this worked, and nothing really looked like
(26:50):
it would work, like it wasn't.
It didn't have the aestheticthat I wanted, it didn't have
the natural light that I wanted,and so it was just a few years
of looking and then one day,around Christmas time this would
have been two years ago I waslike I'm just gonna check and
(27:11):
see what's out there, and I sawthis space come up and I was
like, oh my God, this is it, andI like instantly messaged the
real estate person and I wantthis.
Yeah, eventually, this place,yeah.
And so that was two years agoaround this time and I
completely like renovated it, Ipainted it, I painted the floors
(27:34):
and then a year later I waslike I really need more space
and so I took over the unit nextto mine and then knocked down
the wall.
So now it's like twice the sizeand it's been so great Like not
only has it been great for mybusiness and like me as an
(27:58):
artist and working with otherpeople, it's been great for the
community too, because I nowrented out to other
photographers which in the whenI first started that wasn't
really part of what where I sawthe space, I was like man, if
people like if a couple people ayear, I did that so great.
Now it's like like severalrenters a week and people love
(28:24):
using the space and and it is sodifferent Like I chose white
floors because I rented thestudio in Seattle a few years
ago and it was completely white,like white hardwood, like
original hardwood floors thatwere painted white white walls,
and I was like I want this.
(28:44):
And yeah, there was nothing elsein town like it and and then I
just made it happen.
I kept that vision in my mindand, yeah, made it happen.
So it's been.
I love that story and thatinspiration that you got from
that Seattle studio and then.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (28:58):
I loved when you said there was nothing like
it in Saskatoon.
That resonates with me so much.
When I open my store, I'm likeI don't want to be like anybody
else, I want to be unique.
Right sets you apart and that'show you get more clients right.
Yeah yeah, absolutely.
You have done such a great jobon the.
I think okay, just want to backup a little bit.
I think when people have atalent and they're like, okay, I
(29:18):
want to make this my career Alot of limiting thoughts come in
like they're like well, I'mjust me, right, like you're just
one person, so I can't justtake one person.
I can't just take one person.
I can't just take photos allday long, all day, every day.
I need that many clients andyou know it's burnout editing
all of that stuff, but you havedone such a great job in growing
(29:39):
your business with White Space,with mentoring other people
right.
You have taken yourself as thetalent and look what you've done
, like it's amazing the growthyou've had in nine years.
I mean, most people don't dothese things, you know.
(30:00):
You know, you're just oneperson.
You're just one person.
You have taken yourself as thetalent and look what you've done
Like it's amazing the growthyou've had in nine years.
I mean most people don't dothese things in their entire
career.
Nicole Romanoff (30:16):
Yeah, no, it is .
It is really cool.
And even if you asked me a yearago if I would be, you know,
mentoring other people orgrowing this following on
Instagram, I would have thoughtyou were crazy.
I wouldn't like that.
I don't see that for myself.
Yeah, I've just always beensomeone that has just stayed
(30:41):
open to opportunities and justalways just continuing to find
new ways and to listen to you,to my intuition and and that's
something that I would say thatI'm still working on you know,
learning like, okay, do I enjoythis?
Okay, do I enjoy this?
Like now I'm at that pointwhere I can only say yes to so
(31:04):
many things, and so, in orderfor it to be a yes, it has to be
, you know, something that Ireally, really want, because, as
we all know, time is like avery finite resource, right?
It's precious.
There's only so much of it andthere's only so much energy that
(31:25):
that you can give right.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (31:27):
Yeah, exactly , you've done so like so well,
though, and I don't think thatthis is the end.
I don't think it stops here.
I think, if I talk to you intwo or three years from now,
there's going to be somethingelse, because really, you were
very talented, but you're also avery great business woman.
Like you, you look at all thebranches you've done.
(31:48):
They still all come back to you, they all make sense, right,
but you've got all these otherrevenue streams and different
ways to make your business moresuccessful without stretching
you too thin right as one person.
Nicole Romanoff (32:06):
Yes, yeah, and I think I really do see my
business moving in more of likea, you know, a course, you know,
like doing more courses andteaching ways that I can reach
more people a little faster, Isuppose.
(32:27):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (32:30):
Oh, yeah, for sure.
And, like we always say to, thedream is to make money while
you sleep right, or make moneywhile you're on vacation, That
is as an entrepreneur.
You're like how can I be moresuccessful and maybe financial
success isn't what you see assuccessful, but how can I do
more and do better without me?
(32:52):
Actually yeah, without.
Like you said, you're not greatat taking breaks.
Well, most entrepreneurs aren't.
It's important to you learnthat along the way.
But maybe you have an onlinecourse that people can purchase
and take the course right, rightyeah, and I do.
Nicole Romanoff (33:09):
I love teaching too, you know.
So if I can like share myknowledge on a greater scale,
then I I'm definitely like opento that, you know.
