Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Acosta.
Hi Nikki, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey in Austin began in 2014. I was previously living in Indiana and had just freshly graduated from art school and was craving a fresh start in a place that not only welcomed the arts but also was rich in cultures from all over. Plus, being originally from New Mexico, I was desperately needing some proper Mexican food in my life! I had never been to Austin in my life and did the complete opposite of what any responsible, sane person would do…
Instead of carefully planning my move, securing a job and place to live, ya know, setting stones for security and success for myself. I decided to give myself a month to sell all my things and move to a city that I had only known based off of a month’s worth of Google searches. I told myself once I get there, I have a month to figure it out, otherwise it’s back to New Mexico and back to the drawing board. When I arrived, it seemed as if all of my senses came alive! I saw nothing but an explosion of color! Not just in the people, but everywhere you look, there’s art! You could smell someone’s delicious creations wafting off of food trucks, you can see it plastered on murals, hear it blaring off of the speakers from a local musician’s amp and even felt this commonality in having this creative ambition and appreciating “the struggle” in the air. Success as a creative just seemed to be evident everywhere you looked, and it felt like I had made it to the Emerald City. I remember my first steps along S. Congress taking photos of the people/street art and feeling like I had officially arrived home. I remember feeling tiny, like I had a sea of other photographers and creatives at every corner who knew more and were further along in their journey… but instead of feeling threatened by that aspect, it was more so inspiration at that point, and I wanted to just soak up everything I could. I knew the moment I hopped in my car and left my apartment in Indiana there was no question that Austin, Texas was where I belonged.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely has been one hell of a bumpy ride, and half the time I was riding without a seat belt! I think some of my largest struggles, especially in the beginning was underselling myself and my work. A lot of times my desire to just create, or have an opportunity would overpower my ability to properly put a price on my time and efforts. I think also finding a balance between making photography a business vs. a creative outlet has been a tightrope walk at times. Most of my work and services tends to speak more to other creatives, and I’ve learned that sometimes in order to make more of a living wage, having the ability to be versatile and shooting more consistently, and commercially is necessary as well. Any time I have needed to shoot more corporate-related work Id initially feel somewhat out of my element, but doing so has built some of my best clientele and made me a better photographer for making me step out of my comfort zone.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I had my start doing a lot of family sessions for Picture People and later managed a studio for a smaller local Austin company called Andrae Michaels. There, I managed both the Austin and Waco studios, where we would photograph hundreds of families each week. It really whipped me into shape in learning how to read people of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds and creating a comfortable atmosphere. I made the jump of being a full time photographer in 2018 and now am able to connect with people on a deeper, and more creative level by curating experiences that are focused on being totally positive and uplifting! I will always have an eccentric approach to new creative projects and love whipping out the props, lighting and all the bells and whistles, but am also starting to embrace a more stripped down, tactical approach to my business. I’ve learned it’s important to be flexible and multi dimensional.
When I originally based my business off of a collaborative atmosphere where clients can treat themselves to a few hours of getting pampered. Hair, and makeup services done by a local pro, your favorite playlist blaring, and a photo session designed to make you feel super charged with confidence. Self-Care Sessions are what I was beginning to base most of my business plan on, and I had hoped to make it a full experience that would hopefully be a new way to treat yourself to a “spa day”. 2020 on a calendar in January was looking to be my busiest year yet! Once March came around, my next six months-the rest of the year was completely wiped. Uncertain how to keep Self Care Sessions happening safely, I stepped away from the business and honestly struggled finding my way and finding another job from March to October.
In that time out of desperation to I launched an online shop over a weekend and made/sold polymer clay jewelry and needle felted keychains, I worked as a telemarketer who sold cleaning services to businesses in New York, I got hired as a freelance boudoir photography for a company who paid $10/hour for 6-8 hours of work and experience that was worth at least $100/hour. I was starting to get my groove but honestly felt this looming feeling that photography just needed to take a back burner… the world was on fire and I felt like my career needed to be in a direction that still needed to help others, but on a larger scale. Self-care can be so powerful in leading individuals to take on life in a new light, but I felt like I didn’t have the capacity on my own to host clients in a safe way that felt 100% comfortable.
Any big plans?
After many trials, let downs I was able to land an amazing opportunity working for The City of Austin as lead Graphic Designer and Art Director for the Transportation department. All I asked the universe for during my struggle while lockdown was happening was to find work was to find a job that allowed me to gear my creativity towards helping people’s way of living somehow. I not only get to be creative every day and be a designer, but the work I do is serving a purpose that benefits more people than just those who like to play dress up.
I still have the opportunity to get behind a camera and am even expanding my experience in video production! In so many ways, my six years of working in Austin as a photographer has given me all of the tools needed to take on this new role, and I couldn’t be more grateful for where I am in life currently. I now am able to cater to all demographics, and use my experiences in being able to work with such a large range of people in Austin has allowed me to give those people a voice in creating visual translations in working to improve the City.
Pricing:
- $200 1 hour photoshoot
- $150/hour events
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@magneticfocusphoto.coom
- Website: https://magneticfocusphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: @magneticfocusphoto
- Facebook: facebook.com/MagneticFocusPhoto
Image Credits
MUA’s: Jessica Garcia, Jess Webb,
