Hi, welcome to Fearless of love. I’m Serena Reynolds. I’m in the UK and I’m a creative marketing person with my own company called Conceptiv. And I’m here today with my dear friend Sara and I will let her introduce herself. Thank you, Miss Serena. My name is Sara Ferrer. I do small business consulting and I am so excited to be here today, especially with our special guest, Dina Konovalov, who is an artistic branding and, and fashion photographer who captures the absolute best in each of her subjects. She offers bold photography with a red carpet touch and she creates memorable photos to make a powerful first impression.

So welcome Ms Dina. We are excited to chat with you. You are this dynamic photographer with a great story that we would just love to share. So let’s just kind of dive in. Can you tell us a little bit about your early years that eventually led you to the beautiful world of photography? Of course. But yeah, thank you, Serena and Sara for having me on and thank you for that great introduction. I couldn’t have been better myself. Um Yeah, I, I’ve been at it for a little while I started my photographic journey early on.

Uh when I first moved to the States from what used to be a Soviet Union of a country back, way, way back in the day. Um And so I came, I immigrated to this country with my family without a word of English, couple of suitcases and, you know, a couple of $210 in a pocket and had to start a new journey. And um when I went to high school, it was very tough to communicate. Obviously, it was a lot of culture shock. Um But when I took photography class, I ended up finding my voice because I put um speak with images.

Now, I didn’t need the language necessarily. And I found that everybody around spoke that language. Um So it became almost like a universal language for me. And, you know, memories of me developing filled with my dad came about. But uh you know, in our homemade dark room, so it just all felt very right and nostalgic and I fell in love with photography then. So um that’s where I started my journey. And I went to apply to Mass College of Art. And that’s where I got my bachelor’s degree.

And uh you know, that was it history made. So um the whole thing about you talking about using your photography as a form of communication now being a designer, working in the design industry for many, many years, most designers, I meet are dyslexic. They have trouble with spoken words, they have trouble with written words. And I really love that whole thing about being able to communicate visually as opposed to having to do the more formal uh verbal or written words. So that really spoke to me. So how old were you when you went, when you, I was going to say come to America?

But that’s stupid because I’m in the UK. So how old were you when you moved from the US? Sr to I was 210 at really impressionable age. Kind of figuring things out. One of the hardest parts of, of, of your teenage life is that point in time. Pretty much. Pretty much. Yes. Ended up being here. So, um, you can’t, you know, can’t say anything too negative right now, but it was definitely not the easiest what drew you to photography? Like, was it just a natural uh ability or yearning or was it that you mentioned your dad?

Was your dad a photographer? What kind of drew you into that path? Yeah. Sure. My dad was not a doctor, he’s an engineer, but um, he’s always supported me in all my endeavors, uh artistic endeavors, I should say because, you know, it’s, my parents obviously wanted me to do something more like a doctor or lawyer, you know. Um But uh but that, that uh back in so that, you know, my, my great. No, no, my, I don’t know how to say it in English. But I guess it’s second grandfather or uncle.

Oh, what’s the word? The grandfather’s brother with his great uncle? I was always one of my great, my great uncle, um, actually was a pretty big photographer. He went through war with a camera and then he brought back a lot of uh political figure in Azerbaijan, which is, um where I was from. So I did grow up around knowing that that’s a part ability to have as, um as, you know, as a job or as a different way out, you know. Um So I think that kind of step in my head as well, but yeah, it’s not like I was born with specific talent.

I think I just found my voice in that classroom and um that kind of brought me on to the next step and the next one. So what was it like growing up um in the US sr in the Soviet Union and then moving to America? I mean, I can only imagine the culture shock. There was definitely a lot of culture shock. I mean, you know, what you see now, not gonna go into the politics of things, but what you see now we called Russia was not that before, it was a, it was a communist country with different states.

And so I was part of one of those states that was um part of the U society that made up the whole country and you know, definitely growing up is very different than it would be here. You are. Um in that time period, you were not much exposed to the Western culture or um it were just, they were just the beginning stages of being exposed to that and seeing some movies that people would, you know, hide in their house and pop in a VCR just to like, oh my God, you know, Elm Street movie or whatever it is like that people have seen 2100 years ago here finally get to see it and kind of got to get a little bit of a taste of what it’s like.

