Today we’d like to introduce you to Britt Nichole
Hi Britt, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Photography is something that I’ve always been interested in. When I was a little kid, I remember spending hours going through old photo albums with my great-grandmother, Grandma Great Elaine. She passed away in February 2012, when I was 13 and in 8th grade. In 10th grade, I took a Photography elective as a way to honor her.
Other than the one class I took in 10th grade, I am completely self-taught. I used my mom’s camera for that class, but I didn’t end up getting my own camera until July 2023, when I was 24. It was an impulse purchase and, at first, photography was solely going to be a hobby – I just wanted a cheap(ish) camera to be able to take pictures with, something other than my phone. But then it just… took off from there. I started learning how to photo-edit in October 2023, came up with a name (Learn To Fly Photography) in November 2023, and the rest, as they say, is history. I purchased Adobe Lightroom in March 2024 and that *tremendously* helped my editing and my confidence. I am still learning, as we all are, but I’m super proud of how far I’ve come in such a short time!
I’m also a disabled artist, and was born with all of my permanent, physical disabilities. Disabled people have been, and continue to be, greatly underestimated by many of those who aren’t disabled. I’m super proud to be part of the movement to end that stigma.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Marketing has definitely been tough, I am always looking for ways to grow and get myself/my brand out there! It’s a slow-going ride, but one that, I hope, will be worth it.
Other than that, I would say that, as a disabled artist, there are some things that I have to deal with that somebody who isn’t disabled might not have to. I’m currently working on getting my license, but, currently, I live in an area that lacks public transportation, and the transportation that we do have – rideshare – is expensive and largely unreliable. As such, sometimes I find that getting a ride to/from a session is difficult. Because of the costs of rideshare, I usually have to stick to locations close to me – and even then I sometimes feel like the costs of rideshare eat up much of the profits from live photo sessions. I’d like to keep my prices as affordable as possible, but the lack of reliability in transportation makes that difficult. I am a strong advocate that EVERYBODY, regardless of disability, deserves RELIABLE transportation. It’s an issue that I am very much passionate about. By supporting me and my photography business, you are also supporting a disabled person who is fighting for transportation reliability for all!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As I’ve said, I am a disabled artist/photographer working to end the stigma against disabled people! By supporting me and my business, you are supporting somebody who was told they’ “might not amount to anything” from birth.
Besides photography, I am also very involved in writing and the local community of writers/authors around Dayton. I do headshots and promotional photography for many authors, and, as somebody who aspires to be an author someday, I find it rewarding to connect with the community in a unique way. Currently, my sessions are $75.00. That price is for the entire session, which usually ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and also includes my editing services and a quick turnaround time.
Of course, I love to work with anybody! While the writing community is special to me, you do not have to be an author to request my services.
While I am working on expanding my business for live sessions, I also offer photo prints on demand and can ship to anywhere in the U.S. (and beyond). I have a small selection of prints available on my Etsy, learntoflyphotos, but if you see a photo you’d like made into a physical print, even if it isn’t already available on my Etsy, you may contact/reach out to me for custom print requests! I’ve shipped to several states across the U.S. and it makes me super happy to know that people like my art that much.
What makes you happy?
Art.
Not only does art make me happy, art is an escape.
Aside from my physical disabilities, I have struggled with mental health my entire life – going as far back as childhood. I am diagnosed with C-PTSD and there was a long period of time where I wasn’t doing anything – it was before I purchased my camera, and I also wasn’t writing.
While they are not photographers, I’d like to give a special shoutout to the Miami Valley Writers Group, and especially to Aliya DalRae. Miami Valley Writers helped get me back on my feet, and Aliya (her pen-name) is like a second mother to me. None of the novels I’m working on would’ve been possible without Miami Valley Writers, and a bunch of the people in the group have been great support for my photography as well.
Nobody is weird when creating art. If anything, weirdness is what brings us together. I literally sit in Adobe Lightroom for hours on end just to edit photos. What’s “normal” about that?
Art is beauty, art is escape, art is what has helped keep me alive. Think about the TV shows you watch, the books you read, the music you listen to – those are all forms of art. The world would be a very frightening place without it.
Pricing:
- Prints – Prices TBD Based on Size of Print & Shipping
- Live Sessions – $75.00/full session. Prices subject to change.
- For other pricing inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://learntoflyphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learntoflyphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553286001488
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clFNZnrhHw0&si=Rmbk2yu-Og-o2PG-&fbclid=IwY2xjawGYoOxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfyToUIVdIHv0p9wruoHfI0x0EKvDQoVsRpINkEPLgDgtgpfXN2DmzY79w_aem_aXVB2qnrM201bJs3fZITKQ
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/learntoflyphotos/?etsrc=sdt
Image Credits
Learn To Fly logo created by fellow photographer, Ronald Barriault, Jr. Thanks, Ronald!
The woman in the red top is Dayton author, C.L. Pauwels. Thank you for your support, Cyndi!