And yeah, so I find that reallyexciting because I absolutely
love working with my clients,but I love working with other
(33:29):
photographers and I love andhonestly I love business.
Like I, I love thinking of newideas and ways to grow and
expand.
So, yeah, I would say I'mreally excited to see, like,
what comes next.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (33:44):
I am too well .
ollow me on Instagram and thenwe'll all know.
Yeah, I love that.
Do you have a most importantlesson that you've learned that
you want to share?
Nicole Romanoff (33:56):
Yeah, I do.
I would say that it's soimportant to take action.
You know, like it's, it's onething to like have these dreams,
or if there's something thatyou're really passionate about
(34:16):
and you want to happen, you needto take the first step and you
need to be brave enough to takeit.
I would say that that is likethe number one thing.
Even in my daily life it's like, oh, I need to be brave, I need
to take step out of thiscomfort zone and take chances
(34:40):
and take action, and that's howyou'll grow and that's how
you'll learn.
And you know, stumbling alongthe way is good, like you know,
I agree, I think that my biggestteachers have been like those
mistakes, or yeah, so I wouldsay that my biggest lesson, or
(35:06):
the biggest lesson I could share, is just to not be to get over
that fear and just to takeaction, however small, as long
as you're working towards yourgoal, whatever.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (35:22):
I agree, it's so important.
And guess what?
If you trip and fall, you justget back up and keep going right
.
Nicole Romanoff (35:28):
Yeah because, no one cares, like the only
person that really cares if youmake a mistake.
Is you i?
Mackenzie Kilshaw (35:35):
No one else even knows.
Nicole Romanoff (35:37):
Focused on their own lives and what's going
on.
So Isn't that true?
Yeah, like we gotta get overourselves, I agree.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (35:47):
I agree, and most people don't even know.
That's the funniest part.
I remember when I had my storeand I would try things that
flopped and I'd be like, oh, I'mso embarrassed.
And then I'm like, wait aminute, nobody even knows.
Like just in your own self youget so concerned and then you
realize actually it doesn'tmatter because nobody else knows
the difference.
Nicole Romanoff (36:08):
I know you learn something, move along
right, yeah, exactly yeah.
And I think as you get older,you'll become more confident
with each of those learnings,like the more chances you take,
the more willing you are to takebigger chances and then just
grow exponentially.
Do you know what I mean?
(36:28):
Like I just-.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (36:29):
Oh, 100%.
I was actually just gonna askyou if there was one thing that
you wish you would know, but Ithink that might just be the
perfect answer, right.
Nicole Romanoff (36:37):
Exactly, yeah, just to try, yeah, try.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (36:41):
I love it, Nicole.
Where can people find you?
I know people are gonna wannalearn more about you.
Where's the best place for themto search you?
Nicole Romanoff (36:48):
Right, I hang out on Instagram quite a lot.
It's a NicoleRomanoffPhoto, andthen I have a website it's
NicoleRomanoff.
com, and I'm also on the othersocial media sites as well.
But I think if you wanna reallyfollow along on a daily basis,
(37:10):
Instagram is like the place togo.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (37:13):
Awesome.
Thank you so much for being on,Nicole.
I really appreciate this and Iknow there's so many people
listening that have a talent.
They're like I really wanna dothis and I really think that
seeing your success will helpthem make their choice to do it.
Nicole Romanoff (37:27):
So thank you, thank you.
Well, that gives me such joy,and thank you so much for having
me.
I love this and I'm so excitedfor this podcast.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (37:38):
Awesome, me too.
Thank you so much again and foreverybody listening.
We'll see you on the nextepisode.
Thanks for listening to Winning.
Be sure to subscribe to get allof our new episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode andyou'd like to help support the
podcast, please share it withothers, post about it on social
media and leave a rating andreview wherever you listen to
(37:58):
Winning.
To all T catch catch.
To catch all of the latest fromus, a can Winning Podcast on
Facebook Instagram at WinningPodcast underscore podcast,
facebook a Winning podcast andon Twitter at Winning pod.
Winning was created Mackenzieand is produced by me, mackenzie
Firby Kilshaw Music, created bySummer Furby, editing by Seth
(38:18):
Armstrong.
Special thanks to Shauna Fosterfor voicing our opening and, of
course, a huge thank you tothis episode's guest.
Thanks again for listening andI'll see you on the next episode
.
Winning is your guide to making it in business.
Join our award-winning host andentrepreneur, Mackenzie Kilshaw
, and special guests in casualconversations that will educate
and inspire you on your businessjourney.
Winning will help you learn thehard lessons the easy way, with
guidance from celebratedentrepreneurs and business
(00:26):
leaders.
It's fun, it's informative,it's Winning.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (00:32):
Hello, welcome to Winning.
I'm your host, MackenzieKilshaw, and my guest today is
Nicole Romanoff.
