In 1919 when she had to sell the family silver to provide for the family, she decided on another solution.[1] Suman hung a sign on the front of the mansion which said simply "Türk Hanımlar Fotoğrafhanesi-Naciye" (Turkish woman photographer-Naciye") and began working as the first professional Muslim woman photographer in Turkey.[4][5] During this period, women were veiled and did not work, especially those who were daughters of a pasha, and yet from the first day, she had clients. Many women, who had men fighting at the front wanted photographs to enclose in letters.[5] In 1921, she gave up the mansion and moved to a small apartment, moving her studio to a separate location. The business was featured that same year in Kadınlar Dünyası (Women's World), the leading women's magazine of the era.[1][4] Besides taking wedding pictures, she also lectured at the Sultan Reşad's palace on photography.[6] When the war ended, Suman left her husband and continued her photography business until 1930.