Nikita Gross Photography

Lindsay and David Cincinnati Engagement

Nikita — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:17:54 +0000

I had a blast photographing Lindsay and David around downtown Cincinnati. They are laid back and fun, my favorite kind of people to be around. I am super excited for their wedding at Leaping Lizard later this year. Lindsay is not only gorgeous, but also a talented musician. She is the singer in a blues band called Tempted Souls. You can check out her band Saturday at Grandview Tavern in Kentucky.

Allison and Josh Bell Event Centre Wedding

Nikita — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:51:14 +0000

My first wedding of the year couldn’t have been a more perfect one. Allison and Josh were married the elegant Bell Event Centre. Allison was a stunning bride. I adore how much Josh let her know over and over again how beautiful she looked. It was a gorgeous spring day surrounded by lots of smiles and so much love. I was truly wowed by how gracious Allison, Josh, and all of their family was. Thank you so much for including me in your special day!

The amazing vendors who helped make Allison and Josh’s day extra special…Venue: The Bell Event Centre Officiant: Bill Proud Cake: The Bonbonerie (I had a slice of the opera creme and it was heavenly) Flowers: Swan Floral Dress: Martina Liana Hair Flower: Sara Gabriel Shoes: Jimmy Choo Makeup: Kelly Ledford with Cinci Makeup DJ: Party Pleasers My amazing assistant/second shooter: Andrew Ducker

Allison’s super hot Jimmy Choo shoes.

Niki

Nikita — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:25:41 +0000

”A friend is a hand that is always holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is always there and will always care. A friend is feeling forever in your heart.”

I loved her from the moment I met her. I think we were 18 or 19, we both worked as waitresses at a local restaurant. There was just a connection, the kind of connection you cant explain. She had a fun personality I wanted to be around. She made me laugh until my belly hurt. We spent 5 years working together, joking and sharing secrets. We became best friends, there is nothing in the world I would give up for this kind of friendship. Though our lives are totally different, she is a wonderful mother of 5 beautiful children, I have devoted my life to my art and work, it doesn’t matter, 14+ years later and we still laugh like teenagers, the connection is still there. She gives it to me straight, even when I don’t want to hear it, she encourages me and inspires me. She has always been there for me and I appreciate her more than she knows. Her heart is so kind and full of love. I know am a very lucky girl to have a friend like her in my life.

Christina and Brandon’s Cincinnati Engagement Session

Nikita — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:16:22 +0000

Christina and Brandon, both from Cincinnati met while attending Miami University. After college they moved to Chicago where they now live. While they were in town last week we wandered around Findlay Market and Eden Park to capture these colorful images. I had a great time getting to know them and hearing the amazing story about how Brandon proposed on Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago. He had all of her friends and family in town to help celebrate after. I love surprises, it was a super sweet story. I cant wait until their fall wedding at The Bell Event Centre later this year.

Laura and Eric’s Cincinnati Engagement

Nikita — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:55:42 +0000

Laura and Eric came all the way from Virginia Beach, where they are both architects for their engagement session. Laura who is from Cincinnati met Eric while attending grad school at the University of Cincinnati. After school they both got jobs in Virginia Beach, where Eric is originally from. They decided they wanted to have their wedding here in Cincinnati. I was thrilled when I received an email from Laura saying she was looking for a photographer who is fun, has a bit of an artistic edge, and finds beauty in even the smallest things…totally me! I am looking forward to their wedding next month at the beautiful Krippendorf Lodge at the Cincinnati Nature Center.

Music Makers

Nikita — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:13:26 +0000

I love surrounding myself with creative people, I feel like I feed off of them. Music is probably my biggest source of inspiration, so I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with some very talented musicians over the past couple of months.

This is my friend Jeremy and his band The Tongue and Lips. From a recent review by Zach Braun ” With a tight rhythm section that veers from Jazzy explorations to Sabbath-style crushing heaviness, reverbedout guitars, and a vocalist that sounds like Captain Beefheart on meth, The Tongue and Lips are one of the best new bands I’ve heard in forever. ” Perfect!

Their debut album is being mastered in Los Angeles and will be available very soon. You can see them every Monday in April at MOTR Pub in Over the Rhine. Another one of my good friends, Shawn and his band Jody Stapleton and the Generals. They are putting the finishing touches on their debut album. You can check out a few of their songs here. I love this review of them from Cincinnati.com “If you wax nostalgic about the musical style of the 1970s, well, then Jody Stapleton and the Generals is where you should start getting your modern day fix. The four piece has mastered that decade of sound, but has also added some upbeat, modern pop beats into the mix to create a well-rounded, enjoyable experience.”

