About

The Crew

Mike Nyman

Owner, Lead Photographer

Photo: Erika Sidor

Mike has been photographing people since the mid nineties when his brother-in-law asked Mike to shoot his wedding. Though self-taught in terms of photography, Mike has a B.A. in Physics from The University of Chicago and a Masters of Divinity degree from North Park Theological Seminary. He created and ran the business part-time starting in 1996, and transitioned successfully to full time in 2010. His favorite aspect of making photographs is getting people to see with fresh eyes, and especially to see the beauty inherent in every person. He lives in Worcester, Massachusetts, and has two grown daughters. Watch Mike in action on his Dancers in the Parks project.

Likes:
Road biking
Hiking
Marshmallow Peeps
Backpacking
Movie watching
Photographing people

Dislikes:
Sand in his camera gear
Sand in his swim trunks
Getting his picture taken
Wrapping presents

Extreme Dislikes:
Getting his picture taken while removing sand from his swim trunks

Kate Jajliardo

Lead Photographer, Lead Choreographer

Kate is a student at Fitchburg State University, majoring in Communications Media with a concentration in Photography. She became interested in photography from a young age, when her grandfather would let her borrow his camera. Kate loves that photography allows her to get to know people. She has been dancing since she was five, and danced at Cathy Taylor School of Dance. Kate currently dances with the Fitchburg State University Dance Club, where she teaches tap and Contemporary 1, and studies a variety of disciplines.

Likes:
Singing
Musical theatre
Dance

Extreme likes:
Dancing with the Stars
Macaroni and cheese
Crafting
Chocolate flavored desserts

Dislikes:
Cooking
Wasting
Apple watches

Extreme Dislikes:
Sports
Being cold
Uniformity

Cortney

Photographer, Studio Logistics

Cortney’s first memory of interest in photography stems from her childhood when Grandpa had a polaroid and would show her the image slowly appearing moments after taking a picture. She was given a point and shoot in middle school, and in college, purchased her first 35mm SLR. She found a creative outlet in landscape and abstract photography, which continued when she transitioned to digital photography. What started as a hobby was encouraged when asked to photograph friends’ weddings and family portraits on occasion. She recently started working with Mike, and though he would like her to work full time, she shares her time as a personal trainer. She hails from the Midwest and holds a degree in Exercise Science from North Park University in Chicago. Cortney resides near the South Coast of Massachusetts with her husband, son (neither pictured above), and their no longer imaginary dog, Pippin (also not pictured above).

Likes:
Hiking
Painting
Swimming
SciFi/Fantasy – the odd-er the better
Being by the ocean
Dogs
Yoga
Helping people achieve their goals
Finding beauty from different angles through the lens
The Wizard of Oz

Extreme likes:
Laughing

Dislikes:
Curry
Doing the dishes
Mis-behaving camera gear
Being late

Extreme Dislikes:
Lying

Emily

Choreographer

Likes:

Dislikes:

Extreme dislikes:

Sofia

Choreographer

Likes:

Dislikes:

Extreme dislikes:

Carol

Photographer, Sales

Photo: Jen Lial Photography

Carol is a self-taught photographer who has learned a ton from some fantastic mentors, including Mike. Carol has been friends with Mike since the late 00s and when he asked if she wanted to do some work for him a couple years ago, she was totally game. Carol loves learning all that she can about photography and Lightroom (photo editing software). After being gifted a “real” camera about 10 years ago, she mostly just messed around on it and took photos for personal use. In 2015, Carol’s older sister asked her to take family portraits on the beach. Although doubtful of her ability to do so, Carol tried it out and was pleasantly surprised with the results. Since then, Carol started her side hustle, doing mostly newborn and family shoots around Rhode Island and MA. Carol lives in Warren, RI, with her 10-year-old foster daughter (who will hopefully be adopted later this year!). Her full-time work is in social services as a recruiter/trainer for a foster care program.

Dislikes
Writing her own Likes and Dislikes

Amber

Amber’s passion for photography began when she bought a Canon Rebel her freshman year in high school. She then had her own photography business for a few years, taking photos of family friends’ weddings and children. Amber currently attends Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH and is planning on graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. Though she would love to work with Mike forever, her ultimate career goal is to get a job with Nike or Apple.

Likes

Flying
Breakfast, any time of the day
Warmth
Trying new foods
Editing essays
Making beds
Procrastinating

Dislikes

Being hungry
Being woken
Test shot photos

Sarah

If you know my name, you already know too much about me

Likes:
Pizza (any form of cheese on bread, really)
Sleeping
Singing

Dislikes:
Loud chewers

Extreme Likes:
My dog
Purple

Extreme Dislikes:
Peanut butter
Puppets

Ellie M

Ellie is a student at Worcester State University (Class of ’20) studying Education and English. Her future goal is to teach overseas in Thailand, Japan, or wherever the wind takes her. She would like to visit every continent in the world and have as many adventures as possible. Her favorite pictures are ones that evoke strong sentiment or are outlandish and creative. In her free time, Ellie enjoys horseback riding, playing soccer, and reading lots of books.

Likes:
James Dean
Playing the piano
Driving with all the windows open
Anything chocolate
Swimming in the ocean
Cable knit blankets
Movies with large explosions

Dislikes:
Seafood
Making decisions
Math
Owing favors

Extreme Dislikes:
When people litter

Shannon

Choreographer

Shannon . . .

Likes:

Dislikes:

Extreme Dislikes:

Mariah

Mariah has had a passion for photography since she received her first Canon DSLR upon graduating high school in 2009. She loves attending weddings with Mike, and she has yet to photograph a father-daughter dance without blinking back tears of happiness. Mariah is currently a senior in Worcester State University’s nursing program and is graduating in May of 2014. She hopes to keep her love for photography alive when she enters the “real world” as a registered nurse.