Hi Nicole, hi Mackenzie, howare you?
I'm doing really well.
How are you?
I'm so good.
I was just telling Nicole howI'm so excited to have her on,
because Nicole is what I wouldsay is such an amazing, talented
(00:53):
photographer who has built thiscareer based on her talent, and
I'm so excited to go throughwith you and how you did that.
So, if you don't know Nicole,she is an award-winning
photographer based out ofSaskatoon.
She started her professionalcareer in 2015 and has quickly
made a name for herself in theindustry.
(01:13):
She specializes in branding,headshots, commercial and
fashion photography, which Ithink we'll talk about because
we work together a few times onfashion.
Nicole's work has been featuredin print and fashion magazine
in Canada and tons of otherinternational magazines, and on
billboards.
She was on a billboard inToronto's Yonge Street, which is
super cool, and Nicole alsoowns a White Space photo studio
(01:36):
in Saskatoon which is a rentalspace for photographers and
creatives, so you have a lotgoing on.
Nicole Romanoff (01:42):
I do.
It's a lot to manage, but Ilove it, but you love it.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (01:47):
I love that.
So I kind of gave the K notesversion of you a Nicole.
But why don't you tell thelisteners a little bit more
about you and kind of where youstarted and how did you get now
to where you are?
Nicole Romanoff (02:01):
Oh gosh.
Well, it's been a journey and Iwould say, unlike maybe a lot
of photographers or maybe Ishouldn't say that it kind of
took me a long time to figureout what my path was and
especially where I fit in in theindustry.
(02:21):
So photography has just alwaysbeen something that I've been
kind of interested in andpassionate about, but never
really.
When I was younger, I would say, I didn't really think of it as
a career path.
I always was like, oh, thatwould be so cool to shoot for
National Geographic.
Shauna Foster (02:42):
I'm not sure.
Nicole Romanoff (02:46):
I just love the idea of traveling to different
places and just working withcool people.
But I would say, once I hituniversity I was like oh gosh,
I'm at a real crossroads here.
I don't really know how topursue that.
(03:07):
So I ended up going intocommerce, getting my commerce
degree, as I think you do aswell.
Yeah, you bet Alumni and I feellike that really helped me in a
lot of different ways, just withmore of a professional aspect
and understanding business.
And then, once I graduatedagain, I was like, oh god, what
(03:31):
do I do?
So I ended up working forCoca-Cola for a number of years
and actually more specificallyfor Vitamin Water and Smart
Water.
I worked as the businessdevelopment manager for the
province, which was such a cooljob and such a great opportunity
.
Just worked with all thesesuper cool people from across
(03:53):
Canada and got to travel thecountry.
I learned so much.
And then, once the brand wasmore established, I was actually
laid off from the company,which happens, and I think I
really do believe thateverything does happen for a
(04:15):
reason because, as much as Iloved it, I knew that it wasn't
my passion.
And so again, here I am at thiscrossroads Do I take the
corporate route?
Do I venture off and dosomething on my own?
And as you know I ventured offand tried something on my own,
but I would say it wasn't anautomatic decision for me.
(04:40):
It took a couple years.
I was doing all sorts of things.
I've always been a danceteacher and so I was doing that
full time and I was alsonannying for my sister who had
just had a baby.
I was working at Lulu emon andI'd picked up my camera again
and I always tell the story thatit was really like nannying for
(05:01):
my sister.
I would just practice takingphotos on her and just getting
into it and really what it waswas.
It was people that would be likewhy are you doing this?
And I was like I don't know.
I just didn't think that.
It was like, oh my goodness, Idon't know.
So that was really my journey.
(05:23):
And then once I got thisaffirmation from people or they
opened my eyes that no, you cando this, so you should do this
or at least try I jumped withboth feet in and it's been yeah,
I haven't looked back like nineyears now and just to think of
(05:46):
the progression and theevolution of even the business
aspect of it yes, even like thephotos that I've taken and now I
have like a studio space.
It's just, it's wild.
So, yeah, it took me about 13or 14 years to like actually
(06:07):
turn it into a career, which is,yeah, it's been a journey.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:12):
I think, though, Nicole, honestly, there
are so many people like you thatyou know you go to university
because you think that that'swhat you have to do to get a
good job.
I think it's changed a littlebit now, but years ago, right,
you had to get a trade, or youhad to go to school and get an
adult job all college.
I have that same thing.
(06:33):
When you said, you graduatedand you're like now what?
I felt that too, because I'mlike okay, now I'm an adult, I'm
done school, I'm in my you know, still early twenties, but now
I need, like, a big girl job.
So you just get a job becauseyou're like well, I have to pay
for stuff and have money.
Right, I have to have an income, exactly.
Nicole Romanoff (06:51):
You get that job, yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (06:54):
And then even if you're thinking, okay, I
like doing this, I really liketo do this as a career, it's
really hard to make that leapinto leaving what you know,
leaving an income in your what'scalled yeah, exactly, and in
your case, being laid off.
and so many people I talked tothey're like, well, I got laid
off.
