A photographer and friend with a welcoming heart, warm presence, and deep desire to archive all of your life’s sweetest chapters.

Hello! My name is Nikki, and I am truly delighted that you’re here. Celebrating with you, one chapter at a time. I am a wedding and family photographer for the sentimental and nostalgic. I have been a wedding and family photographer for over 10 years and I have such a heart for storytelling and documenting your life for you to keep forever.

I am rooted in Chicago, IL, but will happily pack my bags to travel to wherever your story takes you. From the exchanged promises on your wedding day to the "tippy tappy" little feet running around your home for an intimate family session, I treasure the opportunity to document every season of your life.

my Story

My love affair with photography began early, as I discovered the profound joy of making individuals feel beautiful and cherished.

While earning my doctorate in physical therapy, I nurtured this passion, steadily growing my photography business on the side. Upon graduating, the decision to pursue photography full-time was clear—I embraced it wholeheartedly and never looked back. The journey has been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to combine my love of creating and storytelling with the privilege of documenting the most significant moments in people's lives.

My photographic style is timeless, warm, candid, unposed, and real. I love photographing in a way that tells a story of who you are and who you love. I pay close attention to details and the unique connections between you and the ones you love the most, understanding that these photographs will be something you hold closely to your heart for years to come.

As a photographer, my love for documenting stories for others is rooted in my need to document my own. I have always been a very sentimental soul. I've kept every handwritten note, my fridge is covered with polaroids, I love journaling, and obviously love taking photos. Being able to keep my favorite moments in photographs brings me the greatest joy.

GET TO know ME

  • FACT #1

    I married my highschool sweetheart in 2018. We met at a football game, I bravely made the first move and “friended” him on facebook, and the rest is history.

  • FACT #2

    I have my doctorate in Physical Therapy but pursued photography full time after graduating and passing my boards.

  • FACT #3

    When I am not taking photos you can either find me working on house renovations with my husband, snuggling up on the couch to watch Pixar's Cars (for the 1,375th time) with my son, or searching for another treasure at an antique store or thrift shop.

  • FACT #4

    I have a 75 lb bernadoodle who is made of pure love and sass.

  • FACT #5

    My favorite place that I have traveled to so far is Iceland. My husband and I went there for our honeymoon and I dream of visiting again. Close seconds include Ireland and Colorado.

  • FACT #6

    When at a fancy restaurant I will always be ordering a seafood dish and the answer is always YES when the waiter asks "if I've saved any room for dessert"

Meet The Team

ABOUT THE NIKKI KATE ASSOCIATE TEAM

Sometimes I am booked for your wedding date, but I do have a wonderful team of photographers who will be there for you! Each member of my associate team has been handpicked and trained by me to ensure they capture the same timeless, warm, and candid style you know and love.

Every associate believes in my brand and has worked closely with me on many wedding days. Think of an associate as an extension of myself. All communication and planning before your session and wedding day will be directly with me. My associate will photograph your engagement session and wedding, while I will personally handle the editing to ensure the final images reflect my signature touch. This way, you get the best of both worlds: the personal attention and artistic vision of my brand, even if I'm not behind the camera.

the TEAM’S latest WORK

Celebrating with you, one chapter at a time.

Celebrating with you, one chapter at a time.

Celebrating with you, one chapter at a time. Celebrating with you, one chapter at a time.

THE BLOG

Enduring and authentic photography

I value the in-between moments that seem small but are so special, capturing the genuine, unscripted emotions that define your relationships ready to be taken down memory lane?

  • A Sprinkle Of Kind Words

    "It’s hard to put into words how incredible it was working with Nikki for our Sept 2022 wedding. Beyond the business aspect of it, Nikki is an incredible human and photographer! From the first time we met in person at our engagement shoot, Nikki just radiates positive energy. She made myself and my now husband feel so comfortable and natural in front of the camera. She captured everything we could have ever dreamed of on our wedding day-from the intimate moments, to the small details, to getting down on the dance floor-she didn’t miss a second. We have gotten numerous compliments on the photography from our wedding. If you’re looking for a kind, talented, and overall wonderful person to photograph your wedding-look no further than Nikki. She made our day so special and because of her we have a couple thousand beautiful photos to forever remember our special day! - Wallis + Sean

  • A Sprinkle Of Kind Words

    "BOOK THIS PHOTOGRAPHER. From start to finish, Nikki was not only our favorite wedding vendor, but also someone we could rely on for everything from timeline help to outfit choices, from teaching us how to pose for a photo to helping choose our bridesmaid colors. She brought so much excitement to our engagement and wedding that made the time leading up to and the big day so much more special. We loved her photography style so much that we adapted our initial vision to match her style and it was the best decision we made. Our photos are timeless, warm, so reflective of the overwhelming love we experienced that day, and already so very cherished. She captured every moment, every emotion, and every person exactly right." - Danielle + Jack

  • A Sprinkle Of Kind Words

    "Oh my gosh! Where do I even begin?! Nikki exceeded our expectations. She went above and beyond and I will never get tired of complementing her work and how amazing she is. From our engagement shoot to our wedding day it was all perfect. She has the sweetest soul and so passionate about what she does. Everyone loved her! She made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and just made our pictures so fun! Thank you Nikki for being the absolute best! Your work is beautiful! We have only seen our sneak peaks for the wedding, and they are perfection!! Thank you for capturing the best day of our lives and for making it so fun!" - Yesenia + Tony