Nikki Hansen doesn\u2019t consider herself a foodie. But she is one of the most in-demand food photographers in Madison.<\/p>\n
Fifteen years ago, Hansen began her photography career taking photos of her kids, then expanded to weddings and portraits. \u201cI always found it fascinating how beautiful food could be,\u201d says Hansen.<\/p>\n
Yet her interest in shooting food didn\u2019t 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 \u201chard lighting,\u201d a photography technique that creates shadows and a stark contrast between the photo subject and the background. It\u2019s a style that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how restaurants got to know me,\u201d she says. Hansen estimates she\u2019s worked with between 100 and 200 local restaurants and food purveyors since then. \u2013Emma Waldinger<\/p>\n
Camera Eats First<\/p>\n
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\u2019s evening and you\u2019re not shy, turn on your flash.<\/p>\n
Winter Sports<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Illustration via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Karaoke Song<\/p>\n
\u201cBette Davis Eyes\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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Illustration via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Rum Kick<\/p>\n
Any kind of rum drink that\u2019s fun, I\u2019m down for. I\u2019m thinking of \u201cWe Met on Ashley Madison\u201d at Public Parking Bar. [My family goes] to Butterbird a lot and I really like their draft cocktails\u2009\u2014\u2009and<\/p>\n
then [my husband and I] are definitely taking a Jell-O shot or two when we\u2019re there.<\/p>\n
Who Would Play You?<\/p>\n
Kaitlin Olson from \u201cIt\u2019s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.\u201d She\u2019s so funny. I\u2019m not as funny as her, but I would have my character be funnier than I am in real life. I\u2019m definitely kind of weird and quirky, which I\u2019m happy to be.<\/p>\n
Alternative Career<\/p>\n
I could see myself maybe learning how to be a handy ma\u2019am and helping other women in my neighborhood learn how to fix their stuff.<\/p>\n
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Illustration via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Favorite Decade<\/p>\n
The \u201980s because of how good the movies were\u2009\u2014\u2009\u201cComing to America,\u201d \u201cGhostbusters\u201d and \u201cBack to the Future\u201d\u2009\u2014\u2009and the nostalgia. Also, the McDonald\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Emma Waldinger is food editor at Madison Magazine.<\/p>\n
\u200bCOPYRIGHT 2025 BY MADISON MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.<\/p>\n