About Nic Hilton
Enjoy The Journey
I spent years traveling the world riding freestyle mountain bikes and competing among the best in the world. It was all good fun. I got to see beautiful places I didn’t know existed, meet some of the most genuine people I never thought I’d encounter and my body took more abuse than I can explain. Broke a few bones and had a couple hip surgeries. That’s normal right?
Life’s crazy.
Life is chaotic.
Life is emotional.
Life is REAL.
My mission with photography is to show that.
Every time my camera is in my hand, my brain switches gears. I begin to hyper focus as the world around me slows down, shapes and shadows come alive and my every move becomes intentional.
Documenting stories for others is my passion. Whether it’s my friends and I at the lake or your wedding day, it’s about capturing the rawness of the real-life moments. When I first started, I had a formula, a predetermined list of photos in my head to get. All the images that social media and tradition have told us are important. After shooting so many weddings, I started realizing that they are sort of cringe and I got bored of repeating the same images day after day. There was so many people just going through the motions and not actually doing what they wanted to do.
But, then I discovered couples who invited me to join in the celebration. Couple’s that didn’t care what other people said or did. They just wanted to do their thing, to adventure, to party, to feel all the feelings, and to let go.
On the surface, a wedding or an elopement is simple and routine. But it’s YOU and YOUR partner that make it different. It’s the way you two interact. The way you interact with your family and your best friends. It’s the way you all laugh and cry and the way you dance. I want you to be unapologetically yourselves. Be true.
If you want to do a sunrise elopement at Taft Point in Yosemite I am there for the story—Waking up at 1 am to start hair and make-up. Hiking with headlamps in the pitch black for 30 minutes. Reading your vows on a mile-high cliff. Spraying Champagne—Shooting mind-blowing images the entire time.
If you want to have a grand ceremony and reception in Malibu I’m there for the story—Drinking mimosas while getting ready in a beach house. All of your family and friends cheering for that first kiss. Crying over the speech your best friend just gave. Dancing until you are disgustingly sweaty — Shooting epic images the entire time.
There is no right or wrong way, there is no idea too big or too small. What makes your wedding special, is that it’s your wedding. Any way you want to do it, at any location, with whoever you want to include is special and unique to you. I am supportive of at all and would love to tell that story.
Be vulnerable, be bold, be weird and let’s create some f*cking magic.
-Nic