And my first impression was very colorful and, you know, abundance of everything and just very different from what we had. Um, as far as freedoms go and all of that stuff because, um, you know, there’s definitely no, we, we couldn’t practice religion growing up. That was kind of a biggie. Right. Um, so that’s definitely a big one of the big differences here and, and, um, being, having that freedom of religion, of speech, of being whoever you are without being persecuted. And that’s kind of a big deal because I was growing up as a Jewish girl and I knew that I was Jewish, you know, based on experiences that I’ve gone through and knowing that, oh, I can’t do this because this, you know, we’re not allowed to do that in this country. Right.

Um, so, yeah, so that kind of disappeared. And so when I came here, I think part of the fact that I wanted to be something different than both of my parents who were engineers is that I had that freedom to do so here. And there’s actually a school that you can go to, um, for that particular, um, niche. Right? And so that kind of gave me that push. Oh, fearless. That’s like, that’s like the epitome of like who I’m expected to be. And then you come to this new country and, and not only do you recognize the opportunity you seize the opportunity?

You didn’t just take the engineering class or you know, the the science class, you said I’m gonna take the ultimate form of expression, right? And, and not just that I’m going to be in charge of what I capture you are behind the lens, right? So that’s really kind of that taking that control back. And so at Mass College of Art, what was that experience like in terms of possibility? Did you think, hey, I could make a career out of this or is this still something you thought?

Oh, maybe it’s a side gig and I should still pursue the engineer, the engineer degree. Yeah. No, it was never questioned for me as a side gig. Um I think uh in college, I kind of um what’s the word I’m looking for blossomed, right? From being that kind of scared kid in high school, not knowing anything, figuring things out to finally now and speaking the language, I have friends, you know, I’m part of the country now, so I was in a different level. Uh, what I did go to college.

So, um, it was a different experience for me altogether. A much better experience than high school. Let’s put it this way. Um, because now I actually felt that freedom to be who I am and to be expressive and to just follow my dreams really. Um Yeah, there’s no stopping. So where did you start in photography? What was your first paid gig? Sure. My so paid. Ok. So going back to the first official gig or no, actually, yeah. So, you know, to kind of tell you a little bit more about the college life.

It’s I was trained to be a fine art photographer. So I was doing everything in a dark room, black and white, four by five films. So that was my, you know, I was creating art and I was printing it and I was um submitting it to galleries and kind of, I was preparing myself to get out of college and become this amazing artist showing him all these different museums and galleries like my teachers were. Um But then of course, the reality is paying bills came about. So that quickly turned into, all right.

Well, let’s see what I can do, making the money doing what I love. So luckily at that point dot coms were really big and they started popping up everywhere and digital photography became pretty big really quickly. So I jumped on that and my first job was actually working for Ticketmaster, which used to be City Search and Ticketmaster. But um yeah, and so that was my first actually full time job as a photographer working for a bigger company and going to all these locations in Boston, taking photographs of restaurants and, uh, chefs or food or, you know, different, uh, fun places.

And it was just a, a fun experience for sure until I got laid off because everything kind of, you know, died down. com happened, it went high, it fell low. It was, yeah, I was. Yeah, exactly. So, and then at that point I was just like, ok, well, I’m used to making money as a photographer. And so that’s where I was like, oh, how else can I start bringing money in? So, became a full time freelancer slowly and slowly, you know, um, my friends were asking for pictures so they’re getting married, they’re having kids, whatever.

And I was like, no, not sure if I want to be doing that. But, you know, in my head it was always a, well, yes, but I also didn’t want to sell out to completely, didn’t want to do the boring pictures. So I think back then it was becoming a little bit less conservative with photography and people are more interested in photo journalistic style, which gave to be a little bit more artistic in my approach and how I photograph. So I don’t have to sacrifice my creative vision as an artist while getting paid.

I’m still doing my craft, right? So, so you went freelance full time? Yeah. So eventually, through freelancing, I met a lot of people and I met um a couple of people who were doing videography production and um we decided to come together and form one company and we did that for, for a good period of time trying to think how many years I didn’t come. But it was a good portion of time that we spent, um, really building up a big company. We had about 203 220 freelancers working with us for us and covering a lot of weddings and events around Massachusetts and New England in general.

So that kind of, uh, was my next big step. That, that’s huge. I mean, that is huge. I mean, you’re living what, what most of us would call a successful career. You’ve got a thriving business. What happened? Yeah. Well, first of all, I didn’t know anything about business. You know, I was just an art student. So, everything I’ve done is pretty much touch and feel and figure it out as we go. Um, and I, as much as I enjoyed the success of the business, I think what happened is it just took so much out of me and took the creativity out of me because I ended up being that business owner of both babysitting and coordinating more than actually enjoying to create.