And then you're like, okay, nowwhat?
(07:16):
Right?
And really, you, you stilltried some other things, but you
went right back to that takingphotos and you are so talented.
I'm sure that talent grew, likeI'm sure, when you first
started.
You're not how you are nowright.
No, no, you gotta look back andthink, oh geez.
Nicole Romanoff (07:35):
Yeah, totally, especially when I look back at
like some of the photos I'veedited, I'm like why would I do
that again?
It's like all it's all part ofthe process and just growing as
an artist and yeah, so I try andgive myself a little bit of
like.
You know, grace being like youknow, like that girl was just on
(07:57):
her way, you know, and she wasjust like learning and I, yeah,
I don't regret not jumping intophotography earlier, because I
do believe, like what you'reintended to do will find you if
you're open to it.
Yes, and it just wasn't like mytime.
(08:17):
I guess you could say, yeah,you know, like I wasn't ready.
I had to like learn these otherthings or, you know, whatever
it was, meet the right people.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (08:28):
Yeah, exactly .
Well, and think about you wentthrough commerce so you learned
a lot about business and thathelps you run a business.
Having you know job with CocaCola, Lululemon, like the amount
of people you've seen today inLululemon.
Right, that recognize your face, you maybe get to know them.
That networking really helpsyou to build your own business,
(08:50):
right.
Nicole Romanoff (08:51):
Absolutely yeah , and so even just you know,
saying yes to all thoseexperiences along the way is
daunting and tiring as it can be.
I think we'll always get you towhere you need to be in the end
, if that makes sense.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (09:08):
Yeah, I totally agree.
I always say never pass up anopportunity, because you will
probably learn something fromwhatever that is and meet some
people that down the line arereally going to help you along,
you know, along your journey.
Nicole Romanoff (09:25):
Absolutely.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (09:26):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
So when?
Okay.
So you're practicing on yourexcuse me your sister and people
are like you're really good,Nicole, you need to do this, so
you take this leap.
How did you find clients tostart growing your business when
you first started?
Nicole Romanoff (09:45):
Right, well, kind of going back to my last,
the last thing I said, I sayingyes to everything.
I said yes to everything.
So if anyone wanted me tophotograph anything, I'd be like
, yes, I will.
And just starting to marketmyself on Instagram or push out
my work so that it was seen on alarger audience, and just
(10:07):
starting to interact with morepeople.
And actually my sister was themarketing director for the
Saskatchewan Jazz Festival atthe time and I was like, hey,
can I just like shoot whatevershows I or like can I shoot it?
And she's like, yeah for sure,here's the pass, like go at it.
So I shot every single nightlike as many shows as I possibly
(10:33):
could be at, as like one person, and I would stay up till like
3am just editing.
So I was.
It was a hustle, but you know,when people see you out with a
camera, they start to identifyyou more as a, as a photographer
or you know, whatever, whateverit is that you're kind of like
putting out there.
(10:53):
And so because I think I've,I've already, I've was that
person that said yes to so manythings along the way and already
had that network.
You know, when people startidentifying you as something new
, they start sharing your nameand so really it was like very
much like a grassroots sort oflike spread and just saying yes
(11:15):
and learning what it is that Ienjoy to do, because I would say
that, like, what I was shootingin the very beginning is is not
what I'm shooting today, and soit's just really interesting to
see, like, how wide my net wasand now where, where that's
(11:36):
brought me today in terms of,like, the style that I shoot and
the clients that I have.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (11:41):
So, yeah, and I think that's really important
too, because when you have atalent and you make that into
your career, you still have toniche where you are, because not
many photographers shoot familyphotos and weddings and
headshots and sports teams andright, like you have to fashion,
(12:04):
like you have to find out.
Okay, I love fashion, I okay,and if you, you guys got to go
into Nicole's Instagram becauseyou do love fashion, because I
can tell by what you wear, andbut also that I know I alluded
to it at the beginning, butNicole and I, the first time I
ever met Nicole or knew who youwere, you came to my store and I
(12:28):
don't remember what it was for,but you said, hey, could I
borrow some clothes for thesemodels to wear for me to take
pictures and then I'll tag youin the photos.
And I was like sure, because Ialso was just starting out and
for me that was a way to okay,Nicole's going to take some
really awesome pictures that nowpeople are going to see the
(12:48):
clothes are from me and they'regoing to probably come to me,
right, so it worked out reallywell, but that's that was how I
first first met you and knew whoyou were.
Nicole Romanoff (12:58):
The collaboration and I kind of
completely forgot.
So you're part of my story in away, because that was the issue
that I originally did, and itwas I was volunteering for SFDF,
which is the Saskatoon Fashionand Design Festival.
