The Black Editorial ™
The Black Editorial ™
Framing the Portrait of Nickii Kane
June 2025
Emotionally & Physically
Meet Novia Prince-Nesbeth, known professionally as Nickii Kane, a Jamaican-born creative with over 16 years of experience in visual storytelling and design. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (Graphic Design) from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and is now based in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Nickii wears many hats as a photographer, graphic designer, visual artist, video producer, and creative director, all unified under her creative studio, Nickii Kane Creates. Her journey began at age five with hand-drawn sketches and evolved into digital artistry by 13. When she discovered a pink Panasonic point-and-shoot camera, her passion was ignited for photography.
Over the years, she has partnered with both global brands and community-focused initiatives. Her career highlights include photography campaigns for Clarks’ 2020 Jamaica rollout, developing visual assets for Campari, Pepsi Jamaica, and crafting editorial imagery for Getty Images. Her collaborations span across National Commercial Bank’s Christmas ad, Wray & Nephew UK, Grace Foods, Dear Alyne Retreat, and rising artists through her mentorship programs.
Today, Nickii’s work centers on elevating brands and individuals through cohesive visual narratives.
In a moment of introspective stillness, the Nickii Kane channels serenity and strength, with natural tones of renewal and growth.
The Eye Behind the Lens
What’s the first image you ever captured that made you realize photography was your calling? Do you still see glimpses of that origin in your work today?
“The first image I captured that made me realise photography was my calling was a portrait I took of my brother shirtless with a black leather jacket in my parents’ room against a plain wall. I was around 13 at the time and I just started drifting towards photography through watching a lot of America’s Next Top Model and with my graphic design and doing it for around a year or two at the time I gravitated towards magazines with the photographs and layouts they used to design in the early 2000s. Capturing that simple, high‐contrast portrait felt electric it was the first time I saw the raw essence of light, shadow, and styling come together in a single frame.
Even now, I trace everything I do back to that moment. I still gravitate toward strong contrasts, minimal backdrops, and bold wardrobe choices—what I like to call “editorial essentials.” Whether I’m crafting a brand shoot or a personal portrait series, I lean on that same instinct: strip away distractions, let the subject’s character fill the frame, and marry photographic composition with graphic‐design sensibility. It’s a through-line from that leather-jacket portrait in my parents’ room to every image I create today.”
After 17 years of creating, directing, and building relationships, how do you keep your artistic lens fresh while managing the business of your creativity?
“I’ve found that keeping creativity and the business healthy boils down to two parallel tracks:
Cultivating Fresh Inspiration
Creative Sabbaticals: I carve out regular “play days” (whether a half-day each week or a weekend retreat) where there’s no client brief, just experimentation with new techniques, gear, exploration of new apps or researching creative trends.
Discipline Rotation: Every quarter I pivot disciplines one season I’ll deep-dive into portrait lighting studies, the next into motion-graphics or mixed-media art, so ideas cross-pollinate across my work.
Collaboration: There's a sense of synergy that collaboration holds when all parties are on the same page. Doing this with clients and friends helps to sharpen critical and creative thinking and execution. Another way is with side-project collaborations with other creators which can spark fresh viewpoints and keep ideas from going stale or feeling repetitive.
Streamlining the business
Systems & SOPs: I run Project management & administrative tasks through Notion (“Intake → Contract → Invoice → Delivery”) and automate where I can, for instance QuickBooks for billing allowing me to not constantly toggle between inbox and ideation.
Delegation: I outsource creative tasks, basic edits, and social-media scheduling to trusted specialists, which frees up the brain for high-level creative direction.
Time-Blocking: Mornings are sacred for creative work; during the day I reserve afternoons are for calls, contracts, and client check-ins and physical work (on site sessions, editing & designing). Clear boundaries like this keep both my artistic lens and business engine running smoothly.”
Nickii Kane working behind the scenes on a photo shoot, bringing together a talented team of creatives to craft something impactful. With every adjustment, conversation, and shared vision, the shoot becomes a reflection of collaboration, artistic synergy, and the power of collective effort to transform ideas into visual excellence.
Creative Direction & Power
Being a Creative Director, Photographer, and Visionary where do you draw the line between capturing a moment and curating one? Or is there even a line at all?
“I see curating and capturing as one fluid process. I set the stage selecting wardrobe, backdrop, and lighting to tell the story, then stay ready to press the shutter the moment real emotion or movement surfaces. The same process applies to other creative projects and tweaks accordingly, while keeping the client’s needs and comments in mind. Instead of over-directing, I give clients space to improvise and share their visions: whether it’s a genuine laugh in a photo or an additional idea that will amplify the work. That balance—curating the project or session and honoring what unfolds—is where the magic happens.”