So there’s a lot of that stress involved and I always wanted to do other things besides events. Right. Um I don’t imagine myself being an event photographer the rest of my life. Not because, you know, it’s, it’s not fun because many people do this, but it wasn’t my necessarily full time niche. So, and being a full time owner of that kind of company, I could not, I didn’t have enough role in me to create my personal work. So I stopped being an artist for a little while and I just, you know, it sucked.

Um Yeah, did not enjoy that. It, towards the end, I think it became a little bit more. All right, it’s fine. So what happened with this company? Is it still around or did somebody take up? No, it’s not. We parted ways. Um Like I said, towards the end of our endeavor, um I wasn’t feeling it anymore and I felt the willing to just go on my own and do my own thing. And even though we were very successful, um I made that decision to just, you know, find myself again, that’s very brave to, to be in a situation where you’re, you’re relatively, I’m, I’m guessing you are stable.

Um I mean, I say that I know that sometimes when you have multiple employees, you’re, you’re more worried about paying their, their bills than you are your own. Um, and it’s, it’s huge amounts of stress. But, um, so I’m guessing that you were relatively stable, you had, you know, you knew where your next buck was coming from to actually walk away from. That is so brave. So, what happened? What, what did you do? So, we closed down the company, um, and I knew I was gonna start from scratch and I knew it’s gonna take me a couple of years to kind of build it up.

But there was no doubt in my mind that I could do it at this point because I was really clear about where you were going at this point. Did you know exactly what you wanted to do? I knew that I wanted to go on my own and start over as my own artist become, you know, just me, not 26179038302 other people or anything like that. And I wanted to start creating the kind of work that I enjoy again. So without a specific plan of action again, I’m an artist and business is something I learned as, as I went.

Um And so I um I think what happened too is I came across a perfect space for a studio which let me um led me to a natural next step that I would take. Um it was about 6179038302 minutes away from my house and I saw a space for rent and old mill building. And I was like, let me go check it out. I have no money right now because I’m starting from scratch, but it doesn’t hurt to look at it. And so I came to the space and it was half broken, half built up and I saw it and I said I want to be here.

It’s got the natural light and ceilings and everything I can create in here. And so I signed the lease and terrifying. Yeah. Um Luckily they were just beginning to open things up. So it was definitely more affordable than I could ever imagine. Um So, but it was still a scary step. Um But I did it and I never looked back. That’s definitely unique moment. What, what was your vision for? So you, you, you’re now doing your thing, you’re very clear that you don’t want to quote unquote, sell out that that big business isn’t for you.

But what was your? And I know your plan is your plan of action is usually, you know, as it happens, you figure it out. But at that moment when you sign the lease, what was the dream of how you were going to utilize that space? What was it gonna look like in terms of the photography, the clientele, the projects walk just through that artistic side that you were like, this is the new Dina 2.0 Yes, yes. Um I wish I could say I had this perfect written down plan and this amazing vision and just worked out, just felt like that going step by step.

It does. You know, I love the space I jumped in there and I said, I can see myself creating. And I went back to the my roots of the fine art that, you know, photography that I was doing in college. And I was able to start creating some more personal work while figuring out my next steps. And I actually started, while I was doing that, started meeting new people. And I got into working with actors and I really loved that. Um you know, working with actors, they really need a lot of headshots on regular basis to go to auditions and castings or whatnot.

So they all need a really uh captivating image of themselves that could lead them to a possibility or open door to um possible addition, right? So I started working more and more with actress and I really fell in love doing that. Um It just, it wasn’t the stress of a wedding where the possible bridezilla it wasn’t working. Although, you know, I’ve still got, I would still do some of the events that I was doing, but now it was on my turn, it was just me and it was only a certain amount of events that I would take per year.

So I was in control, right? Um But while I was doing that, I was still taking other new clients and I was started working with actors and models and um I love fashion. So um I started bringing in models and creating with models, you know, anything that I could picture in my head that I would do, you know, just being free to create without really anybody standing there saying no, no, no, that’s not how I want it. Photoshop this or don’t Photoshop that, right? I mean, actors aren’t like that.

