Nikki Cole | Photography by Nikki Cole

Jan 25

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 2 comments tags: Cap-Haitien, documentary photographer, documentary photography, hands up for haiti, life in haiti

Documentary Work – Life in Northern Haiti

I'm so proud to share some images from a recent trip to Northern Haiti where I was able to do some documentary work for Hands Up for Haiti. There will be more about that wonderful group in future posts. But I wanted to start with an introduction to this special part of Haiti. We spent our time in Cap-Haitien and it's surrounding villages. Cap has had a rich history, but has seen much more poverty in modern days. Unlike Haiti's capital Port au Prince, Cap did not see any real damage from the historic earthquake in 2010. That was both a blessing and a curse for the people of Cap-Haitien. While they did not experience any damage from the earthquake, they also did not get the influx of aide coming into the country. They did, however, experience an influx of people from Port au Price with no place to go further straining the city's already crumbling infrastructure. As a result, Cap-Haitien remains in extreme poverty. This Hands Up for Haiti trip was focused on Pediatrics and malnutrition. Below, are some of my favorite images of day to day life in Northern Haiti. They were taken mostly during down time […]

Aug 20

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 0 comments tags: boston commercial photographer, boston photographer, photographers in boston

Preparing for Your Product Shoot

I spend a lot of my time shooting people and I truly enjoy it. For those of you who have hired me to shoot an event, you know this to be true (check out my blog post on event photography). But the geek in me loves a good architectural or product shoot. These jobs are about two of my favorite things (no, not food and wine...although they're often about those too); branding and detail. I'm able to approach a job with a business mind. Who is my client's target market? What will this image say to that target market? When I'm on the job, I can often spend ten times the length of a head shot setting up a single product shot. People don't like to wait. As a matter of fact, they normally don't photograph as well when they have to wait. But product will wait for you forever. I look at lines and subtlety of light. Does everything line up perfectly? Can I light the scene to remove that shadow? These small details can make a big difference in your image. While I always do my best to deliver the best possible image, there are some things you […]

Jul 09

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 0 comments tags: architectural photographer boston, boston photographer, boston professional photographer, boston real estate photographer, professional photographer in boston, real estate photography

Professional vs. Amateur Real Estate Photography

With the popularity of networks like HGTV and DIY Network, Real Estate Agents have really had to up their game when selling a home. Clients are becoming more savvy and educated when shopping for a new home. As with most industries, Real Estate has gone digital. Web pages are the new flyer. Buyers won't even visit a home without seeing photos they love. This makes real estate photography even more important when selling a home. The photos of your home can make or break you in the sales process. I'm always surprised when I see agents taking their own photos in Real Estate sales. These images are your calling card. They are your introduction to the market. A recent client, Kevin Ferrara of Cottage Hill Real Estate was kind enough to share a recent experience with Photography by Nikki Cole... "Not only is Nikki Cole extremely talented, she is joy to work with and has a great vision as seen by all her work. Nikki asks how I plan to market the home before shooting and creates images that showcase the features I feel are the key selling points. It makes for a seamless process. Her pictures have […]

Jun 08

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 0 comments tags: architectural photographers in boston, boston architectural photographer, boston commercial photographer, boston corporate photographer, commercial photographers in boston, intercontinental hotel boston

Intercontinental Hotel Boston – Commercial Shoot

Summer is upon us. And that means it's time for a new marketing direction for the Intercontinental Hotel Boston. They have a beautiful outdoor lounge that sits right on Boston Harbor. It's a huge it in the summer months. We spent the day photographing the beautiful space as well as some of the new menu items for this year. Of course, this means I got the chance to spend most of the day outside playing with food and cocktails. We all know how I love that! And did you know the hotel can host outdoor events as well? We took some great photos of their lawn space set up for a gorgeous event. Thanks to Rentals Unlimited for some fabulous picnic tables, chairs and linens. Here are some of my favorite images from their shoot.

Jun 02

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 0 comments tags: boston commercial photographer, boston portrait photographer, Boston studio photographer, photoshop abuse, photoshop editing

You’re going to Photoshop these, right?

Here are some of the most common phrases I hear on a portrait shoot lately... "Can you make me skinny? "Can you Photoshop my double chin?" "You'll retouch these, right?" "Please just shoot me from the neck up, I don't want my body in the photo." "You'll do some Photoshop magic on these, right? I see nothing wrong with wanting to look our very best in photos. I work to do that with every image I take both in the camera and with a little Photoshop magic. But I am so saddened by the fact that most of us feel our very best isn't good enough. The truth is, yes I can make you skinny. In Photoshop, I can make myself a foot taller, 10 pounds skinnier and blonde. I've become quite good slimming and smoothing in Photoshop with the many requests I get. But I hate doing it. And I won't use overly edited portraits in my portfolio either. I'd rather make you feel great during your portrait session so you look great in your photo. I believe inner beauty is the best kind of beauty and the right photographer can make a subject's inner beauty shine […]

