J O’Brien

J is a Cheyenne, WY native. He graduated from Cheyenne East High School and earned his Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Wyoming. He went on to earn his Masters of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University.

J has 20+ years in the media field in general. Specifically, he has worked for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle early in his career as a copy and photography editor. After working for the WTE, he worked at the Wyoming Department of Transportation as a public relations specialist for many years before he started—and is currently—working as the Communication and Creative Arts Pathway Coordinator while teaching digital photography at the Laramie County Community College.

For the past 10 years, J has also been a product/art photographer for the Mannitou Gallery, the Nelson Museum, and March in Montana auction; taking photos of the paintings, statues, Native weavings, and other various artifacts and pieces of art on display in the gallery and museum for their records and marketing use and also for the March in Montana auction’s website and physical catalog.

Nikole O’Brien

Nikole originally from Anaconda, MT, moved to Cheyenne in 2003, and started her media career later in life. Growing up, Nikole was very artistic and enjoyed photography and anything art related, but life took her in a different direction. She graduated from LCCC in 2006 with her Associate’s of Science for Biology and became a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) in 2007, continuing her art a just a hobby and creative outlet while working as a CPhT.

In 2015, Nikole’s childhood-desire to pursue photography resurfaced and she purchased her first camera—a Sony a6000 mirrorless digital camera—to capture her then-teenage daughter’s (and the team’s) shining sporting moments. In 2016, she became a volunteer for 1112 BISN Web and Media, capturing the South High School’s athletic events. She was having so much fun, she decided to pursue her passion for photography as more than a hobby. She enrolled for classes at LCCC while still working as a CPhT. In 2018, she graduated with her Associates of Arts degree for Mass/Multimedia.

Since graduating, Nikole has continued her photography, improving her skills and techniques as a photographer and editor, while finding her specialty. Sports/Action photography is her most enjoyed photo genre…especially if she knows one or two of the team members or individuals. Product photography ranks a very high second. Her favorite part of the photography process, however, is the editing. After a photo is taken, it has so much more potential than initially meets the eye.

Outside of photography and design, J and Nikole have five children and two grandchildren that keep them on their toes. Whether it be just hanging out on an online game or going on adventures to new places and things, they love spending time with their children…and even though they are photographers, they are humans, living in the moments, and forget to capture those moments sometimes.