I am walking into the sushi place thinking once again: “She is pregnant and should be easy to spot in this small restaurant.” Coincidently, my client was thinking the same: “How will I recognize Niki?” She even discussed it with her colleague, who answered: “Pregnancy and baby photographer? I think I might know how she looks.” Regards to Eva! Finland is such a small and cosy place…

And so I walk in, hat and all, and of course we recognize each other immediately. My troll Finnish kicks in, after almost 15 years of living here I think I can get along quite well. It’s the same kind of feeling when one goes for a run. You think you look like a supermodel from Nike ad, slender and graceful. People around think that you move like a gorilla escaping from a ZOO… Same thing with the language. I feel like I can get along. All I get is the wondering looks… Like this time. Again.

And my client says: “But I am Australian! I don’t speak Finnish almost at all.” Yes, an Australian with a Finnish name, I might add. It got me puzzled.

The day of the shoot comes not too long after the snow fell. We agreed on a belly painting and it was to be something related to the natural and earthy way of living that my client loves and enjoys. Laura, my talented and beautiful stylist, did a tremendous job again. About half way through the shoot we agreed to take the painting off to get some images with just “naked” belly. Shower, rubbing, soap, nothing helped! Now we had a huge belly with a spoiled painting on it. Laura did a tremendous and thorough job. And also instructed us that if the paint would not come off, we should try some baby oil. But there was no baby and so no baby oil in the appartment of my client’s Italian friend.

Italian, did you notice?

Olive oil.

Yes. The highest quality and freshly imported.

My big thanx to all the ladies that participated on the success of this shoot. I can’t wait to photograph the little baby! ♥♥♥

PS: The vegeterian sushi was excellent there. It’s difficult to find a good sushi place though. Do you know one? Care to recommend it to a sushi-lover?

PS2: Still in time for the pinning contest – it’s fun and easy - participate!

From one of my recent newborn sessions. What an adorable little bunny… Despite the darkest times of the year, we got very lovely results! Many thanks for her invaluable help to Irene (my right and left hand and my consciousness!). ♥♥♥

PS: Don’t forget, to win a free session with me, read the do’s and don’t of my new contest Pin to Win!

I am both a bookworm and a barbarian. Yes, I admit, I scribble to books when I find an interesting passage (thank you, Apple, for iPad, in our household it literally saved a smallish forest). Quotes inspire me. I have always searched for new ones. Today I would like to share the five that made it to my January Words of Inspiration list.

I am currently reading the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I consider it a very well written book that makes me want to change the world. I have a distant feeling that I know on which side of the black&white world division of Mr. Jobs I would fall, but I don’t care. So the first quote must be the one he and I share a passion for. Originally attributed to Leonardo da Vinci (though I suspect already the artists of Altamira knew it’s meaning): Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Recently I searched for a piece of good advice from famous female business leaders. Sadly, after the departure of Sari Baldauf, there are not that many on the high tec side of the world, and so I turned to the good old paradise of cosmetics. Coco Channel once said: There is time for work and time for love. That leaves no other time.

One that floated on FB couple of days ago (and just when I needed it!): For every sixty seconds of anger you loose one minute of happiness.

Should I have a bad day, I always rely on Mr. Churchill. There is plenty to choose from, but recently I keep returning to: Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. If I may boldly add, I believe you need to learn from your previous failures as well. Simply springing up back on your feet with a broad dumm smile on your face seems not to be enough anymore…

And since I am reading the biography, few words from Steve Jobs. Now, you would expect me to quote something technology or visionary related. I must disappoint you. The following words are from a note that Mr. Jobs wrote for his wife Laureen at the occassion of their 20th wedding anniversary: Years passed, kids came, good times, hard times, but never bad times.

This is something we all wish to have written to us by our loved ones. And not just spouses, friends too! I am writing it now, though some years ahead of the 20th anniversary of our friendship, to one beautiful woman. During our (too short, always too short!) meeting over the Xmas holidays, we took a walk to create a little visual documentary of her ripe state. But we had so much to talk about after months of not seeing each other that I barely remembered to pull out the camera before sun started setting. The light was fading away quickly and it was getting really cold. But we made a few!

PS 1: May I add words of my late grandmother, a quote # 6 (cheers for the bonus!): A woman can’t wish for more than easy labors and an easy death. Good luck, my BFF, I hope the little one will come shooting right out of you with no pain involved at all! ♥♥♥

PS 2: Leave me a comment with your favorite quote, there is NEVER enough of the good ones.

The other day a 12-year old daughter of my dear friend asked me: “When you were my age, what did you wish to become when you grow up?” I could not remember. To buy some time I asked what she wants to become when she grows up (an actress, poor lamb, that is a choice totally unrespected by her father) and then I asked my friend, her mother, what she wished to become when she was 12 (an actress or alternatively a singer, both in a way happened, since their family is totally musical and she organizes amateur theatre plays here and there).

