Nicki Bergersen, Unraveled Expert Artist

We are so out-of-this-world stoked to let you all know that Nicki Bergeson of Three Sisters Photography is officially an Unraveled Expert Artist! Our very first one, at that. With many online communities, it can be hard to get face to face with all your members but we were lucky enough to have met Nicki in person at our first annual retreat in Utah. Yep, she’s just popping all our cherries with these firsts.

Needless to say, we are proud as hell to have her by our side. The artist she is now and the artist we are watching her become is one we admire fully. The way she captures her children is both timeless and exquisite. But, perhaps our favorite part about her is her quirky laugh and light-up-a-room smile. She is someone we want to hang with, indefintaely. Without further ado, let’s get to the interview.

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Here is Nicki Bergeson, Unraveled…

What inspires your art?

So many things! My kids are so inspiring to me, just watching the way they look at the world, the way that they interact with each other and with nature. Books, TV shows, Music, a beautiful sky, a walk in the woods. Light and colors, textures. Intangible things like smells or just a feeling or a weird dream. It really comes from anything and everything.

What do you shoot with?

Camera body and favorite lens? I shoot with a Nikon d750 my sigma art 35 is definitely my favorite lens, I’d say it’s on my camera probably 90 percent of the time

What other ways do you express your creativity?

I’ve never really fancied myself a “creative” so to speak but I’ve always been drawn to art. I’ve tried (and failed miserably, like for real, don’t expect me to bake you anything) at so many things, knitting, painting, playing guitar but photography was the only thing that stuck. I love it SO much. It is my one true creative outlet.

How do you de-stress at the end of the day?

I’m the super cliche hot bath with candles, music and a glass of wine lady.

What kind of music do you listen to while editing?

I went to high school in the late 90’s/early 2000’s and I still can’t step away from 90’s hip hop and rap, my kids think I’m nuts. I also listen to podcasts or books on tape while I edit.

What is your favorite book?

Oh, man, this is a hard one for me, there are SO many books that I love but right off the top of my head, The Goldfinch. I didn’t want that book to end.

Name one movie that inspires you.

MOONLIGHT. Every tiny thing in this film was SO intentional. While I was watching it I had all of these questions because I could tell that certain things were done so purposefully, the use of particular colors, the lighting in some scenes etc. but because of cultural ignorances I had I wasn’t sure why. This has happened to me in other movies but I was never moved to investigate in the way I was with Moonlight. As soon as I finished watching I started searching for the answers, why was this color used so often, why was this scene shot in this light, what is the significance of the water here etc, etc, And then I immediately re-watched it with all the new information that I had. It is just such a beautiful story and such an art piece. Okay, Im gonna cheat and also name a couple of TV series that I’ve been creatively OBSESSED with lately. The Handmaids tail, The colors and light in this are SO beautiful, I could watch it on mute. The Night Of, the composition in EVERY. SINGLE. FRAME. of this show is amazing!

How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps?

I’ve heard so many people give the advice to “shoot through it” but that does NOT work for me. and it just leaves me so frustrated. When I’m in a creative slump or riddled with self doubt, I put my camera down and just step away for a bit. I read and take hikes and hang with my family, I take a social media break and just wait for something to really inspire me and it always works.

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?

Coming to terms with the fact that IS a journey. It’s okay to love my work one minute and hate it the next. It’s normal and necessary for there to be highs and lows, periods of doubt and periods of strength. It’s been hard to for me tallow myself to “be bad” at this while I learn a new skill or technique but its also one of the reasons I love Photography, there is ALWAYS room to grow.

Who is one of your favorite photographers?

The first photographer that I ever really noticed was Sally Mann. I had a friend who’s family had a book of her work at their house and I just remember being completely mesmerized by her photos and looking through that book over and over again. She’s still so inspiring to me her images give me goosebumps no matter how many times I’ve seen them.