Everybody, everybody is like everybody wants and needs a little bit Photoshop in their lives. I mean, let’s be honest, right? Uh But, but with actors, what’s interesting is that it’s so important for uh for them to look natural in the photos. So I think a lot of times people think actors, they think oh a lot of glam, a lot of makeup, a lot of crazy poses, right? And it’s actually not the case not and good. It’s not just natural, it’s natural and good. They have to look.

Yes, yes, I have to say, I always say you have to look like you on the best date, you know, your job and your first date or whatever it is that you really put the effort in how you want to look and present yourself to the world because that’s your calling card once we, you know, um we do the photo and then you have your headshot. That’s, that’s your calling card. That’s your business card. That’s your book cover, right? Um So you want to look like yourself, but of course, you want to look good and you wanna grab attention, which is so important to be your best self. Yes.

Did you find that like now you’re following really the true creative, artistic self, but we talked earlier about getting the bills paid right? There is a bit of a delicate balance between doing what you want and keeping the lights on. Did you feel like you could during this period, the best of both worlds was happening, you could follow the artistic visions that you had and you were also being able to be successful financially and you know, keeping the roof above your head. Yeah, I mean, I think there’s definitely some challenges because again, it did start from scratch and I needed to buy things for the new space and you know, um also have some kids in between here and there.

So, um but yeah, it was definitely not the easiest path but I, you know, I did mix it with some of the work that would pay the bills and then some of the work that was just for my heart and that balanced everything nicely, but I still did what I loved no matter what I was doing. So that helped what were some of the um because it’s so easy to kind of gloss over like, like you said, those unexpected things in the beginning, the the inventory, you might need or the, the equipment you might need.

So what just can you speak to some of those challenges? Because I think the listeners or the viewers can relate to that. It’s not just sign the lease, follow the vision and everything works out. But what were some of maybe those bumps in the road that in retrospect? You’re like, hey, maybe I don’t define myself as a quote unquote businesswoman, but you are, you are running a business. So as a creative, what were some things that business wise? You know, you said, oh, I didn’t really expect this or this was something that I thought would be easy.

But wasn’t, were there any moments like that? Hey, work life balance. You, you’ve mentioned a couple of kids along the way. That’s not easy. That was probably the most challenging part because I did have one of my kids when I had the other company. I squeezed that in there. Um And that was a little bit easier because we had a team and we had a lot of people that would cover. It’s needed be right for me or um just there was more people in general. Um But with this endeavor when yeah, that was way more challenging because then now I was all on my own literally on my own.

I mean, yes, I have some freelance photographers that I would reach out to here and there or retouchers that I could uh delegate some work to but everything as far as networking, marketing, social media, um you know, everything I was doing by myself. So there’s only one way and I think definitely um that is a limitation to the degree, especially when you’re a woman and you’re trying to, you have a family. Um So I definitely remember the moment of having my second baby as a little bit more challenging at the time because it was a very, it was a difficult pregnancy.

I couldn’t physically be on my feet working after whatever, first three months. Um So I was like, oh, I had all these plans to do this and that. So I don’t even know at this point how I, how we survived, how I arrived. But somehow we did it, you know, honestly, I just did, we just did. I don’t know. Somehow I can, I, I was in a similar situation too. I started, I started on my own just before my daughter was born and I remember being on calls rocking her, tying her into her car seat and it would have a rocker on it and I’d have my foot on it, jiggling her to get her to sleep whilst I’m having these business calls and, and being all professional.

I’m thinking if only they could see the baby at my foot here, you know, please don’t cry, please don’t cry. And it, it’s, it’s hard work and, and you get through it and you, you get to the end, don’t you, you just get, well, actually it doesn’t happen, does it, you just just, you just grow into it? You never actually get to that end point where you go. It’s, it’s over. You just, no, it’s going. Yeah. So I can completely resonate with that whole new baby, new business trying to grow it and not being able to do as much as, as you’d like to, with the business or even if I’m honest with you, not having enough time with my own child. Right.

As well, that guilt that I, that I personally felt walking her with my foot praying that she wouldn’t try because I was on a call or sitting there holding her with one arm whilst I’m working with the other. You know, I mean, it’s, it’s, it’s complicated and I had a lot, I had a lot of family and help around so I, I can’t, I can’t complain. I had it easier than most. So. No. Absolutely. And I think that’s where I have to say my family, my very supportive husband and my parents really, um, you know, jump in and help as much as possible.

