We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nikki Knight. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nikki below.

Hi Nikki, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

Speaking as a woman with a double-major Bachelor’s degree, who doesn’t use her degree in her work whatsoever, I would encourage students to consider more trade and creative options for careers before investing in college. I went to college because I did well in school, and was expected to take my next step in that direction, without any idea what I wanted to do in my life. I wish careers in trades and creatives were just as highly encouraged and valued as jobs that require traditional education. Whatever my children choose to do one day in their careers, I only hope for passion and drive.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have been in photography since I graduated high school, some 7 years ago. I have always been willing to try any and every craft. My mom and dad gifted me a starter camera for my graduation gift, and I immediately fell in love with photography. Since then, I have been soaking up every bit of knowledge I can find on how to be a better photographer.

I adore capturing images from people’s important moments and milestones in their lives. I’ve recently been focusing on Senior Photography. My husband’s job at a high school, and our involvement with student ministries in our church has led me to amazing opportunities to get to know and photograph students as they exit their high school career.

I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly in school. I held a lot of insecurities and missed out on so many opportunities for friendships due to fear of trying. I have grown so much as a person and love getting to pour into students and help them feel loved and known. I love getting to work with students and help them show off their individuality in their senior portraits. Hyping them up and creating an environment that allows them to feel beautiful and special is one of my favorite parts of the job.

I hope my clients, present and future, know I am always evolving as a business owner. My goal is to create sincere relationships that allow room for honesty. The last thing I want is for a client to be disappointed in a session or image and not communicate. I would cross an ocean to make my client’s photo dreams come true. Photography is really not about selling, but serving. A client will come back to you whatever you’re charging if they love how you treat them and how you conduct your business. I could sell the cheapest photography in all of Savannah, and they still would choose others over me if I don’t serve them well and produce a great product. It’s my goal to create a not only an excellent final product, but an excellent experience as well.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My degree in Strategic Ministry with an emphasis in Church Administration led me to my first job at my local church as a ministry assistant. Over the next few years I realized I had essentially topped out in my field and truly didn’t love what I was doing. As my husband and I grew closer to beginning a family, I searched for ways to do a job I loved, but one which would provide the flexibility to stay at home with our babies. Photography up until that point had been very much a hobby, with a few paid opportunities here and there, and I had been terrified to take the full-time plunge. Photography is such a competitive business, and my fear of mediocrity, not to mention failure, held me back for so long. I finally went full time in 2020, and have never looked back.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is knowing my images will be cherished across multiple generations. I recently went back to my hometown for the death of my grandfather. My mom and I pulled out the dusty cardboard boxes and filing cabinets full of photos. We sat and stared and admired the photos from my grandmother and grandfather’s wedding day. Their photographer captured that moment in time, and maybe never thought that 50+ years later so many people would be passing that photo back and forth around the living room, admiring the details of her dress, and commenting on how dark his hair was, and how in love they were. I love seeing my clients post their wedding photos on their anniversaries, or seeing them hung in their homes. But what I love more is that these images tell stories of lives that will be passed down for generations, stories of small details that may have otherwise been forgotten. They can live on for centuries if we allow it.

Contact Info:

• Website: lamaisoncreativeco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamaisoncreativeco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lamaisoncreativeco