Autumn Thornsberry shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Autumn, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Crafts and hobbies! I have really made it my focus for 2025 to do something creative each day.
I recently read a quote that said “anxiety kills creativity, so creativity must also kill anxiety” and that really stuck with me. I think it’s so easy to get stuck on autopilot, but finding hobbies or ways to be creative, even if it’s only for a few minutes, really helps me to get out of my head and to be in the present moment. For me personally, I have found joy in embroidery and “junk” journaling!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! I am Autumn Thornsberry Nickol : ) I am a full time wedding and portrait photographer from metro-Detroit.
I started photography when I was a freshman in high school, documenting my first wedding at 15. Photography helped me to pay my way through college, and after graduation – I went full time with it.
2025 is my 9th full time season with nearly 400 weddings and 1,000+ portrait sessions photographed – which is unfathomable to me. I am so grateful!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I could not say it was one particular moment, but rather a collection of time.
I have always been a deep feeler and a very sensitive person. I think the more that I experience life, the more I evolve in how I see the world. I try to always view the world around me with empathy, compassion and a lot of grace. I try to put myself in the shoes of others – especially those who do not look like me or are in circumstances that I have never been in.
They say that your perspective is your reality, and how you view moments is a reflection of you. The more inward I go, the more I can experience outwardly.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being “bad”.
I think as a creative, perfectionism is often a parallel that many artists battle. The fear of creating artwork, sharing it with the world and it being “bad”, “cringe” or not good enough can linger in the back of our minds.
It was a few years ago that I was reflecting on old work and that’s when I realized that the most important part of creating, is to just have fun. To play. To experiment. To let your inner child free. To find flow. The work that I create out of my heart, I am always proud of because it felt authentic.
My best piece of advice is to not be good at things and to create “bad” art – because in the end, it’s never really “bad”. It’s a stepping stone into where you are meant to go. It all matters.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The belief that we never know how long we are here for, where we are going or what will happen – but that love, empathy and connection are the most important parts of life. Time is a resource, pain is energy and we are meant to evolve in the way we love others and see the world.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Caring so much!! Which sounds a little redundant, because it is cool to care. I love caring. But, I think there are things that we often care so much about that never really mattered 5, 10, 50 years from now. I think I wouldn’t care *as* much about things I “should” or need” to do, and just focus on caring about the things I love and caring about others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.athornsphoto.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/athornsphoto
Image Credits
www.northernnativemi.com (photo of myself)
www.athornsphoto.com (photos of my work)
