Nikki Hansen doesn’t consider herself a foodie. But she is one of the most in-demand food photographers in Madison.
Fifteen years ago, Hansen began her photography career taking photos of her kids, then expanded to weddings and portraits. “I always found it fascinating how beautiful food could be,” says Hansen.
Yet her interest in shooting food didn’t click into place until 2019, when she realized that by manipulating lighting, she could get the shot right every time. By then, she was working with longtime Madison Magazine Creative Director Tim Burton, who encouraged her to learn “hard lighting,” a photography technique that creates shadows and a stark contrast between the photo subject and the background. It’s a style that’s been particularly popular in food photography for the last decade. Hansen took on more food assignments for the magazine using her new understanding of hard light and, as they say, the rest is history.
“That’s how restaurants got to know me,” she says. Hansen estimates she’s worked with between 100 and 200 local restaurants and food purveyors since then. –Emma Waldinger
Camera Eats First
Move the plate over toward a window. Maybe hold up some napkins to either help reflect light onto the dish or block the color casts. If it’s evening and you’re not shy, turn on your flash.
Winter Sports
Ice skating at Tenney Park. I feel like if you live in Wisconsin, you have to have some sort of outdoor winter activity to look forward to or the winters can just be a little too much.
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Karaoke Song
“Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes. I sang it on my 38th birthday with my best friend, Sharon [Vanorny]. If I were a really good singer, though, I would try to do a P!NK song.
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Rum Kick
Any kind of rum drink that’s fun, I’m down for. I’m thinking of “We Met on Ashley Madison” at Public Parking Bar. [My family goes] to Butterbird a lot and I really like their draft cocktails — and
then [my husband and I] are definitely taking a Jell-O shot or two when we’re there.
Who Would Play You?
Kaitlin Olson from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” She’s so funny. I’m not as funny as her, but I would have my character be funnier than I am in real life. I’m definitely kind of weird and quirky, which I’m happy to be.
Alternative Career
I could see myself maybe learning how to be a handy ma’am and helping other women in my neighborhood learn how to fix their stuff.
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Favorite Decade
The ’80s because of how good the movies were — “Coming to America,” “Ghostbusters” and “Back to the Future” — and the nostalgia. Also, the McDonald’s toys, those cool Transformers ones. Man, that plastic back in those days? I bet you could dig it up in a landfill and it would still look brand-new.
Emma Waldinger is food editor at Madison Magazine.
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