Story & Lesson Highlights with Nina Rose of Knoxville

We recently had the chance to connect with Nina Rose and have shared our conversation below.

Nina, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
While I receive amazing feedback from hundreds of thousands of followers, there are those who think that Boudoir Photography is “p*orn”, or not classy, or showing ourselves off. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. I don’t cut those down who think those things, I just firmly believe that they haven’t been educated on the subject yet. This is why I do what I do. To spread the education on how boudoir can truly change a woman’s life and how she sees herself. To grow the confidence in her body. It’s not taking “sexy photos”, it’s having her see herself from a different perspective. And this is what Boudoir is all about.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I am a Boudoir Photographer who’s main goal in life is to build confidence in women and see themselves as beautiful and worthy. To stop worrying about what society thinks you should look like and really focus on yourself and what you want to feel. Because when you feel good, you look good, and you have a different take on life. Confidence is the sexiest thing anyone can wear, am I right?

I have a professional studio where I photograph women of all shapes and sizes, all ages and races from all over the country. I focus primarily on self love and learning to love yourself. Bringing out the woman that’s been hiding for so long.

This is why I have used my social media platforms to show people at home how to do boudoir selfies on their own. While it’s not the same as professional studio photography, it’s a step outside of their comfort zone to help them build confidence before they feel led to book the real deal.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Honestly, it was only a few years ago when I felt the shift — the power in my soul. I have spent my whole life wondering what others thought about me. Keeping my reputation shy and sweet. Not letting my true self out. I grew up in a small town knowing everyone. I worked as a vet tech, then an RN and always found myself following the rules even when I didn’t want to.

When I moved from NY to TN, the shift changed. My amazing and supportive husband told me, “you are great at photography. Why don’t you try to do that full time before going back to nursing”.

So I gave myself an ultimatum. I will work hard and make as much as I did as a nurse with photography, or I’ll go back to working as an RN.

Well…the world had plans for me. Boy did it! Being my own boss ignited something in me. I was in a whole new state. No one knew me. Fresh beginning. I will be who I am meant to be. I don’t have anyone to answer to except for myself. The success I have will be because of the hard work I put in. There will be NO failure. I won’t allow it. So that power came out fierce! From that girl that was always shy and a people pleaser to the woman who’s give a damn is busted.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You consider yourself a follower now…but girl in the future you will be a leader!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
That’s a tough one. But I’d say that my friends would say that having compassion is so important to me. Knowing that everyone has a story. No judging. Because who are we to judge? Are we perfect? Absolutely not. We will be judged on everything we do. I actually made a recent video on this exact thing. You eat the junk food? There will be someone judging you. Eat the salad? You’ll be judged. Too quiet? Judged. Too loud? Judged. Having compassion for someone and seeing them as an individual is the best character trait. This is what makes us all unique.

This ties into my genre of boudoir photography. I try to preach that women’s body’s are SUPPOSED to change. We go through different hormonal shifts, aging, pregnancies that literally change the elasticity of our skin, traumas, injury, etc. You should never judge a person on their appearance or their actions because you don’t know what internal struggles they are facing.

Compassion. The world needs more of it.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
This career right here, right now has me dancing. You literally see my dancing feet of joy in my behind the scenes videos. I eat, sleep, breathe photography and there’s no denying it.

I love helping women. I LOVE seeing them come in nervous and shy and walking out empowered and fierce. It is my job to show them how amazing and powerful they are.

Like I tell my clients, “I’m not here to change the way you look…just the way you look at yourself” 😉

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