What does it mean to truly capture the raw, real moments of family life? For Nikki Boon, it’s all about embracing imperfection and celebrating the everyday chaos. Nikki is a family photographer whose gritty, black-and-white portraits show the beauty of life as it happens. Her work, reminiscent of Sally Mann’s, has been shown all over the world, redefining how we think about family photography. After months of rescheduling and some tech hiccups, I finally had the chance to sit down with her. Here’s what she had to say.

Living in a Shed: Nikki’s Unexpected Home Setup

When Nikki popped up on video, she started with a quick apology, saying, “Sorry, I’m in my son’s room because it’s carnage in my house right now. We live in a shed. There’s no rooms in our house, just one shed.” Of course, I had to ask more about that.

She explained, “It was a pump shed, like an irrigation pump shed. We put walls and a concrete floor in it, and that’s our house. It’s actually really good, until you want to do a Zoom call.” And if that wasn’t wild enough, she added, “I’ve got six teens in the house right now. Four of them are ours, and then we’ve just got extras.” Can you imagine the energy of six teens in one house?

Parenting Teens and Photographing Life’s Chaos

I had to ask how she navigates having teens while also photographing them. Nikki said, “Yes, I still have the camera on them. And actually, it’s funny that older two, they love it. I guess it’s all they’ve kind of known. The younger two are funny because we brought them up to be so free and independent, and now the little buggers are, and they’re hardly ever home.”

She shared that it’s tricky to catch them these days. “When they are home, it’s usually just to eat so they can go out again,” she laughed. Her older kids are at university and only come home during breaks. “When they’re home, it’s really good because everyone’s together, and they’ve got a really good relationship. They all get on really well.”

I asked if her kids bond over how much she photographs them, and she quickly replied, “No, they could care less about it. They don’t talk about it. They don’t look at the photos. They don’t know it to be a thing. That’s just what happens in this house.”

Capturing Authentic Family Moments

Nikki’s ability to capture raw, authentic moments is unmatched, and I wanted to dig into her process. She explained, “If you’re going to make photos that go beyond the surface, you need to go beyond surface. The only way I can do that is by doing the time, by putting the time in.”

For Nikki, this means spending an entire day with a family. She immerses herself completely into their lives, starting the night before and staying throughout the day. This extended time allows her to blend into the background, capturing moments as they naturally unfold. “It’s a full day. I’ll be there the night before and then the whole day. That’s because if you’re going to make photos that go beyond the surface, you need to go beyond surface. You’re not just making photos for 14 hours. The photos you make are because you’ve spent the 14 hours.”

She emphasized that spending so much time helps her capture genuine interactions and connections. “By the end of the day, they see you as something other than the photographer,” she shared. The long hours mean that families are more likely to let their guard down, giving her the chance to document their real dynamics – the love, the chaos, and everything in between.

This immersive approach also helps Nikki overcome the initial self-consciousness families might have when they know a camera is present. She explains that by spending enough time with them, they stop worrying about the camera. They just get back to being themselves, and that’s when the magic happens. 

For Nikki, the beauty of family photography lies in the unplanned and imperfect moments. She captures the “in-between” – the quick glances, the small gestures, and the quiet connections that are often overlooked but hold the most meaning. Her patience and dedication to letting the day naturally unfold allow her to create work that feels deeply personal and true to the family she’s photographing.

The Magic of Black-and-White Photography

Nikki’s iconic black-and-white photos are stunning, and I wanted to know why she chooses this medium. She said, “We don’t live in black and white; we live in color. The minute I freeze 1/500th of a second and make it black and white, it’s a whole other way to see the world.”

She explained how black and white helps her focus on the essentials: “Color can be a distraction,” she adds, “I’m drawn to the dark, gritty elements, and it’s tricky to get that when you’ve got brilliant yellows and greens in the mix.”

Nikki also sees black-and-white photography as a creative constraint that sharpens her skills. “The minute you strip something away, you have to get more creative within that realm,” she said. “It’s almost like stripping away one of your senses so the others become more heightened.”

Lessons from Parenting and Photography

Throughout our chat, Nikki kept coming back to the idea of surrendering control. “The best photos come when you’re giving what’s happening your profound attention,” she said. “You’re 150% present, almost to the point where you’re not worried about the outcome as much as being in it.”

Her kids have taught her so much about the art of letting go. “I’m not afraid of showing people the reality of who they are,” she said. “My kids taught me that. They’ve taught me to slow down and to let go of the shoulds.”

Nikki’s approach to art and life is rooted in curiosity. “The real buzz of it all is being curious. Kids remind you how to feel things deeply, how to slow down, and how to really see.”

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Nikki is quick to credit the photographers who have come before her. “We’re all standing on the shoulders of others,” she said. “If you’re lucky, someone will use your work as a stepping stone to the next level. That’s how art flourishes.”

She believes in the power of shared creativity. “Your photos aren’t yours,” she said. “Once you put them out into the world, they belong to everyone. And that’s beautiful because it allows the art to grow and evolve.”

Final Thoughts

Talking with Nikki reminded me why I love doing this podcast. Her raw honesty and thoughtful insights left me inspired to approach my own work with more curiosity and surrender. As Nikki said it’s not about holding on to the moment. It’s about being in it and making something amazing out of it.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in your art or your parenting (or both), I hope Nikki’s words encourage you to let go of control, be present, and just see where the process takes you. Who knows? You might just create something extraordinary. Good luck! 

About Niki Boon

Niki Boon is an internationally awarded documentary family photographer with a list of accolades longer than most can mention. She’s influenced a generation of family photographers with her gritty and bold black and wild photos of seemingly feral children, and now she’s here to talk with us about her process, her practice and surrendering to the unknown.

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