READING TIME: 4 min 5 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/01/2024
UPDATED: 10/03/2024
Nikki Daskalakis didn’t begin her professional life behind the camera. Instead, she spent years as a social worker at the Baltimore City state attorney’s office, working with the special victims unit—a position that profoundly shaped her approach to photography. “Bearing witness to people’s most challenging experiences taught me to leave space for emotions and discomfort to live,” she reflects, “and to never try to change a truth into something neat and compact.”
This background is what separates Nikki’s photography from the rest. Her empathy and intuition are the cornerstones of her process, allowing her to connect deeply with her clients and their stories. “While the work is entirely different now,” she explains, “the way I show up for you is the same: in place of prescribed approaches and a need to make it all fit nicely, I let my empathy and intuition lead the way—and neither have failed me yet.”
Photography, for Nikki, began as a form of escape. Still entrenched in the emotionally heavy world of social work, she found herself overwhelmed. "While I was still knee-deep in that previous life—and feeling crushed by the weight of it—a friend brought over his camera," she reflects. What started as a creative outlet quickly transformed into something more. “It quickly became a fixation,” she says. Her camera collection expanded, and soon, people began offering her money to capture their moments. "People started asking to pay me money (what?)," she laughs, recalling her disbelief.
It wasn’t long before she decided to leave her job and pursue photography full-time. But she didn’t leave everything behind—Nikki still carries the lessons she learned as a social worker, figuratively stashed in her “Prada fanny pack.” Those years of experience gave her the ability to navigate life’s messiness with grace, and she applies the same resilience and adaptability to her photography.
Though Nikki’s work is instinct-driven, it is also technically sophisticated. “I know my way around my camera like I do the best place to grab a glass of champagne and a caviar treat in SoHo,” she says confidently. Her photos aren’t the result of happy accidents but rather years spent honing her craft. She shoots both film and digital, knowing that each medium has its unique strengths.
“I can light anything up,” Nikki notes, adding that it’s not always sunshine and blue skies when capturing life's most significant moments. She thrives in the unexpected, where things "go left," as she puts it.
Complicated family dynamics, high-stress moments, or unexpected changes in plans? They don’t phase her. “Years in the court system will do that to you,” she says with a knowing smile. Whether it's a tense moment between family members or a bride caught in an emotional whirlwind, Nikki remains unfazed, capturing the scene with an authenticity that is at the core of her photography.
Nikki Daskalakis's team prides itself on creating work that is grounded in honesty. “We tell the truth—both in our conversations and our documentation,” Nikki explains. The team’s approach is to show up without any preconceived notions or pressures, allowing each moment to unfold naturally. “We use light like it’s our love language (because it is),” Nikki says. “We read the room, respond, and then shoot our ever-loving hearts out with unapologetic artistry and awe.” It’s this ability to adapt that makes the team so skilled at capturing moments others might miss—the fleeting glance, the candid laugh, the unscripted emotions that make each event unique.
One of the defining aspects of Nikki Daskalakis Photography is its commitment to personalization. The team takes on only 12 weddings per year, ensuring that each client receives undivided attention and a fully customized experience.
The team prides itself on showing up prepared yet flexible. “We show up prepared but perceptive. We respond to the energy that surrounds us and capture the things begging (or whispering) to be captured,” Nikki says. Rather than sticking to a prescribed plan, they trust their intuition and expertise to capture what matters most. “A shot list could never compete,” she adds. This personalized approach ensures that each wedding or event is documented in a way that feels true to the people and emotions at the center of it.
While Nikki Daskalakis and her team are based on the East Coast, they frequently travel for destination weddings and luxury events. They love destination weddings, especially in Greece, Nikki says, adding that it’s a favorite location because of her family’s roots there. The team has worked with clients in a variety of stunning locations, always bringing the same level of care and attention to detail no matter where the event takes place.
In addition to weddings, the team also works with high-end hotels, properties, and brands. Whether they’re documenting a high-end wedding or working on a commercial project, the team’s dedication to quality and authenticity remains unwavering.
For couples preparing for a wedding or event, Nikki’s advice is simple but profound: Let your guard down and pick a photographer you can do that with.” The team believes that the best photos come from moments where the couple feels truly comfortable, able to relax and be themselves. This is why Nikki and her team prioritize building strong, trusting relationships with their clients, ensuring that each person feels at ease in front of the camera.
For Nikki and her team, photography isn’t just about capturing images—it’s about telling stories. The essence of Nikki Daskalakis Photography lies in its ability to document the beauty of real, unguarded moments and turn them into lasting works of art.
“What ignites us is you, at-ease and in your truest essence. Your full-strength, potent-as-ever self. The look you gave when no one was watching. The thing you were going to say before you overthought it. The truth and beauty that lies just beyond the buttoned-up. We’re here to break through to that uncontainable magic—and then bottle it up in legacy-level art,” Nikki explains.
