Nina Nelson Photography

Call Directions Website Contact the business

Nina Nelson Photography Portrait photographer in Darien, CT. If this sounds good to you, shoot me an message.

I love faces & expressions, whether it be a head-thrown-back laugh, an over-the-shoulder sideways grin, or the slightest of smiles, give them to me.

Dawn feels stupid now, remembering how she’d babbled on about the dress at the hair salon. How an hour ago she’d run her...
10/11/2026

Dawn feels stupid now, remembering how she’d babbled on about the dress at the hair salon. How an hour ago she’d run her hands down the sides of her body, giving a small smile to the bright flowers in the mirror. She knew the Rhinestone Room had similar blooms—that’s why she’d suggested Robert meet her there at 7 pm. While it was still light. So he could see her. And the flowers. He wouldn’t get it of course—the whole scene, but on some peripheral level, he would.
Or he would have. Now he’ll rush at her all apologies and excuses and kisses. He’ll haphazardly say something about how beautiful she looks, then they’ll go inside and get smashingly drunk.
And tonight she’ll hang the dress back in the closet-the flowers heavy with smoke and disappointment.

Dawn feels stupid now, remembering how she’d babbled on about the dress at the hair salon. How an hour ago she’d run her...
10/11/2026

Dawn feels stupid now, remembering how she’d babbled on about the dress at the hair salon. How an hour ago she’d run her hands down the sides of her body, giving a small smile to the bright flowers in the mirror. She knew the Rhinestone Room had similar blooms—that’s why she’d suggested Robert meet her there at 7 pm. While it was still light. So he could see her. And the flowers. He wouldn't get it of course—the whole scene, but on some peripheral level, he would.
Or he would have. Now he’ll rush at her all apologies and excuses and kisses. He'll haphazardly say something about how beautiful she looks, then they’ll go inside and get smashingly drunk.
And tonight she'll hang the dress back of the closet-the flowers heavy with smoke and disappointment.

Last year I got “official selection” and “honorable mention”Threw my hat in the ring again this year, and I got “honorab...
08/30/2026

Last year I got “official selection” and “honorable mention”
Threw my hat in the ring again this year, and I got “honorable mention” and “first place!”
Throw your hat in the ring! If you won’t listen to me, listen to Dolly.
Thank you International Photography Awards!

There’s still time to sign up for tonight’s zoom hosted by the Griffin Museum of Photography. Learn how I went from the ...
08/20/2026

There’s still time to sign up for tonight’s zoom hosted by the Griffin Museum of Photography. Learn how I went from the pretty but lack of voice images in the second slide to the “full of voice” images in the third slide.

Sign up in bio.

Well, Sugar, Honey, Iced Tea. Being a newbie, I didn't realize "this" green and white icon is how folks are posting the...
08/11/2026

Well, Sugar, Honey, Iced Tea. Being a newbie, I didn't realize "this" green and white icon is how folks are posting their big Critical Mass news. I got so excited, I just sent an flailing Kermit meme to my family and then went ahead and posted my congratulatory email on social media so—pardon me while I back it up, pretend like I know what I'm doing, and post my news again but this time, like the cool kids.

TAKE 2: (ahem) Yesterday morning, I was delighted to find out that my series "Waiting" was chosen to be one of the Critical Mass Top 200! Now my vintage gals will go meet a group of over 150 international photography professionals who will decide if they get to move on to the final round and be one of the Critical Mass Top 50!

For those not in the know, Critical Mass is a BIG bananas deal for photographers in the visibility it offers. Let me quote from the site:

"The work is seen by museum curators, gallerists, publishers, editors, educators, artists, and media professionals—people who are actively looking for new talent.

Each year, the program helps spark real career momentum. Many participants go on to receive exhibition opportunities, publication features, and even acquisitions through connections made during the process. Critical Mass is designed to open doors and create lasting professional relationships."

I love doors. I take tons of photos of doors. Mostly closed doors, but that's beside the point. Who doesn't love when someone opens a door for them?!

So thank you to the team and the pre-screening jurors for their time and effort. Deeply grateful for this recognition and super duper excited for what's ahead (imagine a flailing Kermit meme here).