N time and I was running theirblog, and so I was trying to
(13:20):
like bridge those relationshipsby you know getting partners
like you who own like coolclothing stores and then you
know creating like these sort ofeditorial blog pieces for them,
and I yes, I remember that thatwas like one of my first sort
of like I guess you could callit like fashion shoots with
(13:41):
Megan Kardash and it wasactually.
She was like a big part of youknow encouraging me as well.
She's like you know, you'rereally good right.
I was like what?
Yeah, you're like well, not goodyeah you always don't yourself
everybody else see the talentand in your own self, I'm like
well, I'm fine, I'm not thatgreat oh yeah, this is just me,
(14:06):
I don't know like, yeah, oh,anyways, yeah, I can't believe I
, yeah, forgot about that, but Ilove, I love how those images
turned out.
But, yeah, really comes down tocollaboration as well.
And yeah, just trying to offersomething, yeah, and offer
something, and then networking alittle.
(14:28):
You know, I did.
Sometimes that word networkingcan sound a little bit too like
I don't know.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (14:35):
Yeah, use car sales m kind of.
I know exactly, yeah, I feel.
Shauna Foster (14:40):
I feel the same way too.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (14:42):
It's building relationships for me right,
more than just like handing outbusiness cards and like, oh hey,
nice to me too, and then younever talked to that person
again.
Nicole Romanoff (14:50):
Right, yeah, it's like what can you do for me
?
And versus like, okay, let'sget to know each other and see,
yeah, help one another.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (14:58):
Yeah, exactly , and really when you came to me
I didn't know that you werejust starting out.
You are so professional and tome I'm like she's really good
and I remember you sent me someof the pictures to use.
I put them on my website to andI never once doubted you like
that.
You were professional andtalented and you were very
friendly.
You were great to work with.
(15:19):
So if those times ever cameLike, I would have always said
yes, because it was good forboth of us and you're so awesome
to work with.
Nicole Romanoff (15:28):
Well, thank you for saying that.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (15:31):
Well, that's a testament to where you started
, to where you are now.
Right, really, it's, it's a lotit's you, it's a lot of just
you, and your personality too.
That's something.
Yeah, okay.
So you started out.
You're like I'm gonna do this,you take every job that you can
take and I'm gonna just put itout there that probably a lot of
(15:51):
those jobs you didn't get paidfor.
Nicole Romanoff (15:53):
Oh, I would say the majority, yeah.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (15:56):
Yeah, yeah.
So you're putting yourself outthere.
How do you get from that tobeing in all of these editorials
?
And you're on billboards inToronto and internationally.
How is that journey of growth?
Nicole Romanoff (16:14):
I think it's just persistence and consistency
and, I think, just never givingup right.
So, like I, I've always beensomeone that's really driven to
achieve my goals and I've been,you know, very inspired by
fashion and just I guess there'slike a competitive part of me
(16:39):
too that's like, oh, I reallylike, I got it.
I got it like be my best or seehow good I can get, like can I
be on a billboard, can I get amagazine editorial?
And just always startedchallenging myself and pushing
myself forward.
So I would say, just yeah, I amnot someone that takes a lot of
(17:04):
breaks.
I know that's, that's somethingI'm working on and I am getting
better at it.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (17:09):
Yeah, but it's important to get me.
Nicole Romanoff (17:11):
Yeah, it really , really is, and but I would say
just constantly like, continueto do what I do, so kind of
shooting as much as I can, andjust continue to put high
quality work out there.
I catching work, stuff that'srelevant, and then, yeah, it
(17:36):
will just catch the eye of thosepeople that you want to to work
with and those opportunitieswill come.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (17:44):
Yeah, yeah, 100%, and, like we said, it's
building that community and it'sthe connections that you have
with other people, because nowyou've taken my headshots and
you know, like you're like, oh,I know someone, they're really
great.
I'm just I'm gonna just callright, like it just kind of I
think branches from there.
Yeah, absolutely yeah, wetalked before we started
(18:05):
recording.
Of course, we always talkbefore and I always say we
should have been recording this,but I just want to touch on
your Instagram page.
We all know how importantsocial media is for businesses
and we kind of were chattingabout but I think this is kind
of cool subject to talk about.
While recording, we chattedabout how, when your page
(18:25):
started, or when you firststarted your pages, was most
likely people that liked yourphotos, right, like, oh, that's
an awesome photo, thephotographer is great, I'm gonna
follow her.
But now you have reallybranched out and you're giving
so much advice now to otherphotographers and how I did the
(18:46):
shoot, how I change the lighting, all things like that.
Clearly, I don't know anythingabout photography.
You have really branched outand let's talk about that,
because you said, so many ofyour followers now are worldwide
and they're photographers,right, so that's also changed
your business yeah, it really,really has.
