Meet Nina Ferentinos of Personality Portraits by Nina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Ferentinos.

Hi Nina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My Personality Portrait journey started with school photography.
For years, I photographed hundreds of children and noticed something interesting. The photos where kids were being themselves—laughing, making silly faces, showing big personalities—were often my favorites. But when the galleries went out, parents would usually order the traditional smiling portraits instead.

That observation stayed with me. I kept thinking about how quickly childhood passes and how much of a child’s personality can be forgotten if we only document the perfect smiles. That’s where the idea for Personality Portraits was born.

I wanted to create something that focused entirely on who a child is in this moment—their confidence, their mischief, their laughter, their quirks. That’s also why every Personality Portrait is photographed in black and white. Removing color eliminates distractions. Parents aren’t focused on the fancy dress, the perfect bow, or whether the shirt matches.

Instead, the attention goes exactly where I want it: the child’s expression and personality.

Like many small business owners, I didn’t have a huge marketing budget, so I started reaching out to local businesses that served the same families I wanted to reach. One of the first people who truly believed in the concept was Stephanie from The Playroom East Cobb. She loved the idea and gave me the opportunity to set up my mobile studio inside her play space. That partnership helped introduce Personality Portraits to so many local families, and I’ll always be grateful that she took a chance on a new idea. We now work together on a regular basis and she has booked me for several private project. I even created a gallery wall in her playroom so parents are surrounded by beautiful Personality Portraits ALL THE TIME!

What’s been amazing is seeing how quickly the concept has resonated with parents. I’ve only been offering Personality Portraits for a little over a year, but have already grown to more than 1,000 followers on Instagram and photographed countless children throughout the Atlanta area.

What started as individual portrait sessions has expanded into so much more.

Today, I’m booking Personality Portrait birthday parties where every guest gets photographed, and I’ve even started creating extended family sessions where grandparents can capture silly faces and genuine moments with their children and grandchildren.

Those sessions often become some of the most treasured images because they show families exactly as they are—joyful, playful, and connected.

At the heart of it all, my goal is simple: to create photographs that preserve personality, not perfection. Years from now, I want families to look at these portraits and immediately remember exactly who that child was at that age.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has NOT been a completely smooth road, but honestly, some of the challenges have helped shape both my photography style and my business.

One of the biggest learning curves has been working with parents during the sessions. Because Personality Portraits are so different from traditional portraits, parents sometimes instinctively want to help. I’ll ask a child a silly question, and before the child can answer, Mom or Dad jumps in with the “correct” answer. What I’ve learned is that I’m not actually looking for the answer—I’m looking for the expression that happens while they’re thinking, laughing, or reacting. Sometimes the best photo happens before the child even speaks.

There have also been plenty of technical challenges. I’ve had flashes run out of battery in the middle of a session, which teaches you very quickly to always carry backups. As photographers, we love to think we’re prepared for everything, but kids and technology have a way of keeping us humble.

One of my favorite stories involved a little boy who spent almost an entire session saying “No!” to every question I asked. He looked grumpy, crossed his arms, and made it very clear that he was not interested in participating. Years ago, I might have considered that session a failure. Instead, I kept photographing the moments in between. Every once in a while, he’d crack a tiny smile or laugh when he forgot he was supposed to be unhappy. Those in-between moments ended up being priceless. When his mom saw the gallery, she loved it so much that she purchased the entire collection. It reminded me that personality isn’t always smiles. Sometimes it’s stubbornness, sass, or determination—and parents need to document those phases too.

I’ve also learned a lot about shooting environments. In the beginning, I photographed more sessions outdoors. But Atlanta summers can be brutal, and I’ve had days where I was sweating through a session while trying to keep equipment from blowing away. I still laugh about the time a gust of wind picked up my photography umbrella and sent it flying across the field. After experiences like that, I realized that my mobile studio setup works best indoors where I can control the light, the temperature, and the overall experience for families.

