Hello! My name is Nicholas Norris, that 30-something Greater Grand Rapidian of West Michigan you see acting goofy in the photos above. Most people refer to me as a 'jack-of-all-trades' because I dabble in just about
everything. Whether you know of me as a photographer,
a classical flutist, for my various musical roles at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, Michigan, or that nerdy Francophile who is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in French and Francophone Studies at Michigan State University, both music and French have always played an integral role in my identity as well as served as influential components leading me to live some of my most exciting moments in life. So far, my most life changing experience was my second séjour en France from 2016 to 2018; I worked as a lecteur d'anglais at the Université de Nantes and spent the majority of my time playing Mozart concerti and Bach sonatas au bord de l'Erdre.
If you have already checked out what my website has to offer, it is pretty clear that both my experiences studying and living immersed in the musical world and the French language are not only very important to me, but they have helped shape the person I am today. They have also had a huge impact on my hobbies. When not playing the flute or writing a paper en français for one of my graduate courses, you will most likely find me in the kitchen baking some goodies or with my cameras taking photos of anything and everything. When it comes to baking, my reputation amongst my friends as well as within the community is all about my cakes. However, baking bread (kneading dough is very therapeutic!) and recreating all the French pastries I ate during my time in France is what makes me the most happy.
Photography and videography are recent hobby-to-profession careers. Photography first came into my life during my second séjour en France when I began to regularly document my life abroad on social media for family and friends. At the end of 2020, my own photography business, Nico Norris Photography, came to fruition, using my French nickname as a means to pay homage to my home away from home. I enjoy all kinds of photography, but what I especially love is when I can take a step back and capture the special moments, from creatures in their natural habitat to the candid laughter of a loving family. As a videographer, I've enjoyed making short stop-motion animations with my bestie the most. However, my true passion lies within combining my artistic eye with my experiences as a classical musician to produce videos that capture beautiful performances of solo artists and small ensembles.
At the moment, most of my time and energy is going into my studies as I apply components of Gender Studies, Queer Theory and Critical Race Theory to examine how the life of Joseph Bologne and the operatic art form provides us with a unique perspective through which one can understand 18th Century French politics, specifically concerning the power dynamics that developed through the abolition and anti-slavery movements. It may seem like a lot because it is. However, if the last few years have taught me anything, it's that being prepared and having a plan can only take one so far. And so with that, I will leave you with a personal testament that living life one day at a time and to its absolute fullest has brought me some of my most cherished life-experiences, and I have faith that continuing to do so will lead me to many more.
If you have any questions about
me and my projects, or would
like to inquire about booking
a photo shoot, please feel free
to contact me by utilizing the
form below. I look forward to
hearing from you!
Best,
Nicholas M. Norris
Send me a message!
