PHOTOGRAPHER BASED IN SACRAMENTO
Hi, I'm Nicola! Pronounced 'Nic-uh-la'.
I was born in South Africa, grew up in England, and am now based in Sacramento! (Unfortunately, there's no accent to be found unless I am on the phone with my parents or the drinks have been flowwwin')
I love music that makes me feel thingsβ¦ Bon Iver, Angus & Julia Stone, The XX, just to name a few. I can also be found editing to some cheesy country songs and can rap along to almost any Biggie Smalls song. Humans are complex and amazing and I donβt think we can ever restrict ourselves to being one type of thing, certainly not one type of music genre. If I like a song I listen to it over and over and over again until I canβt stand it. Super cool habit.
I love the elements that make up a wedding; from the nervous jitters of getting ready, dreams becoming reality when you finally see your love at the altar, to breaking it down on the dance-floor to your favorite song, surrounded by the people you love the most.
Iβm very sneaky in the way that I work. I will give direction when needed, but I mostly like to step back and let the moments unfold. I'll be with you every step of the way and when you get your photos back you'll be like what? how? when? ;)
READ MORE ABOUT ME HERE
LATEST FEATURED POSTS:
Kevin and Sandy's love story began on an app called Coffee Meets Bagel. After their first meeting, they quickly felt a strong connection and continued to see each other. It turned out that they both lived just a few miles apart, which made things even more convenient. They have been together for almost 5.5 years and have been patiently waiting for this big day!
SO in love with this dreamy studio shoot I recently did for one of my besties who's expecting her first baby next month. This was my first time shooting a maternity session in a studio and I love the soft and romantic vibe we created.
We opted for warm background colors and simple flower props, letting this mama-to-be glow like the absolute goddess she is!
Such a special session documenting two good friends in a beautiful new season of their life! Our goal was to capture frame-worthy moments as they anticipate the arrival of their baby girl, Cora.
We were hoping to catch the golden hour light and this Folsom Lake location definitely delivered. The sunlight over the tall grass created such a magical and dreamy atmosphere and I was able to capture the exact photos I had envisioned.
What a dreamy winter wedding day for Kaitlin and Nick! Located in the heart of wine country, Montage Healdsburg was the perfect venue for their romantic and elegant celebration. Kaitlin and Nick, along with their amazing planner (Sarah at Cole Drake Events) put so much thought and care into the details of their wedding day. The winter-inspired florals added so much warmth to the overall aesthetic of the day. From the elegant table settings to their initials on orange peels, every aspect of the day was carefully considered and executed flawlessly.
After a few seasons off, last year I finally had the time to bring back my fall mini sessions! Thank you to Heringer Family Winery for letting me host these back-to-back sessions on their beautiful property.
Minis are great for capturing families, engagements, announcements or maybe just even a lifestyle/portrait session! Enjoy a little look my 2022 Sacramento sessions and be sure to reach out early next year as they sell out quickly!
Instagram @nicolaleighphoto:
This summer, I had the opportunity to photograph the most magical wedding at Northstar Ski Resort. I've spent many winters snowboarding up here and I actually got engaged here in 2019, so it was a dream come true to be back at this venue, shooting a wedding 8,000 ft up in the sky. The couple, Jake and Holly, have such an incredible love story.