Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Abadilla.
Nick, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I spent over twenty years in corporate graphic design mostly as a designer and art director. Although most of those years were quite satisfying, the grind of creative management and one particular toxic office environment was wearing me down to the point where I was losing my ability to function optimally. The prospect of doing this for a couple more decades was daunting and depressing. But a revelation hit me about a year after 9/11, I was reading a newspaper feature on how that tragedy altered the life trajectory of a few local San Diegans. Basically, the thrust of each story was how 9/11 provided a wake-up call to get their life on the path to their dreams.
This resonated hugely with me. Photography had always been my passion, but I repeatedly dismissed the thought of making a career of it. Suddenly I was energized with the idea of making a living with a camera and decided at that moment to make a go becoming a professional photographer. My wife was 100% supportive. By chance, I was introduced to the wedding industry and smelled opportunity. After stumbling a bit, a few financially savvy friends helped me draft a business plan. This led to a more strategic approach and I quickly learned how to service the mid to high-end tier of customers who genuinely valued creative photojournalism and distinct portraiture. I nurtured a great network of industry professionals which led to key opportunities that helped me establish my reputation and brand.
So, I enjoyed a great ten-year run as a wedding photographer, complete with a studio in downtown San Diego. As fun and fruitful as it was, I couldn’t maintain the pace much longer. The wedding industry was trending with talented, energetic young photographers. I was getting older and wanted to spend my weekends with my wife and daughter. I had managed to score a handful of small commercial assignments through these years and began making plans to transition to commercial photography and a larger studio. My growing network proved invaluable and pointed me toward opportunities with larger companies and institutions.
Flash forward to now, and I’m still at it. As I state on my website, I place great importance on communicative client relationships built from collaboration and respect. That’s my story in a nutshell. The long version can be revealed over a beer.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not. The early years in both my wedding and commercial photography phases are dotted with judgment errors, communication faux pas, embarrassing situations. But maybe that comes with changing course midstream in life. I felt the need to accelerate progress to make up for lost time, so yeah, you’re going to slip a few times when you run too fast. I regret not committing to a career in photography while in my early twenties when I had the luxury of time to brew my craft … but I didn’t. Live and learn.
Also, in the very beginning, I wasn’t comfortable with the stigma of being a wedding photographer. I felt that many people don’t recognize it as a valid profession. Sure, there’s a lot of cheap, cheesy work being done out there that feed that perception, then and now. By and large people don’t really value the remarkably creative output provided by those in the upper tier of the industry, let alone the investment of time and energy required to be there. I’m not passing judgment on those who forego paying $5,000 for a wedding photographer. That’s no small change. But for those customers who do, they expect and deserve excellence and that’s where professionalism enters the picture.
All that said, I’m quite comfortable where I am now as a commercial photographer. Confident in my ability to deliver a quality product. Secure in how I earn and maintain relationships. Receptive to growth and new opportunities. A lifetime of work experience essentially comes down to this – be genuine, be nice, be reliable. And smile a lot. And client lunches? Always spring for the check..
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Nick Abadilla Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Nick Abadilla Photography is a sole proprietorship with yours truly pressing the shutter button. I specialize in commercial assignment, editorial and custom portrait photography. My client base consists of several biotech companies, local universities, independent design/marketing consultants, and a handful of small businesses. I nurture open communication with my client so that our relationship continually evolves. I consciously position myself as an extension of their marketing team. As long as I receive a holiday greeting card at the end of the year, I’m happy.
I’m fortunate to be amongst the photographers with an actual working studio. Not only does it allow me to offer studio photography services, but it also provides a comfortable, creative environment to share with clients, colleagues and friends. My studio is available to rent to other photographers and organizations for photo shoots, meetings, workshops, etc.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I look forward to continuing the client relationships I have now. Great people, creative shot opportunities. I’m always on the lookout for design-savvy clients that value the communicative power of photography and are willing to write the check. I still have several years left in me, so bring it on!
Contact Info:
- Address: 4698 Alvarado Canyon Road, Suite M
San Diego, CA 92120 - Website: www.nickabadilla.com
- Phone: 619-807-0445
- Email: nick@nickabadilla.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickabadilla
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
