Michael

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I passed by Michael one day while walking in Eden Park about 4 years ago.  He was in a lawn chair next to his truck carving walking sticks.  I had my camera with me so I asked to take his picture.  The picture sat on my hard drive forever as I got sidetracked with work.  One day I was cleaning out folders and found it.  I ordered  a print in hopes that one day I would be able to give it to him.  Last year, out of the blue I thought about Michael and his picture.  I was on my way to a shoot so I cruised by Michael's "spot" in the park and sure enough, he was there.  I stopped nervously to give him the photo.  I handed it to him, let him know when I took it and was on my way.  As I drove away I realized I hadn't even told him my name.  I felt so rude, so I drove back by to properly introduce myself.  When I walked up to his truck, which he was now sitting in, my heart melted.  On his lap he had the picture I had taken and another from over 30 years ago.  He was looking at both with a huge smile on his face.  He told me how much he loved his picture and that his children would love it too.  We talked for awhile and he showed me some of his sticks and how how makes them.  They are beautiful pieces of art.  I am so happy I went back and got to see his excitement and learn more about him, of course I bought one of his sticks.  Since I had my camera with me, I asked to take another picture.  Hopefully now that the weather is nice I can catch him again to give him a new print.

This was the one I took 4 years ago.

Here is Michael last year.I think Michael takes baths in the fountain of youth.  These are the two he was looking at when I pulled up. Michael making his sticks. 

New Website!

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It had been way too long since I had last updated my website.  I have been in the process of rebuilding for years now.  I would work on it for a few months then get busy and neglect it again.  The company I used for my old website was great, but I needed something a little more user friendly when it comes to updates.  A friend of mine turned me onto Squarespace.  Once I started playing around with it, I knew I found my new platform.  It is very easy to navigate and to update which is key for me.  I feel like I am a pretty good photographer, but when it comes to web design I need things to be simple.  I also need to throw a shout out to GoDaddy.  I have been with them since I bought my first domain.  Their customer service is out of this world.  The representative sat on the phone with me for over an hour explaining SEO and other foreign web lingo to me.  Im telling you, I am web illiterate, I feel like I have a basic understanding now. They also made the transition to a new site so easy.

  With my new site I decided to have sections for all of my work, not just weddings.  I have debated with myself over and over about having a seperate art site.  Lately a lot of my wedding clients are mentioning some of the more artistic shoots I have done when discussing what they want for their wedding.  I absolutely love that.  I decided that all of my work represents me and my aesthetic, so why not just put it all out there.

 I added an inspiration blog to my site called The Daily Dose.  It is my little place on the web where I can share what inspires me.  It's like a my virtual scrapbook.  I hope you are able to find it inspiring as well. :) I am still using this blog to share all of the awesome weddings and photo sessions  I shoot.

My new site still has the same web address as my old one www.nikitagrossphotography.com.  I promise to update it often, so please stop by and say hello!

2014 Portrait Project

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When I first started photography school over 15 years ago I would take my camera with me where ever I went.  Every birthday party, cookout, and visit to my mother's was documented in some way.  I would take long drives out Rt. 8 in Kentucky to take pictures.  I was learning and getting lots of practice,  I was discovering my passion for taking intimate pictures of the people and places around me.   Through the years as I turned photography into my main source of income and I started to notice something was slowly getting lost, my enthusiam for personal work was disappearing.  I stopped taking my camera to family functions, because my passion turned into work, in my head every picture I took would add more work to my growing heavy load.   I was warned by many people that this would happen, always claiming I wouldn't let it happen to me.  As I was looking back through my images from last year I noticed something was lacking, my life.  I had documented the lives of  my clients, but had no images of my own family and friends.  I document tidbits of my life everyday via my iPhone, so I'm not claiming to be a total slacker, but as much as I love that phone, my family and friends deserve nice professional images too.

On January 1 I decided to do what a lot of photographers do,  I started a daily photo project.  Since my favorite thing to photograph is people, I decided to start a portrait project.  At first,  I was only going to photograph people I know, then I decided to expand it to photographing strangers as well.  My goal is to shoot a new person everyday for as long as I can.  So far it has been an awesome experience.  My camera is with me a lot more, so I am not only photographing people, but also my surroundings, and the things I see.  I have been getting so much positive feedback, some people even telling me they cant wait to be part of the project.  It has been challenging at times, but I needed a good challenge.  I am excited to see where it takes me throughout the year.

 I posted some of the images on my Facebook page this month.  I think will also do a monthly post on my blog.

I want to thank everyone for participating so far.  Here are some of my images from January.          

Sweet Little Chase! Cincinnati Family Photography

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I photographed Rachel and Casey's maternity session a couple of months ago.  I was so happy to get the email from Rachel telling me little Chase was born right before Christmas.   I headed to their house last week to meet their little guy.  He is precious.  It was really sweet seeing Rachel and Casey nestle into their new life as parents.  Chase was a dream to photograph.  He was nice and comfortable being close to mom and dad.   

Meet June! Cincinnati Newborn Photography

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I remember the first time I met Emily to discuss her wedding.  I was already booked on her date and she jokingly told me "that is unacceptable" and that she was changing her date so I could be her photographer.  She made me and the work I do feel so special that day.  She changed the date, and I photographed her engagement session and wedding.  I got to know her and her husband Jay through the years.   We stayed in touch via Facebook.  I was thrilled when they sent me a secret message telling me they were having a baby and wanted me to photograph her.  It's really nice to be part of and document all of these beautiful moments in my client's lives.

For their maternity session I took them to some of my favorite places in Kentucky. The new family.    Emily is a doula,  she provides support and education to expecting mothers during all stages of child birth.  She offers classes to help couples make informed decisions about their care.

Emily had a beautiful home birth with her midwife and her husband.  It was an amazing story to hear.    

Rachel and Casey's Maternity Session

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When I added up how long I have known Rachel and Casey, I was left feeling a little old....over 15 years, wow!  We all went to the same teeny tiny high school.  I was excited to meet them at their Kentucky farm for their maternity pictures.  It's nice to catch up with people I haven't seen in years.  Rachel, with her cute little baby bump, was such a trooper baring the cold long enough for me to get some of my favorite maternity pictures to date, thanks girl.  I am excited to meet their little one next month!

Charlotte is Two!

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This photo session is super special to me.  Margie has been a good friend of mine for many years.  She is a total sweet heart that lights up any room she is in.  She and her husband, Joey's wedding was one of the first weddings I ever photographed.  Through her love and kind words about my work  I was able to build my business to where it is now.  I would say almost half of the weddings I have shot can be linked back to Margie some way or another.  I am so thankful for that.  I saw her at Stephanie and Chris' wedding a couple of months ago when she was pregnant with her second child.  We got to catch up and I told her I wanted to photograph her new family to thank her for being so good to me.  :) Her daughter Charlotte is turning 2 so we decided to make it a family/2 year session.  She is a mini Margie for sure, so full of personality!