We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Santiago a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures—of my family, everyday moments, anything. I never really thought about doing it professionally; I just liked being able to look back and remember the good times.
When I was pregnant with my first child, that feeling grew even stronger. I wanted to capture everything—the bump, the excitement, the little moments before life changed in the best way. At the time, professional photos weren’t something we could afford, but I still wanted those memories saved.
For my first Mother’s Day, my husband surprised me with a camera so I could start capturing our life as a new family. From there, it became a hobby I truly loved. I started taking photos for friends and family, and eventually, people in my community started reaching out too.
Now, I get to help others freeze those special moments in time—just like I wanted to do for myself. Photography has become more than a hobby; it’s something I genuinely enjoy and feel lucky to share with others.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a lifestyle photographer based in Central Florida, and I capture everything from couples and families to maternity, milestones, and more. What I love most about what I do is getting to be part of people’s meaningful moments—whether it’s a first date, a growing baby bump, or a family just being themselves. Every session is different, and that’s what keeps it exciting.
What makes my work special is the experience I aim to give my clients. I want everyone to feel comfortable, cared for, and genuinely excited about their photos. My goal is to create images that feel natural and timeless—ones you’ll want to look back on for years.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’d say a mix of patience, consistency, great communication, and kindness has played a big role in my growth. Patience helps me through the learning process and during sessions, especially with kids or when things don’t go as planned. Staying consistent has helped me build trust and improve over time. Good communication keeps everything running smoothly with clients, and kindness is at the heart of how I treat everyone I work with.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Like anything new, photography came with its fair share of learning curves. In the beginning, I had to really take the time to learn how to use my camera and figure out all the technical stuff that doesn’t come naturally at first.
Finding clients was also a big hurdle. I started with friends and family, but building trust in a wider community took time and consistency. Learning how to pose people, remember different angles, and direct sessions with confidence was something I had to grow into.
One of the hardest but most rewarding parts was figuring out my editing style—what felt like me. And of course, always being on the lookout for new locations to keep things fresh for my clients can be a challenge too.
But every session taught me something new. I’ve come a long way from where I started, and I’m still learning. That’s the beauty of it—there’s always room to grow.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photoswithnicole?igsh=a3diMWFvNXc4c2E5&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AsuPETW76/?mibextid=wwXIfr
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
