Nina Bashaw shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nina, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about my business is that photography is simply showing up and taking pretty pictures, almost as if it were just a hobby. I’ve even had people say to me, “must be nice to not have a real job” or “must be nice to devote so much time to a hobby that anyone can do.” While creating beautiful images is absolutely part of what I deliver, there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes to make that possible.
Beyond the camera, I spend countless hours editing, answering emails, writing contracts, sending invoices, and keeping my website and blog updated. I dedicate time to building meaningful relationships with other small business owners, staying up to date with social media trends and algorithms, and budgeting carefully for slower seasons. Continuing education is also a huge priority for me, because I want to always be growing and providing my clients with the very best experience possible. Even something as simple as scouting out new parks or unique locations is a part of ensuring I can offer fresh, personalized content for each client.
At the end of the day, yes, you’re hiring me to take a beautiful photo, but what you’re really investing in is all the thought, preparation, and dedication that goes into creating an experience that feels effortless for you and results in images you’ll treasure for years to come.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What I do is often described as classic fine art photography with a modern edge. My approach is to keep posing effortless and natural so people feel like the best version of themselves in front of the camera. I want my work to feel timeless but never stiff, images that are beautiful now and will still feel meaningful years down the road.
Right now, I’m branching out into more food photography and growing my branding photography across the states. I love traveling, experiencing new cultures, and having fun adventures, so I want to combine that with my business and offer food, branding, elopement, and micro wedding photography beyond Florida, throughout the United States, and for destination weddings worldwide. I love how intentional these celebrations are, and there’s something really special about capturing them in unique locations.
For me, photography is more than just creating pretty images. It’s about building trust, helping people feel at ease, and telling their story in a way that feels genuine and elevated at the same time. What excites me most is getting to balance these different areas of photography, from weddings to food to branding, and finding new ways to tell stories that connect with people on a deeper level.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is my marriage to my husband. We’ve been married for over 22 years, and we were just in our early twenties when we got married, babies really. Even though we were young, I’ve never once regretted marrying him, and I don’t ever wish we had waited until we were older. I truly feel like we were ready for this journey together.
In terms of how this relationship has shaped me, he has helped me gain confidence in ways I never thought possible. Even as a child, I struggled with believing in myself and knowing my worth, and he has been there to show me that my dyslexia doesn’t make me less capable or smart. He’s helped me see that I am fully capable of tackling hard challenges, and that asking for help doesn’t make me a failure, it just makes me human.
He has also encouraged me to embrace my creativity and value the work I do as a photographer, even though I don’t have a traditional 9-to-5 job. And on a lighter note, he thinks I’m hilarious, so I’m grateful he laughs at my jokes and my weird little comments.
He is truly my best friend, my biggest supporter, and someone who has helped me see my own strength and worth. I love that man!
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been the loss of my brother (he was only 27 when he died of cancer) and the recent passing of my mom. It might sound cliché, but the simple hope that the Bible teaches that we will see our loved ones again in paradise has been what sustains me. Death is devastating, and watching multiple family members suffer and die from cancer is one of the most painful experiences I think a person can endure.
People often talk about PTSD from childhood trauma or war, and I absolutely understand and respect that, but I don’t think there’s enough discussion about the emotional toll of losing someone you love deeply, especially when you’ve been involved in their care and end-of-life support. It’s exhausting, physically, mentally, and emotionally. You often feel helpless, yet simultaneously as if you’re not doing enough. And when they pass, you’re left trying to navigate life again, figuring out how to grieve while returning to your routines. If they had been sick for a long time, caretaking had become your life, and suddenly that chapter ends, leaving a strange, disorienting transition.
For me, prayer, attending religious meetings, and leaning on the support of friends and family have been essential. Allowing myself to feel the grief rather than bottling it up has been crucial in maintaining my emotional health. Exercise has also been an essential outlet for releasing pent-up frustration and anger. My faith has helped me avoid becoming bitter or letting grief completely take over. Of course, I still get sad. I still cry when I think of all the life my brother didn’t get to live. I grieve his life. I still cry remembering how much my mom will be “missed out on,” even though her passing hasn’t been but two years ago, and not hearing her laugh makes me cry. (she had a great laugh)
But I hold on to the hope that in the future, I will see them healthy, strong, and whole again in paradise, perfect. That vision brings comfort, and even a smile in the midst of grief. It’s that hope that keeps me moving forward and helps me cherish the love and memories I still carry with me every day.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Am I a public figure? Not really. I hardly ever share personal photos of myself, even though I know I probably should. I’m Gen X, so we didn’t grow up with a cell phone to capture our every move or take endless selfies, and sharing a lot about my personal life is just not something I’m used to. Do I edit my headshots to look a little better than I do in person? Guilty. Nine times out of ten I’m in gym clothes, so if I share a polished, edited headshot of myself, I guess press charges!
Beyond that, what you see is what you get. I’m 100 percent a girly-girly. I love shoes, and I am weirdly obsessed with Gel X nail tips. But I don’t put on a false persona, I hope, at least. I want people to see me as a kind, compassionate, selfless person who genuinely loves people. So yes, the public version of me is the real me, maybe just with sky high heals, a little extra polish and fabulous nails.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I don’t think I was born to be a photographer. I’m not really a believer in fate or that we’re destined to live a certain life. What I do know is that I was born a creative person. Growing up, I wanted to be a cosmetologist, something with hair, nails, the beauty industry. When that didn’t work out, I went to school for massage therapy and did that for about ten years.
When I eventually came back to photography, I remembered just how much I love and honestly thrive in a creative environment. Even if I had never turned photography into a business, I know I would have found a way to work in some creative field, whether as a cosmetologist or maybe an interior designer. What I do know for sure is that a corporate job, filled with traditionally “smart” people (good at math and spelling) would have been a disaster for me. I admire those who thrive in that world, but for me? I would have crashed and burned. Creativity is where I come alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ninabashaw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninabashaw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninabashawphotography/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/ninabashaw/
Image Credits
Nina Bashaw Photography
