Give Back to the Community
Nominate Someone (or Yourself!) for a Free Photo Shoot
Life’s messy, beautiful, chaotic, and sometimes we all just need one small, shiny moment to remind us we matter. Want to give that moment to someone you love — or claim it for yourself? Keep reading.
What this is (short and sweet)
Hey friend — I’m Nicole. Photography has given me so much: friendships, belly-laugh moments, the privilege of watching people and animals be themselves. So once a year I pick one person/family/horse-and-human team to gift a completely free photo session.
No catch. You can nominate yourself or put someone else in — the quiet ones who deserve it most are the ones I want to hear about.
Who can be nominated (spoiler: basically anyone)
- Someone who’s had a hard season
- A young rider who needs confidence-building photos
- A volunteer, teacher, or military family
- A dog or horse owner who lives and breathes for their animal
- A friend who always gives and never gets
- Or… you. Yes, you.
If they matter to you, tell me about them.
Kind Words
I’m ecstatic with how the photos turned out!
My session with Nicole turned out absolutely stunning! Nicole is kind, artistic, and a beautiful photographer! I can’t wait to cherish the photos from our session for years on! Nicole has a heart and passion for photography and I’m ecstatic with how the photos turned out! I highly recommend Nicole Pols Photography!
Amber N.
When & how often?
You can apply anytime — the form is open year-round. I’ll read every submission and choose one session per year. Mileage may apply depending on where you’re located (I’ll be transparent about that up front).
Why I’m doing it?
Because small kindnesses add up. Because the community has given me so much. Because I love photographing honest moments and I want to share that with someone who needs it.
That’s it. Pure and simple.
What I look for in a submission
A heartfelt reason (tell me the story — keep it short, keep it real)
A rough idea of location and availability
A tiny bit about what kind of session would help (dog portrait, horse & rider, family, headshot, etc.)
Optional: a picture or two if you have them
Want to nominate someone else?
Do it! People who deserve things rarely apply for them. If you nominate someone, please get their permission to share contact info, or simply ask them and then fill the form together.
The nitty-gritty (so you know what to expect)
What’s included: A full free session (up to 60 minutes), an online gallery with all the fully edited images to view, and free 5 high-resolution digital files you can download and keep.
If you want extra digitals or prints, those are available to purchase — totally optional, no pressure at all..
Travel: I’ll travel to you within a reasonable distance. If you’re farther out, mileage may apply — I’ll let you know before we lock anything in.
Dates: I’ll pick the recipient each year and coordinate a date that works for us both. If weather forces a reschedule, we’ll find a great new date.
Privacy: I won’t share your story or photos publicly unless you say it’s okay. If you want me to keep everything private, that’s totally fine.
Who chooses: I’ll personally read every entry and choose based on story, need, and the fit for a meaningful session. I might cry. It’s fine.
FAQ (because I know you’ll ask)
Q: “Can I nominate more than once?” — Yep. Fill the form any time.
Q: “What if I can’t travel to you?” — Let me know your location in the form; I’ll tell you if mileage applies.
Q: “Do I get all the photos for free?” — The session is free and you’ll get a gallery with some included images. Extra digital files or prints are available to buy.
Q: “What if the nominee is shy?” — Perfect. I’m great at making shy people and animals feel comfortable — that’s when the magic happens.
Q: “How will you pick?” — I’ll read every submission and choose the story that moves me most and fits into the session I can give that year.
A few last-words-from-the-heart
I can’t wait to read your stories. I’ll treat every submission with care and respect. If you’re nominating someone who would never put themselves forward — you’re doing a beautiful thing. If you’re nominating yourself — you deserve it. Life hands out surprises and sometimes we deserve to be surprised with something lovely.
Tell me about them. Tell me why they matter. Let’s make one small corner of our world a little brighter — together.
— Nicole