I couldn’t have done it without any of their support. You know, it takes a village, um, and I think it goes towards raising a child or having a business because that’s kind of your other child too in a way. Right. Right. And so how do so with this business and I just wanna make sure I get my dates kind of right. You open up your own, your own business. You sign a lease. What year are we talking? This was, I wanna say 2011 or, or 12, 2011? 2012. Ok. So you sign the lease, you’re following your passion because your website and kind of your imagery as a photographer and, and when people go to your website, which will be on our website and we’ll pitch it at the end of this, this call as well.

But it’s very bold. It’s very Vava vom, it’s very artistic. This is not the come here for your high school senior yearbook photo, right? Oh, I would pay for my daughters if you want, if you want a different type of style, if you want everybody else, correct? So, like, do you feel like people, you mentioned actors? But do you feel like, you know, let’s say like your everyday, you know, non actor or non theater, do you feel like, like they find you as well? Is it more of the artistic, the theater, the the acting crowd?

Like, what’s your niche? Do you have a niche? Is that kind of you? I don’t want to link Tin probably follow that. That good. Yeah. Um You know, it’s interesting because I obviously I enjoy working with creatives. Um So definitely I worked with a lot of actors and models, but that’s not all I do I love to bring my vision and my creativity to other entrepreneurs or businesses that are seeking a unique approach to their imagery and photography that, you know, usually people seek me out if they want kind of the scroll stopping photos that just kind of catch people’s attention, they want to look like a model, right?

Um But they just don’t know how. So, you know, that’s definitely where I come in and I can create, you know, I had um a whole law firm in my studios the other day and they wanted a vanity fair type of photos. So with my experience as a national photographer, I definitely know how to pose them, how to light them in a way that they would look the part even though they’re not professional models. And it’s still a very fulfilling for me and it’s still very creative way of, of photographing, you know, attorneys.

What you wouldn’t think necessarily that would be the approach, right? You’d probably think, I don’t know, great backdrop. Very clean. Go see, I abso I, I’m, I’m a big fan. Um I mean, I, I love this approach. I think it’s really wonderful to be able to present something different. Nobody wants to be the same. You feel the same, then, then nobody’s gonna see you whether you’re an attorney, whether you’re an accountant, whether, you know, it doesn’t matter if you, if you’re used to the, the blue suits or whatever, if you want to stand out, you have to step out, you have to be in most cases outside your comfort zone.

And, I mean, your, your photography is absolutely gorgeous. Yeah. And, um, but how do you, I know that you’re following that. How do you avoid that burnout that we discussed in the last gig? Because you’re still a business woman. You’re still running a business. You still have clients and you got to find them and network and, and how do you avoid like the burnout now of following your own passion? But it doesn’t mean that you’re still not, you know, spending long hours doing the boring, busy work, I’m sure. Yes.

Um I’m not gonna lie, I’m not gonna say that there’s no burnout at all. Right. I mean, we all go up and down and it doesn’t mean that now I found the path and everything is unicorns and rainbows from now on. That’s not the case. Um Be nice. I feel like at this point in my life though, I am a lot more aware of what I’m feeling and how I should handle things number one and I’m listening to my body and um because my job is also very physical too.

So I I’m in a position right now where I don’t have to accept every single booking and I’m not, you know, I’m not spreading myself thin that way. So I, I am saying a lot of nos but I get a lot of great yeses and I concentrate on that. So I concentrate on the quality versus the volume of work. And that’s really helpful for me as an artist, as a business owner, as a woman. Um So that’s how I like to look at it. And of course, there’s moments where there’s busier months than others uh or weeks or days.

And so when that happens, I try to, I don’t know, kind of reward myself with an extra day off or plan my schedule so that I can take a couple of days off to maybe get a massage or spend more time with the family or do something that will balance things out a bit more. Yeah. Hm. The balance is real because everyone talks about hustle culture and like no days off and, you know, I only take, you know, Christmas and New Year’s off. It’s like you do.

Ok. Well, that sounds tragic. Um, yeah, I mean, the phone, so even if I take a day off, my phone is always on me and I will answer that email or inquiry or whatever. Right. But I don’t consider that I’m sitting in front of the computer 24 61790383023 doing this, but I will be paying attention to my client’s existing or, or potential. Um, but yeah, business is 24 7. It’s doesn’t let you completely rest and relax. You don’t know what’s coming tomorrow, you know. Um, I had this shoot the other day and both of my lights just stopped working.

