NICK ORCIUOLO

People get into this profession because they love a human story. Generally it begins, like it did for me, with a love for film. Nearly everyone who ends up entangled with this profession got here because of how film changed the way their world. But make no mistake; photography or video are just the medium and the genuine love affair is with narrative.

Perhaps it began for me with my first camera, a Sony Handicam High 8. Or perhaps it was because I was born to be a relentless documenter.  Punk rock show? I show up before the two opening acts and stay until the band is packing their gear up for the night. Family reunion? I’m the one that has to be pulled out from behind the camera to participate. Train trip across Europe? I have to get a photo of the brass details on the ticket-taker’s hat.

Most likely though, it began with my Dad’s Italian restaurant in NYC in the 80’s. My whole family worked in that restaurant in the West Village. It was truly a family affair. I was just old enough to mind myself, and was allowed to sit on the curb outside where Bleeker intersected with Leroy. The outfits and body language of young couples dressed up for the very adult concept of an “evening out”. The two syllable rattle of the manhole cover as each car passed over. The smell of the bakery down the street where I was allowed to buy cannoli. The lights, the sounds, the smells - but always the people. I’d watch daylight turn into midnight guessing at the stories of all those people. Trying to commit all those details to memory permanently.  

Certainly I’m motivated by a certain amount of what the kids call FOMO, but I’m preoccupied with the perfect memory of photographs and video. Media makes magic of all kinds; it can be used to shake the dust of nostalgia off a memory through unrelenting truth, or it can be used to saturate a single moment in human emotion.

In my career, I have experienced the gamut of storytelling. I began my career as a newsroom editor, where the events of 9/11 challenged me to package stories that were neutral and impactful, yet sober and respectful of tragedy. My time working for post-production house The Mill and editorial house Cut + Run put me in touch with the inner workings of delivering internationally-acclaimed documentaries, music videos for Britney Spears, Cat Power, and Justin Timberlake, and advertising campaigns for Pepsi, Suntory, Chrysler and Rexona. Since I have worked for myself, I have had the opportunity to shoot and edit beautiful content for national fitness/glamour personalities, effective product shots for Phoenix based e-tailers Yandy.com, Jumpin’ Jammerz, and Crafter’s Edge, and been fortunate to commit the live energy of concerts to film for KISS, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, and The Glass Heroes.

So that is what I do, and that’s part of my story. Whatever story your unique project calls for, let me help you consider the angles.