As your camera doesn’t just take pictures it tells stories. How do you decide when a story needs to be raw and real, and when it needs to be stylized and elevated?
“I lean on the project’s core purpose and audience to choose the tone. The context in which the story is being told matters along with how you envision the stories being told. I take the person or client’s random brain dumps, visions and goals into consideration and with a blend of all these, the work will speaks for itself. All of which are aimed to amplify the core vision.
In practice, every project begins with a discovery call and/or a moodboard: we clarify whether we’re tapping into vulnerability or crafting an image of polished nature. Once that vision is locked in, the project is guided to honor the end goal, raw or refined will resonate most.”
People, Power & Presence
You’ve mastered the balance between client collaboration and creative autonomy. How do you ensure your voice isn’t lost in the noise of client expectations?
“I start every project by co-creating a clear creative brief and moodboard with my client—this becomes our guide. From there, I weave the client’s goals with my own signature style by suggesting visual “rules” (color palettes, framing choices, emotional tone) that honor both perspectives. At key checkpoints—sketches, test shots, mock-ups—we pause to compare against the brief. That way, I’m always intentionally guiding the narrative rather than reacting to feedback, and my creative voice stays front and center.”
You’ve worked across so many creative intersections; how do you build trust and intimacy with your subjects, especially when the project calls for vulnerability?
“I treat every shoot as a conversation, not a transaction. Before the project starts, I invest time in informal chats—learning what matters to them, sharing references, even laughing over random blurbs. On set, I cue relaxed prompts (‘tell me about the last time you felt truly proud’) so moments feel genuine, not staged. By creating a safe, empathetic space—where subjects know they’re seen and heard—they naturally lower their guard, and the most intimate and fitting images or moments emerge.”
Shot by Nickii Kane, these works capture the timeless beauty and elegance of women through a minimalist lens in two different environments.
Bottom Image: Getty Images x New Wave Ja
The Artist’s Evolution
If you could revisit a past version of yourself from your first year in the industry, what advice would you give her about power, patience, and pacing?
“I’d tell her to trust her instincts and set boundaries early—your creative vision is your superpower, so protect it. I’d remind her that great work isn’t a sprint but a series of deliberate steps; pacing yourself prevents burnout and keeps ideas fresh. And finally, to celebrate small wins along the way—every published photo or happy client is proof you’re exactly where you need to be.”
How has your personal identity evolved alongside your portfolio? Has there ever been a moment when your art taught you something about yourself you didn’t know before?"
“My early work leaned heavily on technical polish; today, I prioritize storytelling that reflects my Jamaican roots and my own journey of resilience. During a self-portrait series exploring identity, I realized how much I’d internalized other people’s expectations. And how liberating it felt to break those molds. That project wasn’t just a visual exercise; it taught me the power of authenticity, both in art and in life.”
Poised and powerful, Nickii Kane speaks to a story of self-expression through her self portraits with bold textures and intentional styling.
Legacy & Vision
You’ve built a career that balances beauty with business. What do you hope people feel when they look at your body of work decades from now?
“I hope they feel seen and inspired—like they’ve glimpsed a moment of honesty and soul combined. I want them to recognize that my work honored both creative integrity and purpose, proving that commercial success doesn’t require sacrificing soul.”
If your creative legacy were a portrait, what would be in the frame, and what would remain just out of view?
“In the frame: a warm, confident subject illuminated by natural light or a well-lit studio lighting setup, maybe with a hint of colored lights somewhere, surrounded by subtle hints of my graphic-design/ artistic tools—sketchbooks, Pantone swatches, a vintage camera. Just out of view: the collaborative energy of a tight-knit team, late-night brainstorming sessions, and the behind-the-scenes hustle that made every polished image possible.”
Novia Prince-Nesbeth - Nickii Kane
In this story: Photographer, Nickii Kane.
Getty Images x New Wave Ja, Art Direction: Christina Nwabugo; Production: Saffron Parker; Hairstylist: Joby Jay; Muse: Akina Eman, Amanyea Stines, Kalia Shea.
unmuted
Unmuted is a dynamic space where creativity speaks without boundaries. This section spotlights underrepresented artists, visionaries, and thought leaders through engaging articles, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights. Here, stories unfold, voices amplify, and artistry takes center stage.