Meet Nicki!

Hello, my name’s Nicki! I’m a photographer and designer in Los Angeles. I got my first gigs working for various music magazines after college and slowly started to pivot into fashion over the last 4 years.

I first met Corinne from Rule DD while we both worked for a designer about 3 years ago (thank you AQC!). Corinne noticed the product shots I was taking and - bada-bing, bada-boom - I started to shoot for Rule DD! It’s so fun shooting collections, and everyone involved behind the scenes.

1) What makes a good product photo?

This can be SO many things, but the top 3 I always look out for are:

Displaying the brand’s personality
Keeping concepts new and refreshing
Building the set around the product

2) What is most important in your studio space?

Besides a good lil’ speaker, what counts the most is having an overall setup I can groove with. Even with all the equipment you need, if the space is too tricky or just doesn’t flow, you may still not get what you’re looking for. It’s about making the studio work for you, not vice versa.

3) What is most important in a setting?

I’d say no rules really apply, if it captures the brand’s personality and ultimately doesn’t distract from the product. A reliable go to is always a solid colored seamless, but lately I’ve been seeing a lot more props and diorama inspired mini-sets coming into play which is fun.

4) Do you have any tips for makers photographing their own content?

Find what works for you and shooting new concepts will be a lot more fun. I already mentioned this above, but being comfortable with your set-up goes a longgggg way. Something as silly as a tripod you prefer can make your workflow so much easier. I’d also say... Take it easy? ☺

5) Any advice for using A phone camera?

Try and make all the other variables like lighting, backdrops, etc etc. as consistent as possible. If you’re using an iPhone, the AE/AF lock to keep lighting/colors consistent can be a huge help.