NICKOLE DRAKE Photography

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NICKOLE DRAKE Photography warm • earthy • emotional • cinematic
ca based ☼
for the nostalgic ♡ wildly in love
CLICK THE LINK TO BOOK! https://www.nickoledrake.com/links Real moments.

Real life. Modern lifestyle Photography

I catch souls not smiles!

Well, this could get awkward… 😂What up?! 👋🏼Since this little corner of Instagram is basically my front porch, I figured ...
10/20/2026

Well, this could get awkward… 😂

What up?! 👋🏼

Since this little corner of Instagram is basically my front porch, I figured I should probably introduce myself before inviting everybody to hang out.

I’m Nickole. The girl behind the camera, the questionable dance moves, the ridiculous laughter, and, of course… THE CLIPBOARD. 😂

I’ve been doing this photography thing since 2008, and somewhere along the way, I realized something…

I don’t just love taking pictures of people.

I love PEOPLE.

Their stories. Their quirks. Their awkward laughs. The way their whole face lights up when they see themselves in a photograph and realize, “Holy crap… that’s ME?!”

THAT. That’s the good stuff.

But there’s a whole lot more to me than a camera.

I’m a wife, a mom, a Jesus-loving, song-singing, cocktail-making, occasionally overthinking human who still hasn’t figured out what to do with her own hands in pictures. 😂

I believe in God’s grace, a beautifully set table, good conversations, and making people feel like they belong.

And I believe the experience matters just as much as the photographs.

So whether you’ve been here for years or you just stumbled across my page…

Come on in. Stay awhile. You’re welcome here.

Swipe through and get to know the girl behind the camera.

And when you’re ready to make a few memories of your own, well…

You know where to find me. 🤎

With so much love,
Nickole

P.S. A HUGE thank-you to my sweet new friend, for capturing these photos of me! 🤎 There’s something pretty intimidating about being on the other side of the camera. Thank you for seeing me, showing up, and giving me what I needed GRACIE!

Happy birthday aydan
10/16/2026

Happy birthday aydan

Happy 18th birthday to my little business. 🥹🎉And what a ride.18 years of babies becoming big kids.Seniors becoming moms....
09/08/2026

Happy 18th birthday to my little business. 🥹🎉

And what a ride.

18 years of babies becoming big kids.
Seniors becoming moms.
Couples becoming families.
Families coming back year after year and somehow letting me keep a front-row seat to their lives.

18 years of learning, changing, creating, doubting myself, surprising myself, starting over, leveling up, and falling in love with photography in a hundred different ways.

This business has grown right alongside me.

It has carried me through so many seasons of life, introduced me to some incredible humans, and given me the absolute privilege of documenting the moments people don’t realize will mean everything someday.

There have been beautiful years. Hard years. Wild years. Years I had no idea what I was doing. 😂
And somehow… here we are.

18 FREAKING YEARS 🙌🏼

Still creating.
Still telling stories.
Still chasing light.
Still getting ridiculously excited when I know I got the shot.

Thank you to every single person who has trusted me with their story over the last 18 years.

You built this with me.

Happy birthday, Nickole Drake Photography. 🥂
You’re officially an adult now.

God help us all. 😂🤍

Seeing double.
08/19/2026

Seeing double.

There’s something about young love that feels like summer.Barely needing a plan.Laughing until somebody gets carried.A b...
08/18/2026

There’s something about young love that feels like summer.

Barely needing a plan.
Laughing until somebody gets carried.
A bike abandoned in the dirt because kissing suddenly seemed more important.
Hands finding each other without thinking about it.

I don’t want to photograph what love looks like when you’re posing for a camera.

I want the way you look at each other when you forget I’m there.

The movement.
The flirting.
The stupid little laughs.
The come here kind of moments.

Because someday, these are the photographs that will take you straight back to who you were together in this exact little chapter of your life.

And THAT is the whole point. 🤎

If your idea of couples photos is less stand here and smile and more let’s make a memory out of it…

I’m your girl.



Keywords:
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Summer slips away faster than we think.BEACH SESSIONSAugust 1–2- and -August 21–23Booking link in bio. 🌴
07/28/2026

Summer slips away faster than we think.

BEACH SESSIONS
August 1–2
- and -
August 21–23

Booking link in bio. 🌴

The most magical courthouse wedding 💍 Wedding PhotographyBrideAndGroomWedding InspirationWedding DayWedding Details...
07/26/2026

The most magical courthouse wedding 💍






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Something new is coming… and it’s anything but your average photo session. ✨Imagine meeting someone for the very first t...
07/25/2026

Something new is coming… and it’s anything but your average photo session. ✨

Imagine meeting someone for the very first time—not through an app, but in front of a camera.

No endless texting. No carefully curated profiles. Just two complete strangers, a unique setting, genuine conversation, and whatever unfolds naturally.

Stranger Sessions is a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience where I’ll pair two singles to meet for the very first time in front of my camera.

No scripts. No expectations. Just real reactions, authentic connection, and a story that writes itself.

🚗 August’s Stranger Sessions will take place at a classic car wash—sunlight glistening off chrome, soap suds flying, music playing, and a playful, nostalgic energy in the air. Think summer heat, wet pavement, and maybe… a little unexpected chemistry.

✨ Applications open soon, and I’ll be sharing all the details very soon.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO’S SINGLE & ADVENTUROUS?
Tag them below or share this post with someone who’d say, “I’d totally do that!”

Let’s see how many stories begin with one simple hello!

AuthenticConnection FirstMeeting UnscriptedMoments LoveStories PortraitPhotography

Address

Ridgecrest, CA
93555

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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