Artist Date with Nicole Romanoff: Conversations on Creativity, Courage, and Photography

In this episode of Artist Date, Nicole sits down with New York-based photographer and director Katie McCurdy. From interning at Nylon and Vogue to photographing celebrities and building a successful commercial and editorial career, Katie shares how curiosity, persistence, and a commitment to making personal work have shaped her journey. Together they discuss creativity, networking, commercial photography, film versu...

In this episode of Artist Date, I’m joined by Toronto-based photographer, studio owner, and educator Olga Pavlova. Olga shares her journey from leaving a career in law to building a thriving photography business and launching LightLab, her studio and education space for photographers. We talk about growth, burnout, social media pressure, and the evolving reality of running a creative business. This conversation is honest, grounded,...

In this episode, Nicole sits down with photographer Molly Matalon to explore the ever-evolving journey of being an artist, from film and scanning to creative process, identity, and growth, offering listeners an honest and inspiring look at how to develop your voice, embrace change, and keep showing up to the work.

• Art is a puzzle, not a formula Molly shares how every shoot, whether editorial, commercial, or perso...

In this episode of Artist Date, I’m joined by Vancouver Island photographer Georgia Johnston, whose work blends romance, nostalgia, intuition, and a deep love of detail. We talk about how her journey began with photographing friends, what she’s learned over 16 years of shooting weddings, how film has helped her stay creatively engaged, and why building a photography business takes both artistic trust and real-life resilience. It’s ...

In this episode of Artist Date, I’m joined by Kaela Leone — a Canada-based photographer whose work blends refined editorial storytelling with real emotional honesty. Kaela has been published internationally in outlets like Vogue, Anti-Bride, The Wed, and Wed Vibes, and in our conversation we dive into the magic of film, how she’s built a workflow she truly trusts, and why curation might be one of the most important (and overlooked)...

In this episode of Artist Date, I’m joined by Calgary-based wedding photographer Zoe Snooks, whose work lives in that beautiful in-between space: documentary meets editorial. Zoe shares how she built her business from the ground up after leaving bartending, why she believes in guiding couples with confidence (without making it feel performative), and how letting go of perfection can lead to more honest, emotional images. We also ta...

In this episode of Artist Date, I sit down with Liam Richards, founder of Electric Umbrella Images, to talk about a career built on trust, ethics, and adaptability. From early days in photojournalism to shooting major sporting events like the Grey Cup, Liam shares what it means to work on the front lines of storytelling, how he navigates high-pressure environments, and why community-focused work has always been at the heart of his ...

In this episode of Artist Date, I sit down with Calgary-based wedding photographer Jackie Kalch, whose work blends relaxed editorial beauty with documentary honesty. Jackie shares how her path from engineering to photography shaped her technical confidence, how her Bulgarian roots taught her to value simplicity and story, and how motherhood shifted the way she documents weddings and families. This conversation is full of perspectiv...

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Calgary-based wedding and couples photographer Rebecca Frank for a heart-forward conversation about intention, imperfection, and what it means to keep growing—even when it means becoming a beginner again. We talk about the realities of building a sustainable photography career, why film has brought Rebecca back to the “why” behind her work, and how to stay inspired in a world that constantly p...

In this episode, I’m joined by legendary fashion and beauty photographer Chris Nicholls to talk about how to stand out when everyone’s a photographer. We explore his journey from a shy, nature-loving kid with a camera to creating iconic fashion and celebrity imagery, and why experimentation—not perfection—is the key to work that truly lasts. Chris shares how he builds trust on high-pressure sets, his philosophy on lighting and larg...

In this episode of Artist Date, I’m sitting down with Calgary-based wedding photographer Taiya Davidsen, a storyteller known for her warm presence, calm energy, and relaxed editorial-meets-documentary style. Taiya shares how she went from shooting friends’ grad photos to building a thriving wedding business, why client experience and word of mouth are the real secret to longevity, and how she stays grounded in the beautiful chaos o...

In this episode of Artist Date, Nicole sits down with Toronto-based fashion and commercial photographer Nick Merzetti for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, courage, and navigating a rapidly changing industry. From finding photography later in life after biotech and creative writing, to dealing with social anxiety, to the wild story of a single fashion show that changed his entire career, Nick shares honestly about what ...

From Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean to a thriving portrait and branding business in Edmonton, photographer Emilie Iggiotti has never taken the conventional path. In this conversation, Emilie shares how she left law school behind, built a values-driven brand centered on real people and minimally retouched images, and created a three-scene branding framework that helps clients feel seen, not just styled. We talk a...

At just 25, Toronto-based fashion and beauty photographer Alyssa Lancaster has already shot at New York and Milan Fashion Weeks, collaborated with Tiffany & Co., and built a career rooted in authenticity and emotion. In this episode, Alyssa shares how her early move from the West Coast to Toronto shaped her artistic path, what she’s learned from working behind the lens in a fast-paced industry, and why she believes real artistr...

In this grounded and thought-provoking conversation, New York–based wedding photographer Nicole Plett invites us into her world of film, intuition, solo travel, and redefining creative success. Known for her analog, documentary approach to storytelling, Nicole shares how living in New York has expanded her artistic voice, why travel continues to shape her perspective, and how she is actively unlearning the belief that creativity mu...

Toronto-based photographer Kayla Rocca shares how loss, resilience, and persistence shaped her creative path—from theatre student and Drake Hotel server to shooting Hollywood Reporter’s TIFF portrait studio and campaigns for Netflix, Airbnb, and Roots. We talk about how art became her therapy, the importance of networking with kindness, and how she built a career on trust, teamwork, and genuine curiosity rather than ego.

New York–based photographer Jon Taylor shares how he became a go-to for dancers and musical-theatre headshots—without buying into hustle culture. We talk about his seven-minute “mini minis” at Broadway Dance Center, why authenticity now beats trends, how a studio changed his work overnight, and the mindset homework he gives clients so their photos feel human, not performed. It’s a calm, collaborative approach every photographer can...

As we wrap Season 1 of Artist Date, we’re closing out with a deeply grounding and thoughtful conversation with Calgary-based photographer, writer, and creative entrepreneur Jonathan Zoeteman. A Canon ambassador and co-founder of the creative community Socality and House A31, Jonathan shares insights on burnout, creative flow, and why the long game matters more than ever in our fast-paced world.

In this episode, Nicole and Jonathan ...

Today on Artist Date, I’m joined by Seattle-based family photographer Gabriella Iazzetti—a storyteller with a laid-back, editorial eye and a deep love for documenting honest connection. Originally from Brazil, Gabby opens up about her journey as an immigrant and how motherhood inspired her to turn her lifelong love of photography into a thriving business in the U.S.

We dive into the power of embracing imperfection during family ses...