It is hard to believe but this photographer is only a freshman in college!  So shooting seniors comes naturally to her.

Nikki Krecicki’s career took off when she entered a photo of her grandmother in the 2010 National Geographic Photo Contest.  Even though the photo did not place, she received high regards.  After that, a photography agency contacted her about leasing her photo for Intel in the 2011 Consumer Electronic Show.  She ended up selling the rights to the photo and a couple of months later it was featured in their international commercial.

All of this and she is only 18!!

Below is a fun “Princess in the Pea” photo shoot that Nikki did this summer.  It really captures the fun, whimsical personality of her client and shows that every girl has a desire to be a princess!

Check out more of Nikki’s work here.  And to see the commercial in which her image is featured, click on this link…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_besvPAmnE

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?  My inspiration for the shoot was the Princess and the Pea Fairytale.  Every girl grows up hearing about princesses and happy endings so this was the moment to fulfill it and become one.

Where did this shoot take place?  I did the shoot in a local park under the willow tree in Charlotte, NC where I live.

Did you have help with the styling of this photo shoot?  Julie, the model, and I are great friends.  I knew she was obsessed with fashion and would have no trouble bringing clothes that would provide an airy, colorful feel to the shoot.

Where did the clothing come from for this photo shoot?  Most of the clothing came from Anthropologie, my favorite store!!

What camera, lens and equipment was used for this photo shoot?  I used a Canon 40D with a 70-200 2.8 lens and natural light.

What time of day did this shoot take place?  I love morning photo shoots, the grass is lined with morning dew and the light is soft yellow.  We started shooting at 7:15 in the morning.

What post-processing techniques did you use for this photo shoot?  I use pretty presets in lightroom and my favorite are honeyed light and daisy, to give it a nice contrast and yummy glow.

What is your favorite thing about these photos?  I love the color and whimsy of them!  This girl is very close to my heart and it was fun getting her dressed up and making her feel like a princess.

What is one piece of advice you could share with other photographers who want to get into the senior portrait market?  Senior photos don’t need to be boring!  You can go outside in the warm light and create a story with props and location that will be unique to your senior.  I love creating stores through photography, with detail shots and close-ups.  When you take the time to know the girls, they feel special and comfortable with you and that creates the best relationships and photos!  So go outside in the fields and natural settings.  This way you can bring props that relate to the girl’s dream and create a fantasy world!!