Nicole Romanoff (19:07):
I would say that for several years I, oh, to
be honest, I feel like I kindof had like this negative
mindset around Instagram andkind of like what it was about,
and in the summer or early falleven, I think, I really sort of
like switched my mindset aroundthat and thought about like okay
(19:31):
, like how can I use this as atool to kind of serve and
provide value, as opposed tojust like?
Oh, here's something I did andI would say in the last few
years, just overall in mybusiness, it's really come down
to you, how can I serve?
And more so than like, how canI just serve me?
(19:55):
It's like no.
I like provide value and shareand so in the fall I kind of I
joined this challenge is 10 dayreal challenge, and so that
really forced me to get in thehabit of just posting every day
and trying to share somethinguseful and knowledgeable and
(20:19):
learning about hooks and in all,all of things.
That kind of get more eyes onyou.
And I've kept up with thatreally good and I've kind of
switched like who who I've, Iguess, been targeting.
So it has been more of like howcan I serve other photographers
(20:39):
?
Because in the beginning Iwould say that I didn't really I
didn't have a mentor, I justpracticed all myself, I studied
as much as I could online, andso I was like how can I provide
value and what sort of tipswould be helpful for
(21:03):
photographers, and kind ofthinking about it in those terms
.
And I think it's grown myaccount since geez, I feel like
since even November, it's grownlike 13,000, like for
photographers, like from allover the world, and it's been so
(21:23):
great and there's so muchencouragement and people like
finding value in what I'msharing and like it's wild, it's
so cool and just to hear frompeople you know, like in Norway
or in the States and it's reallykind of leading me down this
(21:43):
path that I didn't see formyself, in terms of more of like
a mentor and kind of opening uplike more mentorship
opportunities for people thatwere, you know, in my shoes, you
know, a few years back, so it'sbeen so cool.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (22:00):
It's so crazy with Instagram and we've had an
episode recently on justInstagram and how you can be
successful on Instagram really,whoever your target audience is,
if you provide them contentthat's valuable and they're
interested in.
Like 13,000 new followers injust a few months is insane.
Nicole Romanoff (22:24):
It is insane, it's wild.
I congratulate every day.
I'm like what the heck you'relike what is?
Mackenzie Kilshaw (22:31):
happening.
Yeah, but me, as a nonphotographer that's followed
your page for a long time, I'mlike this is cool, like I watch
it real.
Because I'm like this is socool I'm not going to use it,
but it's still interesting to me, right, like I'm a photographer
, but it's still interesting tome.
I'm like that's really cool.
Nicole Romanoff (22:47):
Oh, that's great.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (22:48):
But yeah, but the photographer you've now
opened yourself up for a wholenew line of business really is
that you could, and you likelywill, have a mentorship program.
Someone can work with you andlearn how to do these things yes
, absolutely.
Nicole Romanoff (23:06):
And that I have been starting to hop on calls
with people that are interestedin me, mentoring them from all
over the world and just hearingwhat they need help with and how
can I help them.
And yeah, I'm just so excitedabout it and I just want to help
(23:28):
others.
I think that's it's reallyinteresting, because becoming a
photographer it's almost like wedo it for us.
It's like this is what I enjoy,and now it's kind of
transitioned into how can I giveand how can I be of service,
(23:48):
and then, once you kind offigure that out, it really
changes business.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (23:54):
For sure, and you're such a genuine person
and I think people see that likeyou can tell someone's
personality from these.
People in Norway don't know whoyou are, but they can tell
you're a genuinely good humanthat wants to help other people
and you're probably going tobenefit from it financially and
(24:16):
getting more clients and whatnot, but you're not doing it for
that.
You're doing it to serve people, which is what's important.
Nicole Romanoff (24:25):
Right, yeah, absolutely, and that's really
what makes you feel good.
You know, yeah, helping people,I think, is really what I don't
know.
That's why people volunteer,that's why people donate money.
You can't beat that feeling.
I don't think any sum of moneywould give you the same feeling
(24:47):
as helping others.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (24:50):
Oh, I fully agree.
I know you have done lots.
I've done lots in the community.
You don't do it for recognition.
You do it because you genuinelywant your community to be
better, right, right, yeah, Ilove that.
I want to talk a little bitabout White Space because, ok,
so you're a photographer, you'rereally well known in Saskatoon
(25:15):
and now you have White Space, sotell us a little bit about it
and who maybe would use it.
But also, why did you do that?
What made you branch out intohaving a space?
Nicole Romanoff (25:28):
Yeah, well, that's a great story.
Because I'm so interested infashion photography, I have
really focused a lot on studiolighting, and that's led me down
the path of what I'm mostlyshooting now which is a lot of
headshots and branding andexperimenting with fashion,
(25:51):
lighting and that sort of thing,and I used to shoot out of my
home or I did for many, manyyears and I would have to clean
my house first of all.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (26:03):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, people are coming right.
Yeah, I got that.
Nicole Romanoff (26:08):
All the furniture or like moving out of
the way.
