We had the good fortune of connecting with Nichole Kathryn Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nichole Kathryn, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At the center of everything I do, I have one core belief — that every person deserves to truly see themselves. Through my portrait photography and my work as an intuitive, I get to witness the most beautiful transformations happen right in front of me.

In the studio, I watch women walk in guarded and leave glowing — not because I did anything magical, but because I created a safe space for them to just be. When someone sees themselves in a photograph the way I see them through my lens, something shifts. It’s one of my favorite things in the whole world to be part of.

In my intuitive sessions, I help people reconnect with what they already know deep down — their own wisdom, their own worth. It’s gentle, it’s personal, and it’s always a privilege.

Whether I’m holding a camera or holding space, my purpose is the same: to help people feel seen, loved, and a little more like themselves when they leave than when they arrived. That’s the gift I get to give, and honestly? I never take it for granted.

Two women pose with hands on hips, one in black and white, the other in color, both with wavy hair.

Two women with curly hair, one with a white background and the other with a dark background, both wearing black clothing and red lipstick.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think I became an artist the moment I was born. I saw the world differently, felt things more deeply, and for a long time I wasn’t quite sure where I fit. But creativity became my voice when words weren’t enough. It was how I made sense of everything around me.
My path has been a beautiful, winding one. I started as a fine artist — painting, drawing, pouring myself onto every surface I could find. That evolved into graphic design and marketing, then into art direction, and eventually photography became the place where everything converged. Looking back, I can see now that my intuitive nature was quietly at the pulse of all of it. Every creative decision, every composition, every connection with a subject — it was all being guided by something I didn’t yet have a name for.

And here I am, 54 years into this life, still creating and still sensing. Still lit up by both.

Was the journey easy? No. I spent years feeling too sensitive, too in tune, too much for the spaces I was in. What I once saw as a curse — this deep feeling, this heightened awareness — I now understand as my greatest gift. It is the very thing that allows me to see people the way I do, to capture something true in a photograph, to hold space for someone in an intuitive session in a way that goes beyond the surface.

It has all come full circle. My art and my intuition were never separate — they were always one. And knowing that, living that, sharing that with the world through NKstudios is something I don’t take lightly for a single day.

What I want people to know is this: what makes you different is what makes you powerful. I built an entire body of work on that truth — and I’m just getting started.

And right now, I’m pouring a lot of love into Season 2 of The She Spark™ podcast — and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s coming. If you’d like to be a guest on future episodes, reach out to me at nichole@nicholekathrynstudios.com.

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Two women, one in sunglasses and a towel on her head, sitting outdoors; the other in black and white, smiling with hands near face.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Arizona isn’t just a beautiful desert — it’s a beautiful oasis. Our state is known for its resorts, restaurants and golf, and there is truly no better place to relax and reboot, especially in the fall and spring when the weather is absolute perfection.

I’d start our morning with a walk around Camelback Mountain. It’s breathtaking and such a good way to ease into the day. Then I’m taking you to Swan Pilates for a private reformer session — it’s a precious little studio and Heidi is hands down one of the best instructors I’ve ever had anywhere. Seven years in and I’m still obsessed.

After that we’re heading to Luminosa beauty bar in Arcadia. It’s owned by a lovely mother and daughter duo — Rachelle is the manicurist and her daughter Chanel is the aesthetician. They treat all of their clients like VIPs! It’s one of those neighborhood businesses that just makes you feel good. Then we’d pop over to Uchi in Old Town Scottsdale for lunch and some great conversation.

For dinner, you have to experience both Veneto and DiMaggio’s on separate nights — one is this warm, intimate old world Venetian Italian and the other is an ode to familial New York Italian. And if you’re in the mood for a great steak, City Hall is always a trusted standard.

If we get lucky and have a great band it town, I’d take you to a concert — either at the MIM or Scottsdale Center for the Arts. Live music is always good for the soul.

And we are ending the week at Elements in Paradise Valley for sunset. The food is fabulous, but that sunset over the desert… That’s the moment you’ll take home with you.

Two women, one smiling in black and white, the other with hand on face and colorful, both wearing white blazers.

Two black and white portraits of women, one with long hair and a sleeveless top, the other smiling with wavy hair and a blazer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I’m being honest, my clients deserve the first shoutout — always. Every single person who has trusted me with their story, their vulnerability, and their presence has shaped me into the artist and guide I am today. They show up so bravely, and they inspire me more than they’ll ever know. This work only exists because they believed in it first.

And then there’s my Mom. She was my first example of what it looks like to live intuitively and with integrity — to trust the unseen, to lead with love, and to honor the gifts you’re given. Even now, especially now, she remains my greatest source of encouragement. Some of my most profound growth has happened since her passing, and I feel her cheering me on every single day. Her love didn’t go anywhere — if anything, it got louder.

To my clients and to my Mom — thank you. You are woven into everything I create.

Website: https://www.nicholekathrynstudios.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nicholekathryn

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@theshesparkpodcast

Two black and white portraits of women, one with long hair and a white top, the other smiling with windblown hair and a dark jacket.

Split image of a smiling woman with long blonde hair on the left and a woman with long hair in shadow on the right.

Image Credits
All images © 2026 NicholeKathrynStudios.com – Portrait of Nichole by Ashley Rae

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