Um So you gotta take care of things that come along uh unexpectedly too and you, nobody is safe from that, but it’s all doable pains. So, so what you said just a minute ago about being able to pick and choose, saying a lot of nos and then saying a lot of yes to great jobs. Is that something you would recommend to other women, other creatives that are going into business looking at how they can freelance themselves. Yeah. And I think, um, yes and no, I guess this would work for people who have already have some experience and have some sort of clientele base.

Um, I think when I was first starting out there’s no way I would have taken my advice right now. I would just jump on everything that would pay and grab a gig I could, and that was a good school. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t do that when they’re starting out because, um, what else are you gonna do that? Right. You’re just, you’re trying to figure it out. You’re trying to see. Does this make sense for me? No. Does this work or I like, I like it like this or, you know what, next time I’m not gonna book this family session because it’s not worth my time for $100. Right.

So you have to kind of learn as you go unless, you know, maybe you’re this perfect photographer with the perfect business plan and everything works according to plan. But in general, you do want to have this mindset. I think that that’s the goal that you’re going towards, that you’re not going to be doing the little things all the time or smaller jobs or whatever. I, I say take it as a little lesson as practice. Um you know, but work towards the bigger role where you can be more selective and build up the portfolio or build up a body of work that will reflect um who you’ve become and you know, then you can be a little bit more choosy about who you want to work with and the kind of work you want to produce.

I love that. So how do you get the work? Now? Are you, do you network, do you social media? Is it just you, is it still just, you know, for the most part, for the most part, I do have um I do have a virtual marketing assistant and I have uh a, you know, a photo assistant. I have a couple of other photographers and videographers first that I’m starting to bring in. So I do have a few free and obviously I have makeup artists that, but these are the people that are literally hand picked by me that will stay with me for, for a while.

Um So, but for the most part, it is still me. Um And I just forgot the question. We love you. We’re here. We’re real. I’m real for sure. What was the actual question I was answering? Um OK, so you were doing such a great job of answering something it was working. So like word of mouth. RP, I mean, photography is gorgeous. Why would you, if you see your photography, they must be reaching out. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me. So, yes, I definitely um I’ve been around for a little while.

So now I’ve come to the point where most of my work is word of mouth. Um So, which is a great place to be, which is perfect and I want to be doing that. Um But then of course, I want to get new people in and so I do some social media. I, I’m not gonna say I’m crazy on social media. I’m not, I’m a pretty private person and it’s tough for me to be really out there creating all these crazy reels or whatever. I’m trying a little bit.

Um So, you know, I do social media but I think I’m my thing is more in person. So I love meeting people face to face. So networking and really talking to people that I meet on daily basis or during the photo shoot um is where I really shine, I guess. Um So yeah, I think at this point it’s, you know, I do email marketing, I do social media, um some paid advertisement here and there. But like I said, 80% is probably more word of mouth. Let me ask you a question.

I had a photographer colleague. I, I didn’t, I knew a woman who was a photographer. And about, I remember this conversation I had with her about six years ago. Now. She was primarily, she did a lot of weddings. A lot of, um, you know, headshots for corporate gigs and all that. And she said to me, she said, you know, when the iphone came out, everyone thought they were a photographer and it kind of is like, you know, everyone, Serena is a creative and a designer. So, you know, when I use Canva, I believe I am now the graphic designer I’ve always sought, right?

And so, so I remember this, this photographer saying the iphone nearly put me out of business, but she was able to pivot, right? And she of course, had experience. So I’m wondering, I’m wondering in, in, in, in this day and age where people have access to youtube and they have great sophisticated cameras on their phone. I was a seasoned professional. What? And I know you’re set apart. But does anyone ever go? Oh, well, I could just do that with my phone. Oh, I don’t need that. I, I’ll just, I’ll just figure out Photoshop by myself.

How do you respond to that? And how do you respond to that? Well, those people usually wouldn’t call me that. So don’t Right. If they, if they think they can do a photo shoot of their phone, they wouldn’t follow a professional photographer, most likely. Um, so, but you’re right. Yes, people do have access to their phones and of course it’s, you know, you know, I, a lot of pictures I take are online phone personally. Right. I don’t carry my big camera on. But if I want to put a professional image out there, I think there’s no matching, working with another human being who can see from the other side of the camera and navigate you in looking your best in the final photo and being kind of that friend with the camera, like, oh can you fix it or let me come and fix that little here over there?

