This week, I’m chatting with Nina Tekwani, a travel photographer and writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. You’ve probably come across her account on Instagram (@tekwani), because her feed is absolutely gorgeous and already well-loved by many! She posts a boatload of snaps from Positano (keep reading to find out why!) and has two super adorable pups, Rufus and Sophie. Read on to hear how she’s learning to manage a new medical diagnosis while traveling, what her two must-have travel tools are, and lots of other helpful tidbits!
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Who or what inspires you to travel?
I have an itch to see the world. I think it’s the feeling I get when exploring a new place. There’s nothing I love more than wandering around the streets of a new place, no agenda, camera in hand. It’s my way of learning about a new place/culture, and it excites me. I live for that feeling.
What are you currently reading/watching?
Eating Clean by Amie Valpone. It’s not entirely travel related but it relates to my life right now. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease about two months ago and am learning about anti-inflammatory foods. Crohn’s is a disease of the digestive tract, and food can be harder to control when traveling. I’m trying to learn as much as I can about ways to choose the best foods and control it as much as possible without feeling too constricted while in another country.
What equipment do you use for capturing your travels?
I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark III as my primary camera, and when I’m traveling I use one of two lenses – a Sigma Art 35mm f1.4 or a Canon 24-70mm f2.8L. Both are wonderful lenses. The 24-70 is great because it’s a bit more versatile but it’s also heavier. If I have to pick just one, I typically take the 24-70, but I’d say the 35mm is an even better lens because it’s super sharp, smaller, and lighter.
How did you transition from a traditional job to what you’re doing now?
I actually do both right now. I was freelance for a while (back in 2015) and went the non-traditional route but I learned that I’m best suited when I have a full-time job that gives me routine and structure but also the flexibility to travel. I’m in a good place right now and enjoy the balance I have found. It also helps with the health issues I’ve been dealing with the past few years.
What is the soundtrack to your travels?
RÜFÜS – Take Me
Who are your favorite Instagrammers at the moment?
@margoandme – I LOVE her style! She did a recent series in Positano with Tom Ford and all the photos are to die for. It’s my favorite place in the world.
@abeautifulmess – It’s a bigger account so I’m sure you’re familiar with it but their photos are so inspirational. They do a great job of curating content and I love how their feed makes me feel.
@ckanani – She’s one of my dearest friends, but she’s also an inspiration. Our styles of photography and travel are very similar which I think is why we get along so well, but also why I love her work.
Can you name one place you’ve traveled that surprised you the most, and tell us why?
Paris. The first time I went (2010) I absolutely HATED it. I went back again earlier this year and what I realized is that so much of our impression of a place can really be influenced by our current situation. I’m in a better place now, and a more experienced traveler and I think that helped me have a very different experience the second time. Lesson learned: don’t always be so quick to judge. Just because you didn’t fall in love with a place the first time doesn’t mean you’ll always feel that way.
What is one thing your followers would be surprised to learn about you?
Sometimes, actually more like most of the time, I feel SO awkward when taking photos. There are times I’ll be in a new place, with people that I’ll never see again, and I get really uncomfortable when I think they are looking at me because I’m taking a photo in a place that’s probably not normal to capture photos. But that’s when I get my best photos!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP_zMush_-_/?taken-by=tekwani
What is your favorite quote about traveling?
There are so many that I love but I think this one resonates most with my desire to travel: “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure.” –Freya Stark
One piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring traveling entrepreneur. Go!
Figure out a routine and structure that works for you. It’s important to find balance in all aspects of our lives – eating, sleeping, adventuring, etc. I think you need to have a system in place even as a digital nomad. The first go around for me that’s something I lacked. Now that I’m figuring out some of my health issues I hope to find balance again so I can explore the possibility of being more remote again in the future. But having a system in place is key – and always take care of your health. If that goes, everything else won’t be enjoyable.
Do you have any trip planning tools or packing tips?
There are two things that are key for me when packing and preparing for a trip. Excel and packing cubes. I bet you never thought I’d say Excel, right? I love packing cubes for the obvious reasons, they help me save so much space and organize my clothes well. I bought mine off Amazon, and there’s a plethora of great options there.
As far as Excel goes, I plan all my trips in Excel from the itineraries to the things I need to bring with me. I list outfits out day by day based on what I’m doing and what the weather is expected to be. I have this one packing list that I refresh each time and it always has all my accessories, toiletries, technology, etc. already listed out so I feel like it’s a checklist that saves me a lot of time and helps me prevent forgetting items.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOgKtbnhuUQ/?taken-by=tekwani
What advice would you give those looking to grow their following and develop their brand?
As cliché as it sounds, just be true to your style. For years, I tried to emulate the style of others that inspired me, but those styles weren’t my own. Once I realized what I was best at (colorful photography), I started sharing more and more of that and my account grew. Also, engage with your audience. Find the time to reply to people and it will help establish relationships.
What is your favorite place in the whole wide world?
Positano, Italy. I post photos from Positano more than any other place on my Instagram. Sometimes I wonder if I drive my followers nuts with Positano photos. 😉
Where to next?
This month is a relaxed travel month for me. I’m heading to St. Louis for Mother’s Day (which is where I grew up) and then Los Angeles and Santa Barbara the weekend after. Things will pick up again over summer and I’ll be heading back to Europe in July.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRjJkaBj6KZ/?taken-by=tekwani
Huge shout-out to Nina for being truly lovely and saying “yes!” to doing this Q&A and sharing herself with little old me, and extra points to her for doing it even while she was feeling majorly under the weather and busy with life. People like Nina restore my faith in humanity for being kind and generous even when they don’t have to be. That is the mark of a great human being in my book.
Follow along on Nina’s adventures:
Instagram / Blog / Twitter / Pinterest
I love Nina’s Instagram so it was amazing to be able to read more about her! So inspiring!
Isn’t she the best? I love her style and outlook on things – such a positive, productive gal! Glad you enjoyed 🙂