The Frame Beside My Desk: Why I’m So Glad I Finally Set Up My Aura

My Aura digital frame

This past Christmas, my mom gave me (and each of my siblings) an Aura digital photo frame—a sleek little gift box wrapped in intention, love, and the promise of nostalgia.

I was excited but then... life got busy. It sat in its box for longer than I’d care to admit, because the part that came next—the part where I had to choose which images to upload from the thousands I’ve taken and stored over the years—felt overwhelming.

But once I finally carved out the time to do it, something unexpected happened: I found myself immersed. Hours passed, and I wasn’t just selecting images—I was reliving moments. I laughed out loud. I teared up. I found myself scanning old prints from childhood—images that had been tucked away in albums for decades.

This process of curating my life visually turned out to be an act of self-love. At my age, lost in the mundane of just doing life, I’d sort of forgotten about my life. I had to marvel at the different Nicolettes I’ve been through the years. I’d neglected to admire the bigger picture of who they've led me to be. My story is actually a little fuller, a little more exciting than I might have believed. I’ve done shit. I’ve been places. And I've met some amazing humans along the way.

Mine is the Aura Carver in white—a modern, neutral tone that fits perfectly beside my desk. The display is 10", crisp and bright, and the frame somehow manages to be discreet and stylish at the same time. It doesn't fight for attention—but I find myself heartwarmingly watching the images scroll by while I sip my morning coffee or before I turn out the lights at night.

And yes, I’ve included many photos of myself in this frame. Not out of vanity, but as an acknowledgment of my own existence and evolution. It’s rare we see ourselves reflected back in ways that go beyond selfies or posed headshots. These images—some candid, some awkward, some just plain cool—remind me of my own growth. They trace my development not just physically, but mentally and spiritually, too.

There are photos of past friends—some no longer in my life but nevertheless important to the person I’ve become. I’ve even included a few past lovers. We don’t always talk about that, but those relationships, even the ones that didn’t last, helped shape me. They deserve a place in my story. Of course, there are pictures of family, of celebrations, of hilarious hours spent with people I cherish. Together, these images weave a narrative we often forget: that our lives, with all their ups and downs, have been lived—fully, beautifully, and on our own terms.

Easy to use app

What’s also comforting is that my photos are now securely stored—not just on my devices, but backed up via Aura’s encrypted cloud storage. According to AuraFrames.com, all photos uploaded via the app are stored safely on their secure servers, meaning if anything were to happen to my hard drives or phone, these memories would still be accessible. Aura doesn’t charge a subscription fee, and you can invite others to contribute photos remotely—a nice touch for families spread across cities or continents, as mine is.

And speaking of safeguarding memories: this past winter’s Eaton Canyon and Palisades fires were a chilling reminder of how fragile our belongings can be. And with them, countless irreplaceable family photos, mementos, and stories. If we don’t take the time to curate, organize, and preserve them in ways that are accessible and meaningful, we risk losing losing pieces of our history.

Here’s the thing: we take so many photos. Hundreds, even thousands each year. But how many of those do we ever really look at more than once? How many are we really cherishing? How many are just sitting, lost in the scroll, buried in a digital wasteland?

So this message is a gentle invitation: Invest in a digital frame like the Aura. Take a weekend—or a few summer evenings—to cull through your images. Curate and upload your favorites. Distill your beautiful, messy, remarkable life into moments that deserve to be seen and remembered every single day. From then on, make yourself add only the best one or two most meaningful photos or videos of the week. You'll soon realize the other random iphone snaps you took are just deletable clutter.

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A photoshoot with me is a transformative experience that gives you permission to shine in all your wonderful and beautiful uniqueness.

You'll leave your session feeling exhilarated and emboldened to tell your story, your way. Your photos will connect you with your target audience. Your photos will connect you to yourself.

With the use of my certified life coaching techniques and a fine tuned emotional IQ, I will help you feel at ease and lit up with genuine self-confidence. I invite you to book a session with me. I guarantee, you'll love the results. It might even change the way you see yourself.

Portrait photographer serving the LGBTQIA and greater community in Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Southbay, Ventura and Orange County. Offering formal portraiture, modern glamour photography, personal branding, corporate headshot photography, candid children's photography, family photography, business & acting headshots, as well as events and editorial coverage. Located near Larchmont Village, Hancock Park and Paramount Studios.