Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Isabella.
Nick, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been taking photos of things since I was in grade school and my parents bought me a small point-and-shoot film camera to take pictures of my friends and my pet parakeets. Once in high school, I started taking photography classes and learned my way around an SLR camera and a darkroom. Then in college, photography was my minor, where I spent countless hours taking photos, developing the film by hand and printing photos. At the time, I never really thought that photography would be my career, but it was certainly the artistic pursuit that I was the most passionate about.
A number of years after moving out to San Diego and being a hobbyist photographer, I met a couple of very talented professionals and stated assisting for them both on paid and unpaid shoots. I learned a ton from them about everything from how to use off-camera lighting and editing techniques, to working with clients and models, to coordinating and producing larger shoots.
I had been a full-time graphic designer for well over a decade, working various companies, ad agencies and freelance gigs. But I continued to book photo shoots on the side, always learning, growing and meeting more people along the way. The shoots kept getting more interesting and more frequent, with bigger clients.
Finally, I decided to take a break from design entirely and focus exclusively on the photographic side of my career. That pretty much brings us up to today, where I am now a full time freelance photographer.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Since I had been doing design and photography in tandem for a number of years, I always felt like the design side of things paid the bills and allowed me to learn and grow the photographic side of things without as much pressure to have it completely support me financially. In that way, for a long time the road was relatively smooth. I was able to take jobs that I wanted and that I felt “fit” into my larger goal of specializing in commercial fitness. Which is exactly I was I did: specialize in a specific niche.
Then, when I made the jump to leave the design portion of my life (and income) behind and trust entirely on my skills and networks as a photographer, things were definitely scary. That first year was a major growth year and nothing was very consistent, but the jobs continued to get better and I felt like I was “on the verge” of actually doing it. “It” being: to finally consider myself an actual full time photographer.
Then the pandemic hit.
We all know how that went. And as so many of us freelancers found out, there wasn’t much of a safety net and work was non-existent for quite a while. However, even though very few paid shoots were happening in 2020, I found that I did some of the best work of my life that year. With the creative constraints of client expectations gone, and all the time in the world to plan and edit, I grew as an artist in ways I would not have otherwise.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in commercial fitness photography, which means I work for a lot of athletic brands, companies that specialize in fitness and individuals from fitness trainers, to yogis to runners and just about anyone who’s livelihood is based in sweat-equity.
Though I also truly enjoy working on more artistic, conceptual fashion and editorial work, my bread and butter is fitness. I love being inspired by the people I work with, whether it’s their work ethic, their talent or their drive to make those around them healthier and happier.
One of the things I’m most proud of probably isn’t a specific shoot, or photo, or accomplishment. It would have to be that moment when the person or people I’m working with get to see the photos, and their eyes (or emails) light up with joy and amazement at what we were able to create. Often times, people have never seen themselves look like that, whether it’s looking like a badass or just stunningly beautiful. And that’s a proud moment for me to be a part of.
I think the thing that I think sets me apart from other fitness photographers is probably that fitness is also a huge part of my personal life. I am an avid runner and cyclist, and I’ve done everything from completing a sub-11 hour Ironman triathlon, to setting a 100k ultra marathon course record. For a while I was also leading a trail running group and a cycling group that both met weekly around San Diego.
And I do believe one of the reasons I’ve had some of the success that I have, is my ability to walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to physical fitness. I like to say that I won’t ever ask my clients to do anything I couldn’t do personally.
What does success mean to you?
To me, success is having a career that I love and one that I find challenging and interesting. I feel successful when I’m able to take photos that I am proud of while keeping a roof over my head and having fun along the way. And I’ll be honest: having brands and athletes that I look up to seek me out to work with me certainly feels like success too.
Contact Info:
- Email: nick@2twenty8.com
- Website: www.nickisabella.photography
- Instagram: @nickisabella.photography
Image Credits:
Portrait of Nick by John Matthew Harrison