Interesting, I never dreamt about being an actress or a singer. Neither I wished to become a doctor, another popular choice (money and respect, who would not want it?). Then I vaguely remembered that I wanted to be an Indian warrior at the age of maybe 8 and after that the memories started pouring in: Sherlock Holmes, a hunter in a Canadian forests, a veterinarian, a person who trains dogs for blind people, a dancer in a movie (I know -> *scratching head* ??crazy??) and a book writer. Pretty much in this order and some of them simultaneously. But somehow throughout all that I always, always, always wanted to be a witch. Yes, a witch. As in the hunchbacked female with a black cat on her shoulder and a wart on her nose, mixing some secret ingrediences in a pot, while murmuring unrecognizable words through purple vapour of an interesting odeur. Not incantations, just words, something along the lines: “If this potion doesn’t turn green with golden stars during the next ten seconds, then I am doomed, since noone will ever come to buy anything from me ever again in the next 200 years.”

And I even trained a cat to sit on my shoulder.

Yep!

General wisdom has it that if you wish for something, it will become true. I wished for so long and so hard to become a witch that surely I have acquired a few magical talents. For example I can predict future. In the Czech republic we have had a long history of female prophets, starting with princess Libuse who had visionary powers and had foreseen the seven hills of Prague growing into a marvellous city: “I see a great city whose glory will touch the stars.” That indeed happened and thus all Czech women have a drop of the visionary powers in their blood. Me too.

You don’t believe me? I promise to persuade you instantly. Watch the photos below (and since it’s Monday, please turn the volume on and listen to the phenomenal Ella Fitzgerald performing You are the sunshine of my life).

These images are of my very favorite customers. For the third time I had the pleasure of photographing them. We took images on a tiny beach in Matinkylä, it was over in 45 min and resulted in 40+ unique pictures. I adore this couple. And I feel so honored to be part of their lives.

And my prophecy is that THIS BABY IS GOING TO BE SO LOVED. ♥♥♥

PS1: What were you planning to become when you grow up?

PS2: If you were to give a title to the first image above, what would it be?

And one last thing – it’s hardly a secret that I love getting new fans on my Facebook page – make my Monday happy and give me 10 new ones among your friends, will you?

Hello, I am Niki and I am from Cheb. Cheb is a small town in the Czech republic, near the border with Germany. When I mean near, I mean 5 km from the border with both former Eastern Germany and Western Germany. And when I say the Czech republic, you might recall Czechoslovakia, which is not Yugoslavia, as some people thought when I lived in Holland. They pittied me for having a war ongoing in my country. I objected at first, but soon I realized that people bought me drinks out of pity, so I stopped objecting and started getting dizzy. (well, not, but you get the point)

But before this turns into a dispute over the geographical ignorance of some people, let’s go back to my hometown. Especially given my own ignorance in this field. After all when choosing the country to move to, I was seeking a place with warm sea, loads of sunshine and dark guys. Oh yeah, look at me. Hello Finland!

Neeeeevermind… (*blushing a little*)

Back to original subject. My hometown. A king’s town. At least in the medieval times, which left us a legacy of a ruined castle built in 10th century with a 18,5 meters tall Black tower made out of carefully carved blocks of black stone called tuff, which is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. (me so smart, nah? right, thank you, Wiki ) Where exactly did we get the tuff rocks in the middle of Europe, you might ask? Well, you see, we have own small volcano there, near my hometown. (Un)fortunately it is no more active. And the castle is beautiful and I was fortunate enough to agree with my customers that we were going to portrait their family right there.

The castle closed 10 minutes before the session started and we did find some more or less children unfriendly objects around the place (ranging from empty beer bottles to small plastic bags of clear purpose). It is a borderline town and as such it suffers from many flaws, but it is my hometown and I will always like it. But we photographed and had fun and it was very different to be able to communicate with the children in my own mother tongue – it felt like flying compared to limping. The children were the sweetest and best-behaved two little creatures I have met in a long time, the parents were so much in love and when you will view the images you will discover a secret – there is a third offspring on the way. The family was a blessing, I could not have resisted and asked for a playdate – which was successful and fun-filled experience. I hope to meet you soon again and I hope you will like your preview. ♥♥♥

HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SLIDESHOW WITH AWESOME IMAGES…

but my trusty iMac is slooooooow and unresponsive and despite my heroic efforts (defragmentation, moving files to another hard drive, cleaning with Onyx etc. etc.) it is still not on a par with its good days, or even worse days. Bear with me, the images will be up soon.

The images can now be found here. three times hooray to Lion!

PS1: As with all castles in the Czech republic, there is a legend connected with the Cheb castle as well. It has been rumoured that ghosts of murdered generals haunt the castle. One evening in a pub under the castle, a master wheelwright boasted that he is not afraid of anything and that there are no ghosts in the castle. Noone succeeded in talking him out of the silly idea. He wanted to prove it’s all just old-wife’s tale. But the moment he reached the bridge to the gate, the gate opened and out drove a carriage surrounded by knights. Flames were coming out of horses’ nostrils. The wheelwright saw himself as a prisoner behind the carriage. He dragged himself home and after telling everyone what he saw, he fell to the ground dead. Take it or leave it! And below still two images from the castle.

