Nichelle was born in the Bay Area of California, raised in Maryland and moved to New York City in 2003. She took her first photography / darkroom class in 10th grade. Initially shunning college and a traditional arts education; in 2008 after hearing about the photo department and the programs at Hunter College she enrolled as an undergrad. She studied under Roy DeCarava, the head of the photo department at that time. Roy, a Harlem native who photographed his friends Bille Holiday, Langston Hughes and other legends of the Harlem Renaissance, had an immeasurable impact on her study of composition and light in portraiture and street photography. After graduation in 2012 Nichelle became the studio manager for the fashion photographer Arthur Elgort. Arthur, a master of movement and light, gave her first hand experience working with a professional who had mastered their craft.

In 2018, she took a slight detour and took an executive assistant role with the director Terence Nance. Terence was hired to direct Space Jam 2 shortly after she began working with him. In 2019 Nichelle relocated to Los Angeles with the team to work on the film.

Nichelle’s photography transformed in the LA light. Taking a chance on herself she decided to stay in LA. Since then Nichelle has freelanced for The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, The New York Times, The LA Times, Lux Magazine, Cultured Magazine, NUTS Book 1 & 2, and Business Insider.

Nichelle is constantly photographing. Her camera, curiosity, openness and patience has allowed her into spaces that otherwise would have been off limits to her. She aims to showcase the world as it is, the people around her as they are. Nichelle believes that the beauty and intrigue of the mundane in everyday life is something worth documenting.