moments by danielle nicole
the story of
Hello Loves!
Meet Danielle Nicole
Luxury Photographer. legacy Storyteller. Educator. cattleman's wife. stay at home mama.
I photographed my first paid session in 2016 and since then I've spent the last decade creating an experience build for busy mamas and wives-to-be.
I offer a luxury, full-service photography and videography experience rooted in storytelling and legacy. I believe your images deserve to live beyond a screen, becoming heirlooms your family returns to for generations. Every session is thoughtfully guided, deeply intentional, and designed to feel both effortless and meaningful.
100+
Wedding days celebrated
300+
sessions photographed
a lot
times I've said "perfect!"
10
years in business
featured in
Let’s Start At The Beginning
browse the timeline below to see my journey!
In 2025, I launched Rise to Luxury Retreats, hosting my first all-inclusive luxury retreat for wedding photographers and videographers in Colorado with educational speakers, styled shoots, and full wedding content days at luxury venues. I also kicked off my coaching program for photographers seeking to build sustainable, Christ-centered brands that honor family, faith, and legacy. As I step into 2026, my focus is clear: serving fewer clients more deeply, mentoring the next generation of creatives, and continuing to build a legacy-driven business.
2025
a new era
My love for storytelling started young. After years of borrowing my mom’s camera and creating family home videos on a pink Barbie camcorder, I received my very first digital pink Polaroid camera in 2008. From that moment on, I was hooked on preserving memories and turning everyday moments into something worth remembering.
2008
The Beginning
2016
First Wedding
In 2016, I photographed my first paid senior sessions and stepped into a bigger creative world as my university’s football team photographer and a contributor to the school newspaper. That same year, I photographed my very first solo wedding—for a Jewish couple, completely for free—and fell deeply in love with the elegance, emotion, and legacy woven into wedding days.
After relocating from St. Paul, Minnesota to eastern South Dakota in 2021, I invested in my first mirrorless camera and began rebuilding my business from the ground up. I photographed countless family sessions—many for just $50—while pouring thousands of dollars into education and mentorship. This season shaped my foundation and commitment to excellence.
2021
Starting over
2022-2024
growth & recognition
By 2022, I captured 25 weddings in one year, built an associate team to better serve couples, and photographed over 100 family sessions—while welcoming my first baby in July. That season refined my priorities and vision. It all paid off with being honored with multiple industry awards, including Best Luxury Photographer & Videographer of the Year by Global Wedding Awards, featured interviews in Voyage, CanvasRebel, and BoldJourney, and Luxury Photographer & Videographer of the Year 2024 by North America Business Awards.
Our double rainbow baby arrived in 2025! Her fast, unmedicated birth is quite the story. She is so sweet!
Sissy
Our big boy--you can find him outside, always helping me cook, and begging to go drive a tractor. His tractors fill my living room and you can find him sneaking snacks all day.
Little Man
My husband puts up with all my crazy home and landscape remodels, all while taking cate of his cattle, helping out on our family's farm, and working as an custom applicator.
hubby
meet my family
I’m a stay-at-home mom who loves slow mornings, sourdough on the counter, food made from scratch, and raising my children with intention for Heaven. I’m a mama who values simple living while intentionally building a legacy for my family.
my perfect day includes rocking babies and digging in the garden
I grew up on a large crop farm, raised around showing livestock and horses in 4-H and FFA, and spent long days outdoors. Hard work and responsibility were simply part of everyday life. Growing up that way taught me resilience, patience, and a deep respect for the rhythms of life. In the spring, we watch calves be born and you'll find my babies on my lap in the fall inside a tractor or combine.
i'm a farm girl at heart
I also coach and mentor established photographers through my coaching program and course, "The Legacy Maker Photographer," where I help creatives grow sustainable businesses rooted in purpose. My heart is to equip photographers to serve their clients with a Christ-like approach—building businesses that honor family, faith, and legacy, even with babies on their hips.
coach to other photographers
In 2025, I launched Rise to Luxury Retreats and hosted my first successful retreat in Colorado. The experience featured four speakers, five elopement-style styled shoots, twenty-five models, and three wedding content day shoots with full vendor teams—created to pour into wedding photographers and videographers through elevated education and meaningful community.
luxury Styled Shoots & retreats host
I’m a certified Showit Design Partner and luxury website designer for photographers through Danielle Nicole Designs Co. I truly believe everyone has their own special calling and gift from God, and I love helping creatives bring that to life online. I design websites that feel beautiful, functional, and intentional—spaces that really showcase the heart behind your work.
I love to design luxury websites
Mount Storm King
Probably the scariest hike I've taken at the very top with a HUGE dropoff.
The Badlands
Ever stand off what feels like a thousand foot drop off on the side of a clip in the badlands at sunset? Highly recommend!
The Beach
I lived a whole summer 100 feet off the beach in South Carolina in 2018, for missionary and discipleship training!
Mount Rainier
My favorite mountain ever: Mount Rainier in Washington State. We had a snowball fight up there and it was epic.
Some of my favorite adventures
I personally was not a fan of Vegas and In-N-Out and was extremely disappointing.
Las Vegas Burgers
There were so wildflowers and bears walking around! Loved all the hikes here!
Glacier Park
The most epic, stretching 16 mile hike up to Grinnell Glacier!
Highland Trail
My all-time favorite beach ever.
Cannon Beach
A 16-mile, 9 hour hike straight up a glacier. My biggest mistake was packing a couple cans of soup we were too busy to eat...
grinnell glacier
Another epic hike! Almost fell off, don't tell my mom. :)
Angel's Landing Hike
Seaside Beach, Oregon
I've always wanted to ride a bike down the west coast--so fun!
Spent the night in a yurt. It got down to 20 degrees (felt colder) and our tiny propane heater froze.
Montana Yurt
I grew up skiing and snowboarding every week in the winter with my siblings and dad.
Skiing / Snowboarding
Horseshoe bend was stunning, being pelted by a sand storm was not fun.
Horseshoe Bend
I'm still really disappointed we never saw any bears on this hike!
Grinnell Lake Trail
In college, I was an athlete on the UofM Equestrian Team and also I threw shotput/discus for track and loved weight lifting.
Lifting & Sports
close this
I had no idea when I started "Picture My Heart Photography" back in 2016, it would turn into a full-time job. After 12 years of working in the medical, event planning, customer service fields, I feel so blessed by how this business allows me to work from home and raise kiddos in a healthy, endless opportunity, and God-honoring environment.
As a type two on the enneagram, you already know I love serving people. This pairs perfectly with photography, maybe even a little too dangerously. Is over-serving a thing? Anyways, just like God talks about in Ecclesiastes 3, photography is my calling--my God-given work, for "such a time as this" in my life.
photography changed me
when i became a mom
Marriage & Motherhood
Whether it’s your marriage, your motherhood journey, or both, I take the time to understand why your images matter to you, what moments you want to remember, and how to make the experience feel effortless and authentic.
Over time, we build a friendship that allows me to anticipate your vision, guide you with care, and create images that aren’t just beautiful—they feel like you, now and for generations to come.
choose your experience:
Don't Miss the Tea
Be the first to know—always. When you join my email community, you’ll get first access to booking dates for sessions and minis, early invites to special events, and behind-the-scenes updates before they ever hit social media.
Be the first to know—always.