“Cuttle-fish” by Jaroslav Rona, a Czech painter and sculptor – displayed on the rampart of Cheb castle.

The gate and the Black tower. Image courtesy of some tourist with a camera.

PS2: Who dares to guess the thickness of the Black tower walls? The best guess wins a little surprise!

Some clients are gifts.

Meet the Future Dad (who also goes by nickname Iamadoringmywife).

He’s just writing the 5 things he loves about Her.

Meet the Future Mum (who is also known as Bigsmileandbeautifueyes).

She was getting ready for the shoot. The (golden) hands belong to the great and much talented Elvi Mast.

The Future Mum and Dad wanted serene and peaceful images. I am happy to report that I failed to fulfil their wish and instead I captured who they really are. Awesome, fun, madly in love. Friendly and creative. A gift for any photographer. I can’t wait to come back portrait your little one…

PS: They even agreed to recreate the scene of how they met and fell in love. Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl who worked during summers as a shop assistent. One day in the shop came a young man in need of shirts. He got personal assistence and she got a customer, who came back for more shirts, and more shirts and more shirts, until he came back for a kiss. ♥♥♥

Before kids I was a busy logistics manager in a large international company. Always on the move, travelling a lot, working too many hours… enjoying life at the same time, yes. Then I got pregnant. In Finland a maternity leave starts a month before the caculated due date. As the lst day in the office was aproaching, on the outside I played cool and kept joking with my colleagues that I don’t care anymore for what is going on in the company since I am leaving in three weeks… two weeks… 4 days…

But inside, I panicked. I was scared to death of what I expected to be an utter boredom, the first month of the maternity leave, when you are at home, maybe complying with the books and nesting a little, but generally doing NOTHING. Coincindentaly my dear dearer and the dearest hubby’s birthday was coming up and I decided to give him an original present – own magazine. I called it Nikity Fair, inspired by the classic portrait of Demi Moore on the 1991 cover of Vanity Fair taken by Annie Liebovitz. The magazine and its cover were a success and fun to create and kept my mind distracted from the nightmares revolving in my head.

I didn’t anticipate the everlasting effect Mrs. Moore’s portrait was going to have on me. Until the cover in August 1991 I have not seen a fully naked ripe body and it took many years after to see one again (my own). But now I have so many opportunities and I feel blessed that the society finally considers a ripe body to be a beautiful art of nature, instead of a somewhat fat and clumsy state that one needs to get rid of asap.

A pregnancy lasts 9 month, and yet it’s such a fleeting moment at the same time! Especially the second time around…

I love photographing pregnant women. Celebrate their beauty. Show it to the world. I want every one of you, who carry a tiny act of love inside your bellies, to feel glamorous, exquisite and special. Because you are. ♥♥♥



styled by multitalented Laura Naumanen

If you are pregnant and you want your beauty to be captured in a timeless, classic, elegant and extraordinary, yet slightly provocative manner, you came to the right spot. I am looking for 4-8 models to work with me on the RIPE pregnancy theme before I launch it for my customers. I am looking for mums-to-be, whose belly already shows. You must be a little adventurous as well. And willing to sign a model release in exchange for a free shoot and two (2) free digital files of your favorite photos. Get in touch, I promise you won’t regret. ♥♥♥

I love it.

My phone is ringing. I pick up. And from the other side of space I hear a honey voice. The sweetness, yes, yes, but especially the color – deep brown and yellow, all golden and glittery… And the smell – of spice and warmth and sunshine… No wonder that I later learned that this beautiful young lady is a blues and jazz singer. Of course she is!

I had a blast. I enjoyed spending the time with you so much! I can’t wait to come back to capture the little one. ♥♥♥

Piiip piiiip.

Bloody alarm.

Get up. On the way to bathroom pick up few toys and put them in place. Make a mental note of daughter’s doctor appointment while brushing teeth. Make a list of groceries to buy while brushing hair. Choose clothes and get dressed. Wake up kids. Kiss them and play with them. Read them a story while making oatmeal porridge. Make beds. Open window. Listen 2 seconds to birds singing outside. Make peace between quarreling kids. Prepare all they need for hobbies in the afternoon. Find home project that son is supposed to bring to school today. Find favorite toy that daughter wants to bring to daycare today. Survive kids getting dressed. Agree with kids who folds and puts in shelves all the extra clothes scattered around. Go pick up forgotten pair of socks from under the dining table. Put dishes in dishwasher. Make mental note to get appointment with a hairdresser. Start reminding kids that you need to leave soon. Go change, your clothes is stained with porridge. Put makeup on while being on the phone with your sister/friend who needs you to pick up her kids today. Make peace between quarreling kids. Get kids in the car. Drive to school. Kiss. Hug. Drive to daycare. Hug. Hug. Kiss. Kiss. Explain that you won’t be late today. Dry daughter’s tears while your heart is bleeding with sorrow for leaving your kids. Leave daycare. Cry on the way to your car after seeing your daughter’s sad little face pressed against the window. Fix makeup. Drive to the office.

Be beautiful and smart. Shine.

Happy birthday, my friend. ♥♥♥