After the promo shoot I got to check out their show at The Drinkery in Over the Rhine.And this is the beautiful Abiyah, a beautiful musician and poet. A wonderful description “Abiyah has an edge that you rarely find in contemporary women singers—White-bred and pre-packaged, ol’ girl isn’t. As a writer, she’s passionate and onstage she sings, rebel-yells, dub-chants or raps about empowerment like she’s this cunning linguist who studies different languages and stirs them up in her own little dutchie. Abiyah skirts convention, and there are obviously some influences from a wicked orgy of pop-culture pacesetters” Yes!!!! Big thanks to Christine Rice for the amazing make up on this shoot!

The Creme Event Los Angeles

Nikita — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:25:38 +0000

While I was in California earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending on of the most creative wedding events in the country. The Creme Event is a wedding show created by the lovely ladies of Bash, Please. It was held at the Book Bindery in Culver City. I was surrounded by the best of the best in the wedding industry. There were many times throughout the night I caught myself having to pick my jaw off of the floor I was so blown away by all of the amazing vendors and super cool ideas they presented. I didn’t take my camera, but I captured as much as I could with my iPhone. Below is a gallery of some of my favorite images from the night. Check out lots more images from this event at Green Wedding Shoes and 100 Layer Cake.

The highlight of the night for me was seeing the BHLDN fashion show. These gowns are so simple and so gorgeous.

California here I come!

Nikita — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:57:22 +0000

I remember being in third grade when I was first introduced to California. Everyone got a state to do a project on and the state I was given was good old California, a dream was born in the head of a nine year old. When I was in high school I got obsessed with California again after reading The Electric Koolaid Acid Test, a novel by Tom Wolfe about Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. When I was a little girl it was the beaches and gorgeous weather, as a teenager the obsession came from the lifestyle. I wanted to grow up to be a hippie who rolled around in a school bus just like the Pranksters did. I finally had my first trip to California a couple of years ago and it was everything I imagined and so much more. The laid back vibe, the killer weather, the gorgeous landscape. a dream come true! We had the amazing opportunity to cruise down Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, what an adventure. It was truly one of the most amazing and beautiful experiences of my life. Today I am hopping on a plane for another 2 week California adventure. I am taking lots of cameras and lots of film so I will document it well.

Here are a few pictures from my last trip.

Hi there!

Nikita — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:01:13 +0000

“In order to create, you’ve got to have energy; you’ve got to have clarity. You’ve got to be able to catch ideas.”

David Lynch

To me, one of the most important parts of my creative process is taking the time to be quiet, to stop thinking and worrying and wondering and to just listen. I believe silence truly is golden. When you allow yourself time to withdraw from all of the chaos that surrounds your life everyday, you finally get the chance to hear what you have to say to yourself. You cannot force creativity and if you spend your life chasing other people’s dreams you will never be satisfied or feel fulfilled. Over the past couple of months I have been spending a lot of time alone, just listening to myself. Sorting through my thoughts, but mostly just being quiet. I became a photographer and artist to satisfy an intense urge I have to express all of the feelings and emotions stirring inside of me . For as long as I can remember I have been an observer of people. The way they speak, their body language, the way they interact with each other. I see the world for all of it’s beauty and it’s darkness and I appreciate them equally. It’s been nice to get back in touch with this part of me without my camera, just taking it all in, being present in the moment. I feel refreshed and utterly inspired. For those of you who think I have disappeared, I promise I haven’t, just taking a little time to feed my soul and listen to my muses. I will be sharing lots of new work soon. Until then, enjoy this amazing weather and have a wonderful day! xo Nikita

Katie and Chris Cincinnati Art Museum Wedding

Nikita — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:38:59 +0000

Chris and Katie’s wedding is my last wedding of the year and let me just say I am going out with a giant pink bang!! This wedding was full of so much style and personality. I loved everything about it. See Chris and Katie’s Keeneland engagement session here.

Katie’s dress she purchased at European Bridal fit her personality perfect. So cute and so much fun!
I love the pink shoes! All of her girls signed special messages to her on the bottom.

Yes, even her ring is pink!Katie is an amazing designer, she made her invitations and program with artwork she created herself.All of the girl’s wore gorgeous magenta dresses accesorized with a Neckalina. Katie and her BFF Valerie are the duo behind KaVatee, an awesome company that makes these 3 in 1 accessories. They are so hot! Check out their website here.
Chris looking dapper. I love this one!
Katie and Valerie, the duo behind KaVatee.

The Cincinnati Art Museum, one of my new favorite venues! Thanks so much to Meggie, the museum’s wedding coordinator for once again for making sure things ran flawlessly.
Katie’s creativity was everywhere. Almost all of her decor is DIY. She created all of the canvases and framed signs as well as the centerpieces. Check out how cool her card holder is. And just when you think the party is over….Katie comes out with a pink limbo stick, YES!!
Thanks to my awesome assistant Andrew for capturing this one, the limbo winner!