And then I had two cats andpeople are allergic to cats, and
so I was like, man, I reallyneed to find a better solution
here, plus something that wouldgive me the opportunity to shoot
in a different way.
So, more natural lightphotography, because in my home
I was very limited.
(26:28):
I could really only do acertain number of studio
lighting setups.
Yeah Well, I would say that itwas a few years of looking for
different spaces and it justseemed like rent was ridiculous
and I was like, yep, this worked, and nothing really looked like
(26:50):
it would work, like it wasn't.
It didn't have the aestheticthat I wanted, it didn't have
the natural light that I wanted,and so it was just a few years
of looking and then one day,around Christmas time this would
have been two years ago I waslike I'm just gonna check and
(27:11):
see what's out there, and I sawthis space come up and I was
like, oh my God, this is it, andI like instantly messaged the
real estate person and I wantthis.
Yeah, eventually, this place,yeah.
And so that was two years agoaround this time and I
completely like renovated it, Ipainted it, I painted the floors
(27:34):
and then a year later I waslike I really need more space
and so I took over the unit nextto mine and then knocked down
the wall.
So now it's like twice the sizeand it's been so great Like not
only has it been great for mybusiness and like me as an
(27:58):
artist and working with otherpeople, it's been great for the
community too, because I nowrented out to other
photographers which in the whenI first started that wasn't
really part of what where I sawthe space, I was like man, if
people like if a couple people ayear, I did that so great.
Now it's like like severalrenters a week and people love
(28:24):
using the space and and it is sodifferent Like I chose white
floors because I rented thestudio in Seattle a few years
ago and it was completely white,like white hardwood, like
original hardwood floors thatwere painted white white walls,
and I was like I want this.
(28:44):
And yeah, there was nothing elsein town like it and and then I
just made it happen.
I kept that vision in my mindand, yeah, made it happen.
So it's been.
I love that story and thatinspiration that you got from
that Seattle studio and then.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (28:58):
I loved when you said there was nothing like
it in Saskatoon.
That resonates with me so much.
When I open my store, I'm likeI don't want to be like anybody
else, I want to be unique.
Right sets you apart and that'show you get more clients right.
Yeah yeah, absolutely.
You have done such a great jobon the.
I think okay, just want to backup a little bit.
I think when people have atalent and they're like, okay, I
(29:18):
want to make this my career Alot of limiting thoughts come in
like they're like well, I'mjust me, right, like you're just
one person, so I can't justtake one person.
I can't just take one person.
I can't just take photos allday long, all day, every day.
I need that many clients andyou know it's burnout editing
all of that stuff, but you havedone such a great job in growing
(29:39):
your business with White Space,with mentoring other people
right.
You have taken yourself as thetalent and look what you've done
, like it's amazing the growthyou've had in nine years.
I mean, most people don't dothese things, you know.
(30:00):
You know, you're just oneperson.
You're just one person.
You have taken yourself as thetalent and look what you've done
Like it's amazing the growthyou've had in nine years.
I mean most people don't dothese things in their entire
career.
Nicole Romanoff (30:16):
Yeah, no, it is .
It is really cool.
And even if you asked me a yearago if I would be, you know,
mentoring other people orgrowing this following on
Instagram, I would have thoughtyou were crazy.
I wouldn't like that.
I don't see that for myself.
Yeah, I've just always beensomeone that has just stayed
(30:41):
open to opportunities and justalways just continuing to find
new ways and to listen to you,to my intuition and and that's
something that I would say thatI'm still working on you know,
learning like, okay, do I enjoythis?
Okay, do I enjoy this?
Like now I'm at that pointwhere I can only say yes to so
(31:04):
many things, and so, in orderfor it to be a yes, it has to be
, you know, something that Ireally, really want, because, as
we all know, time is like avery finite resource, right?
It's precious.
There's only so much of it andthere's only so much energy that
(31:25):
that you can give right.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (31:27):
Yeah, exactly , you've done so like so well,
though, and I don't think thatthis is the end.
I don't think it stops here.
I think, if I talk to you intwo or three years from now,
there's going to be somethingelse, because really, you were
very talented, but you're also avery great business woman.
Like you, you look at all thebranches you've done.
(31:48):
They still all come back to you, they all make sense, right,
but you've got all these otherrevenue streams and different
ways to make your business moresuccessful without stretching
you too thin right as one person.
Nicole Romanoff (32:06):
Yes, yeah, and I think I really do see my
business moving in more of likea, you know, a course, you know,
like doing more courses andteaching ways that I can reach
more people a little faster, Isuppose.
(32:27):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (32:30):
Oh, yeah, for sure.
And, like we always say to, thedream is to make money while
you sleep right, or make moneywhile you're on vacation, That
is as an entrepreneur.
You're like how can I be moresuccessful and maybe financial
success isn't what you see assuccessful, but how can I do
more and do better without me?
