Why I Shoot Nikon (and Why I Always Will)

Let’s get one thing clear: I’m not here to start a brand war. If you’re a die-hard Canon lover, Sony shooter, or Fujifilm hipster, you do you. But as for me? I bleed Nikon.

So... Why Nikon?

The simple answer? Because it feels like home.

The technical answer? Because Nikon gear just works—the way my brain works. It's intuitive, reliable, and built like a tank. Their ergonomics are unmatched, their colors feel more true-to-life, and their dynamic range has saved my butt more times than I can count (especially when I'm editing some wild lighting situation in an abandoned building at 2 a.m.)

But the real story starts back in the film days...

Long before I ever picked up a DSLR, this whole obsession with photography technically started with my mom. She signed up for a photography class—film, darkroom, the whole nine yards. She was ready to dive in, get creative, and maybe even enjoy a hobby that didn't involve wiping noses or refereeing sibling squabbles. And then… surprise! She found out she was pregnant with my third brother. Suddenly, the only thing she was developing was another human.

But my dad—bless him—had already purchased her the fanciest camera money could buy. So he one day handed me a top-of-the-line Nikon film camera, probably not knowing it would end up shaping my entire future.

Spoiler: she never used it.

Double spoiler: I did.

I started messing around with it, completely fell in love with the process, and just never stopped. That camera became my gateway drug to light, shadow, texture, and storytelling. It made me feel like an artist—way before I knew what I was doing.

Fast forward to today...

I now shoot with a Nikon D750 and occasionally my backup D7000, because yes, I’m a creature of habit and no, I’m not ready to jump into mirrorless just yet. (Don't come for me, Z-series fans. I’ll get there. Maybe.)

Why the D750?

Because it does everything I need it to.

• Full-frame sensor with incredible image quality

• Excellent dynamic range (hello, moody shadows)

• Dual SD card slots (because I trust no memory card fully)

• Fast, accurate autofocus even in tricky lighting

• Beautiful color profiles that need minimal correction

  
  

It’s not the newest model on the market, but it’s solid, dependable, and makes my work look damn good. Kind of like the Volvo of cameras—reliable, durable, and doesn't care about trends.

Nikon Just Gets Me

There’s a certain feel to Nikon gear. The menu system makes sense. The grip fits like a glove. The glass is tack-sharp. And when I’m out exploring abandoned buildings or shooting foggy landscapes or chasing golden-hour portraits of my chaotic children—it keeps up, no complaints.

And maybe it’s a little nostalgic, too. Maybe every time I press that shutter, I feel a tiny link to that moment when my mom almost became a photographer, and my dad—without knowing it—passed the torch (or camera, in this case) to the daughter who actually did.

I swear Nikon is not sponsoring this blog post:

I shoot Nikon because:

• It’s tough as hell

• It fits my style, both technically and creatively

• It delivers consistent, stunning results

• …and because a pregnant pause in a darkroom class 30 years ago led to the best accidental career ever

  
  

So thank you, Nikon—for being my ride-or-die for two decades. And thank you, Mom, for getting pregnant and handing over your dreams (and camera) without knowing it would become mine.

Want to see what Nikon helps me create?

👉 [Visit my gallery at The Windmill – Building 4, Penn Yan, NY]

👉 [Follow me on Instagram @MileyJadeDesigns]

👉 [Shop prints + wearable art here]