NOIR TO NOW...
....
There’s a certain magic in old Hollywood—the way a single image could suggest an entire story. In my earliest days studying photography, I was captivated by the dramatic light and shadow of George Hurrell’s portraits, the kind that made stars eternal and mystery tangible. Noir films taught me how contrast could carve emotion out of silence, how mood could speak louder than dialogue. That fascination never left me.
I carried that cinematic eye with me into the real world—into Los Angeles, where every artist is telling a story of becoming. My work evolved from a love of stylized glamour into something more intimate: portraiture that reveals, not just performs. Whether I’m photographing actors seeking the perfect headshot or artists wanting to be seen beyond the surface, I approach every frame with the same curiosity I had when I first discovered those old silver gelatin prints.
This isn’t about sterile perfection. It’s about capturing the kind of image that feels inevitable—like it’s always existed, waiting for the right moment to be revealed.
-N
ABOUT
Nick Holmes is a Los Angeles-based photographer, actor, poet, and collaborator.
His portraiture focuses on personal connection, emotional nuance, and letting people feel seen on their own terms.
Photography, for Nick, began as a high-school ditch class turned side hustle that metamorphisized into something that feels a lot like service.
Headshots, portraits, and now Empowerment sessions—each an opportunity to reflect someone back to themselves without distortion or expectation.
He lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife, their small dog, and a lot of succulents. He believes in kindness, dramatic lighting, and not pretending you’re fine when you’re not.
"I wish I'd done this every year of my life -
I feel so beautiful."
-Ella S.
"Like a Vanity Fair shoot in a confession booth."
-Patrick Warburton (Actor)
"...unapologetic sensual tonality....as though
someone gave Avedon their hotel room key."
-LUMEN (Fr)