Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Cook.
Hi Nicole, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Photography started as something I loved long before it became my career. I’ve always been drawn to photography and what it can create. I love looking back through old photos and reliving the emotion, the laughter, the quiet in-between glances, and the little details people don’t always notice in the moment but treasure later.
When I photographed my first weddings, I was hooked (and I knew I would be). There’s something incredibly meaningful about being trusted to document such an important day in people’s lives. I built Coley Cook Photography around helping couples feel comfortable, present, and able to truly enjoy their wedding day while I capture the story as it naturally unfolds.
Living in Utah has also shaped my work in a big way. Between the mountains, deserts, and beautiful venues here, it’s an incredible place for adventurous love stories. Today I feel really lucky that I get to spend my time documenting joyful, meaningful moments for couples and their families.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most small businesses, it definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. When I started my photography business, I had the creative passion for it, but I didn’t have a formal background in business. I had to learn a lot very quickly — everything from running a business and marketing to building a website and managing all the behind-the-scenes pieces that most people never see. Even now, I’m always trying to keep learning and improving.
Another challenge during those early years was that my husband was deployed for long periods of time, so I was often running my business while also raising our kids on my own at home. That season required a lot of late nights, problem solving, and learning how to juggle a lot of responsibilities at once. I have always had young kids and babies during my business life, and it’s definitely a master juggling act.
I’m incredibly grateful for the support system that helped make it possible. Family, friends, and reliable childcare made a huge difference, and that community support is something I’ll always appreciate. It was definitely a lot of hard work, but those experiences also shaped the resilience and determination that I bring into my business today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a wedding, elopement, and portrait photographer based in Utah. I specialize in capturing weddings in a way that feels natural, joyful, and true to the couple. My approach is very story-driven — I’m always watching for the real moments unfolding throughout the day, whether that’s a huge burst of laughter on the dance floor or a quiet moment between a couple when they think no one is looking.
One thing couples often tell me is that I help them feel comfortable being themselves in front of the camera. A wedding day can go by so quickly, and I want my couples to actually experience it rather than feel like they’re stuck posing for photos all day. My job is to guide when needed, but mostly to capture the genuine energy and emotion of the day as it naturally happens.
What I’m most proud of is the trust my couples place in me. Being invited into such an important day in someone’s life is something I never take lightly. I also love the relationships that come from this work — many of my couples become friends, and I often get to photograph their families and milestones long after the wedding day. That part of the job is incredibly meaningful to me.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I am very lucky, I had a wonderful childhood and have so many great memories! One of the first things that came up in my mind when I read this today was back in 4th grade. In elementary school our teacher would have our whole class, including the teacher, play a game of Lightning (some call it Elimination). It’s a basketball game where everyone stands in a single file line and you shoot a basket from the free throw line. If you make the basket before the person who was in front of you in line, then they are eliminated. It’s so much fun and everyone looked forward to it all year. I often practiced with my older brother and it was a favorite game to play. I did it! I won our 4th grade annual basketball Lightning/Elimination basketball game by the best way possible, being the student who eliminating the teacher! Sorry Mr. Hatch – gotta be done! I got a whole brown bag full of candy for winning. A 4th graders dream – candy and glory.
Pricing:
- Weddings begin at $3400
- Elopements begin at $4400
- Engagements begin at $600
- Family sessions begin at $275
- Senior sessions begin at $280
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ColeyCookPhotography.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/ColeyCookPhotography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ColeyCookPhotography
