Meet Nikki Caviness | Newborn and Family Lifestyle Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Caviness and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Consistency. I am consistent with so many things from my daily routine and what I eat for breakfast to posting on social media for my business and the consistent story I tell through my photography. Consistency sets expectations and creates a meaningful, identifiable brand. Consistency is key!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My background is in marketing and advertising (but not the creative side of things) so I desperately needed a creative outlet during my time in the corporate world. That’s where photography came in! I was gifted a DSLR camera for Christmas one year and after 10 years of being a hobbyist, I finally decided to turn it into a real business. My clients describe my work as emotive, clean, and modern, yet approachable. No stuffy family portraits here!

With every session I photograph, I want to tell a story of family in the way I view it. How that translates visually for each family is different! In my view, mom is always going to be multifaceted – she’s so much more than just mom! She’s beautiful and strong and is the center of the household. Dad is going to love her so much and feel so lucky that he’s married to her! The children are going to be curious and innocent and playful in just the way children should be. And newborns – they change and grow so fast and its those little details you don’t want to ever forget. This is the story I try to tell every time and the beauty of it is that it looks different for every single family.

I started my business at the very beginning of the pandemic and as an in-home photographer, that was the biggest challenge. I wanted to make sure my clients and I were safe, and I had to earn the trust of people that I did not know to allow me into their home near their small children during a time of uncertainty. There was so much unknown during that time! Through building a business during a pandemic, I’ve learned that clear communication and setting expectations is key to running a successful business. An unhappy client is typically one that is surprised or not prepared, so by over-communicating and being forthcoming with my process, prices, and deliverables, there are no surprises!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We live on the west side of the metroplex so Fort Worth is where we call home! If we had friends visiting in town, we would for sure take them to the Fort Worth Zoo (my kids’ favorite spot!) The new baby elephant is so adorable and we are looking forward to the opening of the new cat exhibit next year! In the evening, we would go grab some drinks at the bar at Hotel Drover in the Stockyards before heading to Tim Love’s new restaurant, Paloma Suerte, for dinner. The next day, we’d grab some breakfast at The Tavern before heading over to the Shops at Clearfork for some retail therapy. Then we’d maybe grab a bite at Mesero or Press Cafe at the trailhead so the kids can run around on the green space and we can enjoy the patio. If we are feeling fancy that evening, we would grab an early dinner at Del Frisco’s (the best steaks in Fort Worth!) before heading to a show at Bass Performance Hall. We are so lucky to live in a city that has so many delicious, unique restaurant options and family friendly activities.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so much to attribute my success to! Firstly, my clients! They are consistently and repeatedly referring me to their friends and family and are always singing my praises. I am SO thankful for them! My husband, who has been my biggest supporter and always cheered me on – taking kids to activities and stepping up to do my chores so I could photograph a session. He definitely deserves a lot of credit! And lastly, my mentor, photographer Brooke Schultz out of California. She gave me confidence when it was lacking, direction when I wasn’t sure where to go, and a push when I was stuck. I’m so very thankful for everything these people have done for me!

Website: www.nikkicavinessphotography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nikkicavinessphotography

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nikkicavinessphotography

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Caitlin McNeil Photography Additional Photos: Nikki Caviness Photography