about

Hi! My name is Nicole and I am a wedding, travel + lifestyle, commercial photographer, born (5th generation “Crucian”), raised and based in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, serving all three Virgin Islands, and available for travel worldwide. I am deeply connected to my ancestral lands, rich culture, and beautiful island community. I specialize in destination weddings + elopements, engagement + anniversary sessions, family portraits, and special events, with over a decade of photography experience.

Photography allows me to be honest, free and ever-present, always honoring my subjects and the world around me. I strive to produce imagery that my clients will cherish for all time; capturing the love, emotional connection, beauty, and energy experienced on their special day. I have photographed countless destination weddings for couples; from intimate elopements to lavish and fun-filled wedding parties, here in the U.S. Virgin Islands, throughout the Caribbean, across the U.S. mainland: New Hampshire, Arizona & California, and abroad, from the beautiful Algarve Coast of Portugal, to the enchanted isle of Sri Lanka. My commercial work has been featured in: Architectural Digest, VOGUE.com, Travel + Leisure Magazine, The New York Times & The Wall Street Journal, amongst other publications.

I was inspired by my father’s photo obsession at a young age - he handed me a Polaroid camera at age 10 to take a photo of him in his military uniform - little did he know, he awoke the budding photographer inside of me. It wasn’t until I participated in Semester at Sea my senior year in college - a study abroad program where I lived on a ship for 100 days, circumnavigating the globe and visiting 10 different countries - that I caught the “travel bug” and knew photography and travel would become life-long passions. Life suddenly changed after my Dad: Lt. Colonel, David C. Canegata III was tragically killed in combat, while serving in Iraq in 2007. Out of that experience, I decided to live more fully and embrace my innate passions - I purchased my first digital SLR camera shortly after, and life has never been the same! 

My first solo exhibit, "The Traveling Lense" was the catalyst that inspired me to quit my financial research job of eight years and return to school to pursue a degree in photography. After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, CA, I had the amazing opportunity to intern with and be published in Santa Barbara Magazine. I have been a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) for eight years, been awarded the Wedding Wire "Couple's Choice Award” the last four years in a row, and was voted by The Virgin Islands Daily News, Reader's Choice: "Best Wedding Photographer of the Virgin Islands" for the last two years. In November 2018, I had the pleasure of photographing award-winning, country singer, Brett Young and his beautiful wife, Taylor Mills Young (featured in my couples’ gallery) while on their honeymoon in St. Croix and my photos were published in Inspirato’s Winter/Spring 2019 Magazine.

An adventurer at heart, I have traveled to 6 continents, 59 countries, and over190 cities across the globe - one of my life's goals is to visit 100 countries. I live for the ocean and stargazing...am guided by the sun and ruled by the moon...inspired by stimulating conversations (typical Sagittarius trait)...love grooving to good music and dancing the nights away…and could eat sushi every day :) I am a bibliophile (proud bookworm) and when not shooting on location or editing my life away, you can find me at the barre (Barre Fitness that is), on my yoga mat, on nature adventures or wander-lust-ing around the globe! 

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For more information regarding my wedding photography packages and portrait sessions, please be in touch via my contact page. 

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I look forward to connecting with you!