(32:52):
Actually yeah, without.
Like you said, you're not greatat taking breaks.
Well, most entrepreneurs aren't.
It's important to you learnthat along the way.
But maybe you have an onlinecourse that people can purchase
and take the course right, rightyeah, and I do.
Nicole Romanoff (33:09):
I love teaching too, you know.
So if I can like share myknowledge on a greater scale,
then I I'm definitely like opento that, you know.
And yeah, so I find that reallyexciting because I absolutely
love working with my clients,but I love working with other
(33:29):
photographers and I love andhonestly I love business.
Like I, I love thinking of newideas and ways to grow and
expand.
So, yeah, I would say I'mreally excited to see, like,
what comes next.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (33:44):
I am too well .
ollow me on Instagram and thenwe'll all know.
Yeah, I love that.
Do you have a most importantlesson that you've learned that
you want to share?
Nicole Romanoff (33:56):
Yeah, I do.
I would say that it's soimportant to take action.
You know, like it's, it's onething to like have these dreams,
or if there's something thatyou're really passionate about
(34:16):
and you want to happen, you needto take the first step and you
need to be brave enough to takeit.
I would say that that is likethe number one thing.
Even in my daily life it's like, oh, I need to be brave, I need
to take step out of thiscomfort zone and take chances
(34:40):
and take action, and that's howyou'll grow and that's how
you'll learn.
And you know, stumbling alongthe way is good, like you know,
I agree, I think that my biggestteachers have been like those
mistakes, or yeah, so I wouldsay that my biggest lesson, or
(35:06):
the biggest lesson I could share, is just to not be to get over
that fear and just to takeaction, however small, as long
as you're working towards yourgoal, whatever.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (35:22):
I agree, it's so important.
And guess what?
If you trip and fall, you justget back up and keep going right
.
Nicole Romanoff (35:28):
Yeah because, no one cares, like the only
person that really cares if youmake a mistake.
Is you i?
Mackenzie Kilshaw (35:35):
No one else even knows.
Nicole Romanoff (35:37):
Focused on their own lives and what's going
on.
So Isn't that true?
Yeah, like we gotta get overourselves, I agree.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (35:47):
I agree, and most people don't even know.
That's the funniest part.
I remember when I had my storeand I would try things that
flopped and I'd be like, oh, I'mso embarrassed.
And then I'm like, wait aminute, nobody even knows.
Like just in your own self youget so concerned and then you
realize actually it doesn'tmatter because nobody else knows
the difference.
Nicole Romanoff (36:08):
I know you learn something, move along
right, yeah, exactly yeah.
And I think as you get older,you'll become more confident
with each of those learnings,like the more chances you take,
the more willing you are to takebigger chances and then just
grow exponentially.
Do you know what I mean?
(36:28):
Like I just-.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (36:29):
Oh, 100%.
I was actually just gonna askyou if there was one thing that
you wish you would know, but Ithink that might just be the
perfect answer, right.
Nicole Romanoff (36:37):
Exactly, yeah, just to try, yeah, try.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (36:41):
I love it, Nicole.
Where can people find you?
I know people are gonna wannalearn more about you.
Where's the best place for themto search you?
Nicole Romanoff (36:48):
Right, I hang out on Instagram quite a lot.
It's a NicoleRomanoffPhoto, andthen I have a website it's
NicoleRomanoff.
com, and I'm also on the othersocial media sites as well.
But I think if you wanna reallyfollow along on a daily basis,
(37:10):
Instagram is like the place togo.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (37:13):
Awesome.
Thank you so much for being on,Nicole.
I really appreciate this and Iknow there's so many people
listening that have a talent.
They're like I really wanna dothis and I really think that
seeing your success will helpthem make their choice to do it.
Nicole Romanoff (37:27):
So thank you, thank you.
Well, that gives me such joy,and thank you so much for having
me.
I love this and I'm so excitedfor this podcast.
Mackenzie Kilshaw (37:38):
Awesome, me too.
Thank you so much again and foreverybody listening.
We'll see you on the nextepisode.
Thanks for listening to Winning.
Be sure to subscribe to get allof our new episodes.
If you enjoyed this episode andyou'd like to help support the
podcast, please share it withothers, post about it on social
media and leave a rating andreview wherever you listen to
(37:58):
Winning.
To all T catch catch.
To catch all of the latest fromus, a can Winning Podcast on
Facebook Instagram at WinningPodcast underscore podcast,
facebook a Winning podcast andon Twitter at Winning pod.
Winning was created Mackenzieand is produced by me, mackenzie
Firby Kilshaw Music, created bySummer Furby, editing by Seth
(38:18):
Armstrong.
Special thanks to Shauna Fosterfor voicing our opening and, of
course, a huge thank you tothis episode's guest.
Thanks again for listening andI'll see you on the next episode
.
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