Woohoo! Made it to the first round of Photolucida’s Critical Mass!! I’ve heard so much about this contest and many photo...
08/10/2026

Woohoo! Made it to the first round of Photolucida’s Critical Mass!! I’ve heard so much about this contest and many photographers I admire have been acknowledged in it so when a portfolio reviewer suggested I enter, I got my butt in gear and did.

Onto the next round but honestly, I’m just giddy that I got this far!

I’m working hard on my presentation for this talk sponsored by the Griffin Museum of Photography as part of their Annual...
08/01/2026

I’m working hard on my presentation for this talk sponsored by the Griffin Museum of Photography as part of their Annual Members Juried Show. It’s all about how I identified my voice to create images like “Inside Out”. I hope it inspires!
I’ll be in Greece where it will be 2 in-the-very-early-morning, so please sign up so I’ll have some friendly faces staring back at me.
Link in bio.

Johnny Boy and I drove up to Wi******er, MA yesterday for the opening of the 's Annual Juried Member Show. I can't say t...
08/01/2026

Johnny Boy and I drove up to Wi******er, MA yesterday for the opening of the 's Annual Juried Member Show.

I can't say this loudly enough...photographers (all over the world!) you need to become a member of the . The education is top notch, the exhibitions are incredibly well done, Executive Director Crista Dix is a kind, giving, straight-shooter who is passionate about photography and is a champion of emerging and established artists alike. It's $35-70/year! Included with membership is a 25 min portfolio review with Crista! Worth the price right there!

Anyway, my photo won something! A kinda big something. The Griffin Lens Award. Named after Arthur Griffin--impressive person. Google him.

Juror perused 1674 global images and boy did she pick some beauties...and in a world of division, this exhibition centers around connection. Yes, please! Thank you, Barbara. I look forward to meeting you.

I'll be speaking about my creative process on Aug 5 from 7-8:30 in a Zoom. Sign up here: https://griffinmuseum.org/event/32jme_winners/!
I'd love to see your faces on the other side of the Zoom screen.

Stay creative, stay curious, stay colorful!

Thank you to everyone who voted for my image in the People's Choice awards. I didn't win BUT....woohoo! I found out this...
07/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who voted for my image in the People's Choice awards. I didn't win BUT....woohoo! I found out this morning that The Arrival won an Honorable Mention in the Fine Arts category of the .awards Color Contest!

Go check out all the winners here:

https://refocus-awards.com/contests/winners/color?entry_level=NON_PROFESSIONAL

(Some people have asked why I didn't enter under the Pro category. Initially I had! But then I read the difference between the two:

"Professional: You are considered a Pro if you sell or publish your work regularly, or if you earn (or have earned) the majority of your income from photography.

Non-Professional: You fall into this tier if photography is simply a hobby, if you don't make a living from it, or if you don't meet the Professional definition."

I don't (yet) sell my work regularly. I've only sold one print.
I've only had my work published in one magazine (in May with the AAP magazine), so I don't publish my work regularly either.

While I do earn money from my commercial biz (Nina Nelson Portraits) that's headshots, branding, seniors, and executives which are not fine art and I'm definitely NOT making a living off it (kinda the opposite), so...when I read the distinctions, I thought, "Well, I'm not going to put my work up against National Geographic photographers if I'm not in their league (yet)!"

So I entered the non-professional. And let me tell you, the non-professionals images all look pretty dang professional to me too, so, jeez, kudos to everyone.)

Got an email this mornin’! People Choice nominee! In bowling terms, I think that might mean I knocked a lot of pins down...
06/29/2026

Got an email this mornin’! People Choice nominee! In bowling terms, I think that might mean I knocked a lot of pins down. Or maybe I just did it with a lot of panache. Or maybe that my bowling outfit is doing the heavy lifting to make up for my poor bowling skills. Either and any way…eek! Excited. If you want to vote go https://refocus-awards.com/people-vote-award/waiting-7.
Vote away! Vote every day. Voting ends in 13 days.



Address

190 Nearwater Lane
Darien, CT
06820

Telephone

+16463735766

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nina Nelson Photography posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Nina Nelson Photography:

Shortcuts

Share

Category