From strays to stories: Nivi’s journey behind the lens at Merakles Studio

Some stories begin with a camera. Others, with a deep, unspoken bond. For Nivedhana or Nivi as she is more fondly known, it began with both. A lifelong connection with animals and a quiet curiosity for capturing their world led her down an unusual path, one where pets are not just subjects, but souls to be seen. This is the story of how she turned that instinct into Merakles Studio, and why her lens tells a different kind of story.

Friendships that came wagging

Growing up as a single child who changed homes and schools often, Nivi found her first friendships not in people, but in animals. Stray dogs, cats, frogs and even lizards became her constants. When her mother wasn’t home, young Nivi would sneak the neighbourhood dogs indoors, play with them, feed them and ensure they were back outside before the clock struck 4pm. That was the norm.

Her connection to animals wasn’t just emotional, it was instinctive. When she first picked up a camera at 15 to photograph her pet snails, a quiet creative spark was lit. “Snails were probably the first pets I ever shot,” she recalls. Little did she know that years later, this instinct would evolve into something much bigger.

From snails to studio: The journey of Merakles

After dabbling in baby photography, one of the few socially accepted genres in her conservative hometown, Nivi slowly found her way to her real passion. It began with an unforgettable shoot that involved a child and two dogs. The bond she witnessed between them and the family’s treatment of the pets as equals cemented her decision.

“Pet photography wasn’t really a thing where I came from, so I had to start with babies, since people were more accepting of that,” she reveals. But once she saw the emotional connection families had with their pets, she knew it was the space she wanted to be in.

Merakles Studio came into existence 2.5 years ago. The name, a combination of the Greek word meraki and the word miracle, reflects her belief that when something is done with soul, the results are nothing short of miraculous. “When you do something with your whole soul, miracles just happen,” she believes.

Building trust, not just frames

For Nivi, pet photography is never about just clicking a picture. It is about entering a pet’s space, reading their energy and waiting for their permission, not just their pose. Some pets are rescued, some are shy and some are simply unpredictable. So her approach begins with a pre-shoot Zoom call to understand the pet’s world. “When I walk in on shoot day, I shouldn’t be a stranger,” she states.

There have been times when a pet didn’t warm up even after hours. “It’s okay if the shoot gets cancelled. Their comfort comes first,” she says firmly, highlighting her deep empathy.

At Merakles, pets lead the story

In a Merakles shoot, the pet decides how the session unfolds. From where they want to sit to how they choose to engage, everything revolves around them. “The pet is the hero. We all just follow their lead,” she puts it simply, describing how she surrenders to the moment.

Of course, that also means being prepared for surprises. Once, a dog was so thrilled to see her again that he peed all over her shoes and clothes. “I ended up doing the whole shoot in my client’s outfit,” she recalls, laughing.

When emotion meets art

Some of her most fulfilling experiences have come from unexpected moments. During one shoot, she used backlighting as an experiment. The result wasn’t a clear photo, but the emotion it captured moved the client so deeply that it now hangs in their living room. “That shoot reminded me why I do what I do,” she shares.

Navigating the brand side of things

Shooting for pet-centric brands comes with its own demands. While some are supportive and bring trained pets, others expect untrained pets to model like professionals under tight deadlines.

“People often pay photographers but forget the value of the pets involved. That has to change,” she says firmly.

Her approach is rooted in one principle — if the pet is uncomfortable, they stop. “If the pet is not feeling it, we don’t push,” she emphasises.

In a world of AI and algorithms

With AI-generated visuals on the rise, Nivi remains grounded in her purpose. “AI can generate pretty pictures, but not the way a dog places his paw on your knee or looks at you when you say his name,” she reflects.

For her, photography is memory preservation. “Memories fade, but photos hold on a little longer,” she adds.

Looking ahead with heart

Nivi isn’t bound by a 5 year plan. Right now, she’s focused on deepening her presence in Chennai and Bangalore. Eventually, she hopes to go pan-India.

One dream project she’s manifesting? Photographing artists with their pets in their creative spaces. “That stillness… I want to frame that,” she says.

Message for aspiring pet photographers

To those starting out, her advice is simple. Learn your tools, but more importantly, learn to observe. “You are walking into a stranger’s home and hoping their pet will trust you. That’s not easy. That’s a miracle,” she points out with quiet conviction.

Why do pictures matter?

When Nivi lost her father at 15, she was left with only a few photographs. That absence still lingers. “Even in our minds, people fade away. But in photographs, they stay,” she reflects.

That memory shapes her work every day. “Pets don’t live forever. But the love we capture with them — that stays.”

And that’s what Merakles Studio offers. Not just portraits, but presence. And if you are lucky, a miracle.