I'm Nicolette, nice to meet you. I've got a bit of an interesting story, so grab a seat and listen up. Born in Moscow, Russia, I grew up in the suburbs just outside the city center. My family wasn't exactly wealthy, but we had what we needed. My parents were both working class folks who valued education above all else.

I was always the curious type, and my love for art started when I was a kid. I'd spend hours sketching and painting anything that caught my eye - buildings, people, animals... you name it. It wasn't until later in life that I discovered photography, though. There's something about capturing reality through a lens that just clicked with me.

Growing up, we didn't have much in terms of luxuries or comforts, but we always made do. We'd often go on long walks around Moscow to explore the city and its history. Those were some of my favorite times - just wandering around and taking it all in.

Eventually, I decided to pursue photography as a career. I knew it wouldn't be easy, especially for a Russian girl from the suburbs, but I was determined to make something of myself. I saved up every ruble I could and even took on odd jobs here and there to fund my own equipment and training.

Fast-forward a few years, and I landed an internship with a local magazine in Moscow. It wasn't glamorous work by any means, but it gave me the foot in the door I needed to start building my portfolio and network. Before long, I was shooting for some of the major publications in the city.

Of course, life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. There have been plenty of times when things got tough - financial struggles, creative blocks... you name it. But through it all, photography has been a constant source of comfort and inspiration for me.

Nowadays, I'm living a bit more comfortably in Berlin, but I still try to keep my Russian roots close to heart. There's something about the history and culture that just resonates with me on a deep level.

So, what brings you here today? What's your story?