Nicole Esposito

NY|Displaying Since 2020

I am an avid landscape and travel photographer. Calling Long Island home, much of my work is focused around our shorelines, coasts and waters. This gorgeous island is a never ending source of inspiration. Growing up so close to the water fostered a love of the ocean and beaches. It’s no surprise that most of my early work is focused on Long Island. And today, much of it still is.

I began my career as a portrait photographer. I still do these from time to time, although I’ve backed off the portraits considerably since COVID so kindly brought the world to a screeching halt. As awful and scary as those years were, the pause in life, as well as the desire to get out of the house and into nature, led me to a new found passion—landscape photography. I still have my loyal customers who return to me year after year for portraits of their growing families and children and I am grateful for their trust in me to capture their milestones.

I spent the next 2 or 3 years working feverishly to capture whatever I could, whenever we could find time to get outside and explore. I’ve lived on Long Island nearly my whole life and we explored brand new places each week, hiking and getting lost and forgetting the craziness of the world around us. And I photographed. A lot. It became my sanity. It became therapy of sorts. It let me know that everything was indeed going to be ok and real life would eventually return. I was at sunrise and sunset almost daily despite the season, building a portfolio that I never really imagined I would love creating so much. I owe so much to photography during those years as odd as that might sound.

As the world began coming out of its cocoon, so too did my family, catching up on travels that we were forced to put on the back burner. And more travel photos and experiences ignited a need to travel and explore more of the world, just like I’d done with Long Island. Now, with two college aged children, travel has become a way of life for us and my portfolio is constantly growing.

It’s very clear from my portfolio that I’m slightly obsessed with water, the beach, and anything having to do with coastal life. I love that every single sunrise and sunset is its own work of art, never the same and for me evokes a sense of renewal and sometimes, finality. I love sunlight and reflections of light on water. I love finding my own view of the world through my work and as I watch my own kids taking their own photos, I find it amazing how many people can look at the same exact scene yet see it so differently.

Travel photography is also a large part of my portfolio and I’ve definitely got the travel bug. Not only is it fun to roam a city or a beach town scoping out my favorite shots, but back at home editing is like an exercise in time travel and often brings me back to the exact place...the feeling of an Italian square or the smells and feel of sea spray on my skin while photographing a Hawaiian sunset.

I’m rarely without my camera in hand and I’m constantly adding to my portfolio. And I’m learning. Learning new techniques, lighting, indoor lighting which is my nemesis, nighttime photography and so much more. I was very lucky to discover photography as a true passion and then as a career a bit later in life than most. With no formal training I used to think I was much less prepared for this life than many others. But what is so amazing about grabbing my camera and heading out to yet another sunset is not only that I know the experience will be therapeutic and beautiful but I will also learn something. Every single time I pick up that camera I uncover something new —a new angle, a new method of catching a beautiful reflection, or a new coveted sunset location. Or even a new little suggestion from a fellow photographer I meet and chat with down on the sand.

A member of Photo Art Pavilion, I regularly show my work in both their frequent in person and online exhibits. I am also a member of numerous art associations here on Long Island and currently serve as treasurer to South Bay Arts Association and secretary and photographer for the West Islip Chamber of Commerce. My work has been shown at various galleries, coffee shops and local shops. Having taken part in 15+ shows, my favorite part is always seeing how other fellow artists see their worlds. Part of photography is certainly skill and knowledge, but equally as important is vision and seeing the world differently. Photography is a true reflection of oneself.

Exhibits/Awards

–Long Beach Arts Association, Fine Art Expo III, Allegria Hotel, Long Beach, October 2025

–Montauk Artist Association Member Exhibit, The Depot Gallery, Montauk, October 2025---Sunrise Clammer

–South Bay Arts Association/BAFFA, BAFFA Gallery, Sayville, NY, October 2025 –Low Angle Foam

–My Town’s Art Nook, East Isilp–Islip Arts Council, July 2025 –Sunrise Clammer

–Artists on the Lane, Bayport, artist booth, August 2025

–South Bay Arts Association Member’s Exhibit, July 202–Icy Inlet Sunset –Captree Sunrise

–Canvas Rebel Article, 2024

–Life Around The Sun, Long Island Photo Gallery, Online Exhibit, August 2023 –Coronado Sunset –Turtle Bay Fire Sunset

–Void of Color, Long Island Photo Gallery, Southampton Cultural Center, March 5-31, 2023–Florence Street–Honorable Mention–Montauk Surfboards

–Babylon Arts Fall Festival, October 2022 –Moses Deer B&W –Fire Island Inlet Bridge

–Just Yellow, Islip Arts Council, Bayshore, NY July 2022 –North Fork Sunflower