Likes
Candid Photographs of People Laughing
English Bulldogs
Buffalo Chicken
Time Lords
When Mike Demonstrates How To Pose
Laughing at Mike When He Demonstrates How to Pose

Dislikes
Being Late
Being Hungry
Scary Movies
Mayonnaise

Kim

Kim was hooked on photography when she purchased her first camera in middle school and taught herself the basics. As she continued to learn about photography she created her own small business called “Smiles For a Cause,” donating her profits to help a family friend’s son struggling with a brain disorder and purchase food for local Worcester food pantries. She graduated from Shrewsbury High School in 2013 and is currently majoring in Dance, and studying Biology as a freshman at Roger Williams University, in Bristol RI, with hopes of going to graduate school for physical therapy. When she isn’t in classes and dancing, she enjoys volunteering in the colleges against cancer club on campus and exploring Providence and Newport. To her, photography is all about capturing quick snapshots to keep a special moment from running away.

Likes
Dancing, especially HipHopCountry music
Moonwalking
Photographing kids
Beaches
Helping out in the community
Watching Food Network
Peter Pan
New York City
Color coordinating her closet

Dislikes
Germs
Swearing
Ice Cream (shocking right?)
Chocolate
Pumping gas
The Dentist

Extreme likes
When she makes people smile!

Extreme Dislikes
When people don’t wash their hands

Alli

Alli got her start in photography in middle school, playing with her mom’s point and shoot camera. She quickly realized she loved being able to capture moments in time forever, and throughout years of learning (with still so much to learn each and every day) has been asked to photograph events and portraits for family and friends! She loves an adventure, and loves even more to be able to photograph every moment and seal the memories in time. Alli is currently studying Sports Management at Endicott College, with a minor in photography. When she isn’t taking pictures or in class Alli loves to hike, go to the beach, take a road trip, or find the next best sushi bar!

Likes:
A punny pun
A full tank of gas
A medium iced caramel swirl, regular
Brutal honesty
Making Spotify playlists
Chocolate covered gummy bears
Optimists
“Eat, Pray, Love”
Mandala coloring books

Dislikes:
Moody iPhone chargers
Granola bars
Lumpy pillows
Rude people
Seaweed
Ghost stories

Extreme Dislikes:
Bees

Nana

Nana is a graduating senior at Burncoat High school who will be attending college at Umass Boston this fall and majoring in health and exercise science. She loves to try new things and even though she has always been interested in photography, she doesn’t know much about it. But, she is having a fun time learning more about it. She is a student athlete who likes to be active and also to help others.

Likes:
Reading
Sleeping
Music
Playing sports
Pizza
French fries

Dislikes:
Rude people
Pickles
Jelly donuts

Jaimie

Choreographer

Jaimie is a student at Lesley University in Cambridge majoring in Fine Arts. She also has some photography skills up her sleeve as she was the head of the photography club in high school and is the designated photographer for her sister and her friends. She lives in northern Worcester with her two brothers, sister, and mom. She was a dancer for 15 years at PZ Dance Academy, and though now retired from dance, still helps with the technique of dancers in their photos and making sure they are picture perfect.

Likes:
Collecting
Napping
Target
Sweatpants
Sculptures

Extreme Likes:
All types of dogs
Weezer

Dislikes:
Being active
Driving for a long time
The MBTA

Extreme dislikes:
Makeup
Roommates
Being overwhelmed

Leah

Even though some of her first pictures were taken with a disposable camera, Leah’s love for taking photos didn’t begin until middle school when she saved up for her first digital camera. From that point, she knew she wanted to pursue that passion. Leah recently earned her B.S. in Communications Media with a focus in Photography from Fitchburg State University. There, she spent many a day in the darkroom, developing her own film, as well as printing her own photos. From 35mm, to large format cameras, she learned the ins and outs of the dying art of film photography, as well as how to use today’s editing software for digital photography. Leah currently resides in Leominster with her husband Tim; although the two hope to live in California someday (soon).

Likes

Mac n cheese
Laughing
Dogs
Pointing and shouting, “DOGs!” when seeing dogs
The changing of the seasons
Mountains
Exploring
Chapstick
Making lists

Dislikes

Navigating through any city
Humidity
Mosquitos
Chickpeas

Justus

Likes
Holding white balance targets

Dislikes
Writing autobiography blurbs

Ellie D

Ellie is a clueless, klutzy, middle child whose enthusiasm for exploration has landed her saving up for a trip to India so she can figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life (there are so many enchanting possibilities!). What Ellie loves most about photography is an honest photo. Although cameras can hide all ills, her favorite photos capture a raw truth or a new angle that packs a punch. Ellie has had no formal training with a camera but bought a Canon Rebel with some help from her family on her 15th birthday and has had a blast snapping pictures ever since!

Likes:
Goofy faces
A good debate
Mindless dancing
Train tracks
Heights – the ground is much too solid A book worth crying over
Sticky fog
Tasteful rebellion

Extreme Likes:
Listening to music on a foggy day
Dance-walking to my favorite reading nook nestled under the train tracks and above the highway

Dislikes:
Standing still
One sided stories

Taylor

Photographer, Choreographer

Taylor is a college student and has been interested in photography for a long time and loves to take some fun pictures when she gets the chance. She has been dancing since she was two years old and is still continuing on, most recently at the Hanover Theatre Conservatory. She lives in Worcester county with her parents, sister, and her dog. She’s looking forward to learning more about photography and getting more involved in the process.

Likes:
Ice cream
Dogs
Friends
Swimming
Sunsets
Music

Dislikes:
Horror Movies
Brussel Sprouts
Bugs
Stress

Extreme Dislikes:
Spiders