Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about who you are.
I’m Nikki, a commercial and lifestyle photographer who specializes in creating film and digital assets predominantly for consumer product brands. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with brands such as Pura Vida Bracelets, Brumate, Coleman, Buff, Megafood, Roxy and more. When I’m not working, you can find me reading, cooking or cycling.
When did you get into photography and what made you stick with it?
When I moved to Waterton National Park in 2012, I was in awe of the scenery - I got a camera as soon as I could! I wanted to document my surroundings and began to fall in love with snapping photos of friends on hikes and the mountaintops. As time went on, I kept travelling to New Zealand, Thailand and Australia; I fell more in love with taking photos. The vibrancy of culture, the colours of nature and the various ways that light interacts with the world are things that keep me inspired. Recently I’ve been really enjoying getting creative with models, landscapes and fashion. Over the years, I’ve explored different genres of photography but the camera has always been the medium.
When did you realize that photography was something you wanted to do as a career/work?
When I lived in New Zealand, in 2015, I began to have opportunities come my way as brands loved the content I was creating from travelling. This was the moment I realized this could be a source of income and began to pursue photography as a career. My photography journey has morphed over the years and is now primarily focused on creative concepts for consumer products and clothing.
What is the best advice someone has given you regarding photography or is there any advice you give others who want to pursue photography as a career?
If you’re looking to pursue a career in photography, I would advise you to create your own style that is authentic to you and how you see the world. Comparison is the thief of joy, and it’s hard to create your own style when you’re busy focusing on what everyone else is doing. Getting outside, travelling, and creating your own concepts from the compositions you see, is a great way to create something that is authentic to you. We are all gifted with different pairs of eyes meant to see the world differently, so let yourself be you. Not only is this a more fulfilling path, but it allows you to stand out and be unique.
With photography being your full-time job, do you still find yourself taking photos for pure enjoyment outside of work?
For a while, I wasn’t creating for myself with my work camera because it was so large and cumbersome. I resisted taking my giant backpack everywhere unless it was for work. Buying a fun small camera enabled me to take it everywhere, create on the go and leave the big camera for work. This was the boundary that helped me cultivate balance so that I could still be inspired to create for myself. I currently flip between two personal cameras, an analog and a digital. I love the variety between the two cameras as they both offer a different experience. Now I find myself taking a lot more fun memory photos.
What is your favourite thing about analog photography?
It reminds me to slow down. I tend to lean towards doing too much and burning myself out and I love anything that can remind me to slow down. With so much to consider when shooting film, it encourages me to be intentional and thoughtful with what I capture. I can pause, take a breath and tap into how I’m feeling at that moment. I tend to remember the feeling I had when looking back at the images because I spent so long capturing them. Having a manual focus lens also assists in slowing down the process. My favourite thing about analog is how the photos come out, there is a special energy that I can’t quite describe but it feels more real than digital.
Do you have a favourite film stock? If so, Why?
I’m currently shooting a lot of Portra 160 & 400 as I love the colour, silkiness and texture of the image - it feels so nostalgic. I find that film captures such a beautiful feeling that I can’t really describe, which is why I keep coming back to it!
How do you stay creative with photography and continue to have ideas for work and personal enjoyment?
When I stay in one place too long, I can tend to feel uninspired as things seem repetitive. Travelling allows a fresh perspective, and new things to photograph. Every time I go to a new country or city, I always feel a wave of energy, excited to take out my camera and see what I can create.