Every challenge has taught me something valuable. Whether it’s learning how to connect with a reluctant child, adapting when equipment fails, or changing my workflow to create a better experience, those obstacles have helped me build a stronger and more efficient business. In many ways, the struggles are what helped me discover what Personality Portraits are really about: embracing real children exactly as they are, not trying to force a smile but to work with their Personalities.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Personality Portraits by Nina?
Personality Portraits is truly my passion project.

Before creating Personality Portraits, I offered more traditional photography sessions. While families loved the images, I often felt something was missing. Many children weren’t having fun. They were constantly being told to stand still, look at the camera, and smile on command. As a photographer and a mom, I wanted to change that dynamic. I wanted kids to be kids.

That’s why Personality Portraits are so different.

Instead of focusing on perfect poses, matching outfits, or forced smiles, I focus on capturing a child’s authentic personality. Some kids are goofy, some are shy, some are thoughtful, and some are full of energy. My goal is to create images that reflect who they really are at that moment in time.

One of the things I’m most known for is my ability to connect with children. I genuinely enjoy talking to them and getting to know them. I ask questions that make them feel heard and understood because kids can immediately tell when someone is truly interested in what they have to say. Once they feel comfortable, their personalities naturally start to shine through, and that’s when the magic happens.

I believe that’s one of the reasons so many families return for bigger sessions and birthday parties. The sessions are easy, fast, and stress-free for parents, while still delivering images that become treasured keepsakes. Children leave feeling like they had a fun conversation rather than a photo session.

Brand-wise, I’m especially proud of the fact that families have embraced my artistic vision. From the beginning, I chose to create Personality Portraits exclusively in black and white because I wanted the focus to remain on facial expressions, emotions, and personality rather than clothing, colors, or accessories.

As an artist, that decision was important to me, and I’m incredibly grateful that parents have trusted the process. In fact, today most clients don’t even ask for color versions anymore because they understand and appreciate the purpose behind the black-and-white imagery.

I also want readers to know that my studio is completely mobile, which makes Personality Portraits incredibly flexible. Families can book private in-home sessions, studio sessions, birthday parties, playdates, school events, and even weddings where guests can participate in Personality Portrait experiences. I bring the studio to the client, making the process convenient and fun while maintaining the same signature look and quality.

At the end of the day, what sets Personality Portraits apart is that I’m not trying to capture perfection.
I am trying to capture expressions and emotions. Years from now, I want people to look at these portraits and instantly remember the fun and the positive experience they had.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memories all revolve around freedom.

I grew up in a small village in Germany with about 2,000 residents. It was the kind of place where everyone knew each other, and children spent most of their days outside. Looking back, it feels almost magical compared to how childhood looks today.

My friends and I were constantly riding our bikes, exploring the woods, building forts, inventing games, and spending endless hours on the playground. There were no cell phones, no Life360, and no way for our parents to track us. We simply knew that we had to be home by 7:00 PM for Abendbrot, our evening meal. And if I wasn’t home by 7:05 PM, my mom was convinced something terrible had happened and was ready to call the police. Punctuality was a very serious matter in our house!

What I remember most is the feeling of freedom. We had space to be creative, to be bored, and to figure things out on our own. Some of our best adventures started because we had nothing to do. We’d sit together brainstorming ideas and suddenly find ourselves creating elaborate games, putting on performances, building things, or dreaming up new projects.

One of my closest friends lived on a farm, and those days felt like pure magic. We would spend hours jumping into giant grain bins, petting newborn kittens, exploring the barns, and riding her horse through the countryside. To us, it was just another afternoon. Looking back, I realize how special those experiences were.

I didn’t know it then, but I think that childhood shaped who I am today. It taught me to value imagination, creativity, curiosity, and self-expression. It also gave me a deep appreciation for letting children simply be children.

In many ways, that philosophy shows up in my work today. When I photograph children, I’m not looking for perfect behavior or perfect smiles. I’m looking for the same spark of imagination, freedom, and authenticity that I remember from my own childhood. Those are the moments that tell the real story.

Looking back, I realize I was living a childhood dream. And perhaps without knowing it, those years spent creating, exploring, and seeing the world through a child’s eyes set the stage for the artist and photographer I would eventually become.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ninaferentinos.com/personalities
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personalityportraitsbynina/