Connect
To Top

Life & Work with Nicole Bolinger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Bolinger.

Hi Nicole, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I graduated in the year 2000 with a marketing degree. Years later I became a mother and opted to stay at home, rather than continue in my career. I soon started a little photography business on the side and over the years it grew to a full-service photography studio. Around 2015 I began focusing on commercial photography. I soon realized that many small business owners didn’t know how to market their businesses. Since using my own company to keep up-to-date with current marketing trends, I was happy to help. Soon, I had multiple clients hiring me as a marketing consultant. Some clients hire me to coach or train them in their marketing needs, while other clients hire me to do it for them.

I now have a team of 3 and enjoy what I do!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a 15-year career in the making. I have doubted myself many times. Sometimes I’ve doubted my skills. Other times I’ve doubted my vision. I’ve gone from portrait photography, to wedding photography, to commercial photography, to marketing consulting. I have found that if you’re not quite sure where you’re headed, just be still. Continue what you are doing, until you know with certainty it’s the right move. Building a business is a marathon, not a sprint and it may take you on an unexpected journey.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a marketing consultant. I specialize in helping small businesses develop and implement a marketing plan that suits their target market and their needs. When it comes to digital marketing, the opportunities are endless and a plan needs to be implemented that will engage their target market.

I am most proud of my time as a marketing consultant for the Kern County Museum, in Bakersfield, CA. They had a small music festival that had previously only had about 400 attendees, With only about 6 weeks notice, I was able to help them sell 2000 tickets to the Haggard Boxcar Festival and had people in attendance from Oregon, Maryland, and even New Zealand!

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Sometimes you just have to take a risk. I slowly grew my business so I never had to make any risky financial moves, but putting yourself out there, especially online, can feel very risky! What will everyone think? Will I look silly? What if I fail? But in the marketing realm, you just have to put yourself out there…and consistently. It will pay off!

Contact Info:


Image Credits
Junior Photography (black turtleneck)
Laura Thornhill Photography (green sweater)
Other photos by Nicole Bolinger

Suggest a Story: VoyageAustin is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Local Stories