May 28

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 1 comments tags: boston photographer, boston portrait photographer, boston portrait photographers, portrait photographers in boston, professional photographers in boston

Speaking at New England School of Photography

I had the unique opportunity this month to speak to a group of photography students about to graduate from the New England School of Photography. It was a small group of students all specializing in portraiture. The topic was assisting professional photographers as an opportunity to learn about the industry and get your foot in the door. This is a topic that is close to my heart as I got my first professional photography opportunities while assisting other photographers. In my early days in the Boston photography scene, I took every opportunity I could to shoot with other professional photographers in Boston. Watching them taught me more about technique, proper etiquette on a job and helped me define my own personal style. It also taught me what I don't want to do with my own business. I sat in the classroom at NESOP and told some success stories and horror stories about assisting my fellow photographers. I also gave some tips and advice on being a great assistant... Confirm the job with the lead photographer so they do not have to worry about getting in touch with you. Confirm the appropriate dress for the day. Always be on […]

May 17

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 0 comments tags: architectural photographer boston, boston architectural photographer, boston corporate photographer, boston real estate photographer, professional photographer in boston

Architectural Photo Shoot – Fenway Park, Boston

It was a gorgeous day for an architectural shoot at Fenway Park! The Premium Sales Team had some new suites and packages and they wanted some new photos to include in brochures and pamphlets. So I got to spend the day roaming the park and shooting the suites. The images featured the vibrant colors of Fenway Park and the gorgeous sweeping views the suites and packages they had to offer. I've been lucky enough to shoot architectural images at Fenway Park several times, but each time is a new and exciting experience. Below are some of the photos we were able to capture on the shoot. Any one of them would be a fabulous way to see a Red Sox game! On our walk through the park, I stumbled across a surprise. Did you know Fenway Park has started growing their own vegetables and herbs. They're used throughout the park. I love seeing this type of dedication to the environment and healthy food!

Apr 30

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 2 comments

Food Photography – I’ll never be skinny

It's true. I'll never be skinny. And I'm OK with that. Hi my name is Nikki and I'm a die hard foodie. There is a high likelihood that at some point in my old age I will bribe a healthcare worker to smuggle prosciutto and triple creme into my hospital room. I've never been easily star struck. I have a very interesting life and have found myself in the same room with all sorts of professional athletes, Hollywood actors, Broadway performers and important politicians. I'm rarely impressed by any of them. But the day I met Wolfgang Puck and the day I sat at a table just feet from Anthony Bourdain were serious highlights in my life! Contrary to popular belief, the life of the professional photographer is rarely glamorous. I normally return from a day of shooting tired, sore and often dirty. Then the real work begins. The hours of tedious culling and editing late into the night. But there is one part of my job that totally curls my toes. I am thrilled every time I get to shoot food. The food shoot is always the highlight of the week. Allow me to describe... I […]

Apr 20

by Nikki Cole in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: documentary photographer, haiti, hands up for haiti, volunteer opportunities in haiti

Hands Up for Haiti – Imagery and Fundraising

I'm so happy to announce a new development that holds great significance in my life both personally and professionally. I have just been accepted to join a group of medical professionals and volunteers with Hands Up for Haiti on a trip to Cap Haitien, Haiti in January, 2016. The group will be working to deliver medical services and supplies to people in the area and I will be documenting the trip. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to use my photography skills to give back. Ever since I started shooting professionally, I've considered myself a story teller. And with as many happy stories as I've told, I knew I wanted to tell the stories of people who need help. I believe this is the perfect opportunity. I'd love to tell you a bit about Hands Up for Haiti. HUFH was founded in 2010 in response to the devastating earthquake in the region. They were directed at that time to Cap Haitien, an area less known than the capital Port au Prince and less affected by the earthquake, but in real need of medical care. Since 2010, they've planned several trips per year back to Cap Haitien. Their mission statement […]

Apr 17

by Nikki Cole in Corporate Photography Blog 0 comments tags: Boston event photographers, boston professional photographer, corporate event photographer, event photographers in Boston, photographers in boston, professional photographers in boston

Your Guest Photos – Candid vs. Grip and Grin

Today, I hope to introduce you to a new, fancy photographer's term. The famous (or infamous) grip-and-grin photo. When planning to photograph a corporate event, I'll always ask my event planner whether they want candid photos, grip-and-grins or a mixture of both. If this is the first time we've worked together, they'll often not know the difference between the two. So let's start there. Candid event photography helps to tell the story of your event. When taking candid photos, I normally stand further away from my subject and photograph them interacting naturally. The subject should not know they are being photographed. In order to be great at candid photography, you've got to be patient and observant. You've got to study your subject and know when something interesting is just about to happen. Then you've got to capture the moment at just the right time. I've always thought my background in event planning has made me better at candid photography. I've been studying guests at special events for decades! Grip-and-grin photos (or more formally called posed photos) are the exact opposite of candid images. Posed photos require the photographer to approach the guests and ask if they would like […]