NICO at Home with Georgia

How do you approach storytelling through your lens?

My approach to storytelling starts with connection and presence. Without heart-led connection to place or subject, I cannot hear the story I am there to capture. When possible, part of my process involves some kind of soul-led drop-in, either together with my subject/s, or within the privacy of my own heart. A pause to merge even just a little with my surroundings so I can truly see them. 

What does self-care look like for you?
My highest form of self-care is telling the truth. Living an honest relationship with myself and the world around me leaves little room for illusion, and in that clarity, I find both freedom and a deep, steady sense of peace. All other forms of self-care feel like dust in the wind when they are not rooted in integrity. Throughout my life I have come to learn that lying is the fastest and most destructive way to erode connection to my inner compass and sense of self. 

How does sustainability play a role in your daily routines?
Sustainability plays a role in my daily life through simple, conscious choices. I am mindful of what I consume, support local where I can, and avoid unnecessary waste. At home, that looks like things like composting and gardening, eating locally sourced, organic, seasonal food, always wearing natural fibres, and generally keeping my lifestyle quite simple and honest. 

My partner and I are currently renovating our house and often go to the tip. It breaks my heart to see that we are collectively sold the illusion of luxury and abundance through cheap, low-quality products that get used a handful of times and end up thrown "away" (where even is away?). I don’t buy often, but when I do, I’m drawn to quality. Natural materials, handmade pieces, things that are built to last rather than be replaced. 

Can you tell us a little about your journey as a photographer, how has your style evolved over time?
Photography found me. On the day of my 30th birthday, my partner gifted me an entirely manual film camera (he misunderstood my desire for an easy point and shoot). As someone that had never been good at much before, I didn’t think this camera would be any different. The first couple of rolls that came back from the lab had me in disbelief. I thought my work was just a big fluke for a long time. Imposter syndrome did it's best to hold me back in the beginning, but the current of creativity that I fell into was so strong that I had very little space for negative thoughts. I was (and still am) completely in love with learning, experimenting and creating with film. That love transcends any limiting beliefs that may ever whisper to me.

My relationship with photography has become one of the most significant vehicles of evolution. It's tripped me up in ways nothing else has before, and mirrored to me all the places I was holding myself back. Before photography, I was drawn only to spiritual teachers and practices, and through this journey I have come to realise that artists and creative expression are so closely connected to those themes and practices. 

My style has evolved the more relaxed I have become. The more I connect, listen, and be still - that softness is reflected in my work. The deeper and slower I breathe, the more heartfelt my work becomes. In some ways, I've stopped trying. I just allow. I become a conduit, so joy-filled in the process that the outcome doesn't hold as much pressure as it once did. 

Your photos for NICO are stunning! What draws you to work with natural light, textures, or specific compositions?
I’m drawn to natural light and texture because of the way they quietly shape emotion. There’s a softness, a warmth, and an honesty that can’t be replicated. Shooting on film especially deepens that connection. It invites me to slow down, to be intentional, and to trust the moment as it unfolds rather than trying to control it.

What are you working on right now?
I’m actually extending my work to weddings. I LOVE love, so it seems like the obvious thing for me to explore next. I’m curious to see how I enjoy the fast-paced long days, a contrast to the slow, intentional work I currently shoot. 

I am also often creating offerings for women to gather and connect, sometimes it doesn't even involve my camera. At the moment, I run a free community women's choir on the Sunshine Coast. We sit in a candlelit circle and connect through storytelling and song. It's one of my favourite and most inspiring offerings at the moment. 

Zion wears The Organic Range Triangle Bra and Thong Brief in Pebble.
Alicia wears The Organic Range Wirefree Bra and Thong Brief in Marigold.
Kara wears The Organic Range Wirefree Bra and High Waisted Brief in Dune.

You can follow Georgia on Instagram @ritual_film
Follow Zion on Instagram @zionshakti
Follow Alicia on Instagram @aliciaaudreyy
Follow Kara on Instagram @karaivy_