Nicole Whitaker
Nicole Whitaker is a photographer, social media manager, and content creator based in Orlando, Florida, with a passion for telling stories through sports and digital media. A graduate of the University of Central Florida with a degree in integrated business, a minor in digital media, and a certificate in strategic communications, Nicole has built a career blending photography, branding, and audience engagement. She currently serves as Assistant Director of Content Engagement for UCF Athletics Association Inc., where she leads content strategy for sports including volleyball, women’s basketball, and track and field.
Nicole’s photography journey began unexpectedly in high school when she enrolled in a photography class to complete graduation requirements. What started with film photography quickly evolved into a passion for digital media and visual storytelling. Using a simple camera and a lamp in her bedroom, she created a photograph that earned a Gold Medal from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in 2019 and was displayed at Carnegie Hall. That experience gave Nicole the confidence to pursue photography professionally. While attending UCF as a student-athlete on the track team, she began interning with the UCF content department, where she developed her skills in photography, editing, social media strategy, and content production.
Today, Nicole is recognized for creating visually compelling content that helps elevate women’s sports and connect athletes with their audiences. She has contributed to major growth in social media engagement for UCF programs, including women’s basketball, volleyball, and track and field, by combining trend-driven content with authentic storytelling. In addition to her work at UCF, Nicole operates her own photography business, where she works with athletes, performers, graduates, and brands on custom photo and content projects. Her experience as a student-athlete taught her how to manage demanding schedules, and she credits that discipline for helping her balance a thriving career, entrepreneurship, and family life.
• Premiere Pro Guru: Professional Trimming
• Lightroom: Get Professional Results
• Retouching Skin with Lightroom and Photoshop
• Improving Your Photography and Portraits with Lighting Modifiers
• University of Central Florida- B.S.
• National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
• 2019 National Gold Medal in Photography
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success, first and foremost, to my faith in God and what He provides for me. But I also owe a lot to the people around me and how much they encourage me, because you are who you hang around. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have as much belief in myself to be able to do what I do.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't be scared, but also don't be afraid to ask questions and be persistent, because if I wasn't persistent, I wouldn't even have gotten the internship that I had. It's okay to be a little bit annoying about it, too, because if it's something that you want and something that you want to fight for, then it's definitely worth it in the end.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I feel like my journey as a photographer has definitely grown over time, but one challenge I've noticed is that there aren't as many women in the field, especially Black women. For example, at the recent Indoor Track and Field Nationals, there were already not as many women, but there definitely weren't many Black women there. Rather than letting that intimidate me or falling victim to it, I try to take it as encouragement and show other people that they can do it too. It's not really about who you are, but what you can create.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'm all about making sure that everybody has fun while they're doing it, and it's something that they can always look back on, especially for my clients and my athletes. I want to capture those moments, whether it's just an iPhone video or a photo, so it's always something that they can look back on and show their future family or show their future friends.