Ok. Now it’s perfect. Now turn your shoulder a little bit this way. Look at me. All right. You know, he looks stupid, take a breath, look back at me. You know, the people smile naturally when I work with, I’m gonna say regular people, right? I’m not like models or creative kind of crazy magazine covers. Um When I work with regular people, connection is so important. Um that only then people can really open up and trust to be themselves in front of you. So that’s the most important, a key element from for me when I shoot is to connect with every single person that I’m working with.

Um even on a small level, even even if I do a head shot cleaning in Boston casting where, you know, where people are just starting out to be actors, they have no idea what they’re doing and I have maybe 1015 minutes with each other of them. They still try to create that human connection where they can be themselves. Um, and that’s really, really important because I think nowadays with a, I too. Right. People have these really strange looking headshots of themselves that don’t, they’re definitely not real. They don’t look really, like, feel real and they might look good.

But people like, oh, something is really off besides the back. Know that A I, but I think that’s what it is, is that human connection, you know? Right. And I appreciate you saying also, I think this is a very important lesson, those people who believe they can do better than me professionally with just, and I thought though that’s not my client Ty, that’s not who I seek to convince. And so I think that’s very powerful in knowing that your role is not to convince someone of your talent and your skill, your role is that when someone knows what they want, they can elevate their vision with a professional. Exactly.

Or, or sometimes navigate them because sometimes people don’t know what they need or want in a professional image and you would know how to get the best out of them. And that is the difference. I feel like Serena can relate to this a lot. I’m really relating to this. I mean, there’s different types of content you have the user generated content, which is, which is big because it’s real. I, I love, I love an iphone snapshot of somebody without their makeup on and being really real. But then there’s the other end and you’re the other end of that scale.

You’re the, the, the it beautiful artwork, beautiful compositions, gorgeous lighting bringing out the best of people. Now, a I just take saps out, the personality gets rid of the wrinkles, gets rid of the perfection uh imperfections that make us beautiful and, and then everyone’s just the same and dead eyes that really kill me mostly right beside the perfect everything else. But yeah, you’re right. It’s the nuance of photography and, and I, I used to do a lot of product photography for, for Zoe Coco, my former business and, and I had a photographer take care of it.

But, but you know, in the beginning I’m like, oh, product photograph, photography is easy. I’ll just, no, no, no, no. It’s the nuance, the shadows, the angles, the even AAA shadow, a hard shadow, a soft shadow. Where is it bouncing? Where is the light? The branding changes with something as simple as I’m sure a shadow. So in your line of work, it’s what image, what branding are we trying to create? Right? Like and, and it’s the subtleties that a real professional understands versus just click and shoot. Absolutely. Absolutely.

I think it’s definitely way more than click and shoot. There’s so much involved before even come into the studio to create that image. You know, there’s a lot of thinking behind it behind the scenes and uh creating inspirational boards with clients because everybody is different. Right? So I do have attorneys who want vanity parachutes, but then I have a doctor who really wants the white background and wants to uh you know, gear towards her clientele that really want to see her in a kind of clean environment.

Um So it’s important for me to get really um to get an idea from a client, how they want to be photographed. That’s the question I always ask them, how do you want to be photographed? And they always start, they’re like, huh nobody’s ever asked me that I don’t even know what that means. So, so do you use words? Do you use? OK. Do you want to be strong? Do you want to be professional? Do you want to be trusted? You know, feeling words to convey the brand?

And is that what you go through with the clients? Do you do you guys? Absolutely. But you know, similar to you probably, right. We talk about the mood or the style and give you some words, give you some key words to how you would describe your brand or yourself and how do you want what others looking at you. What do you want them to see? And a lot of times I’ll get, I want to be approachable but professional, I want to look good, but I want to put people off. Right.

So, but then with that, with that too comes different styles, right? So if I’m working with a creative, um I had a, a designer in my studio, uh a graphic designer and she wanted really colorful, kind of different type of pet shots, something unique. And, you know, she brought a lot of colorful clothes and that was so much fun to try as well. So depending on who you are and what you do, I would approach a session based on that and then of course, light it that way and guide you in such a way and pulls you in a way that complements your vision of how you want to be seen.

And that’s exactly what a I doesn’t know how to do yet right in your, in your, let me ask now that you, you know, now that it is, it is 2024 you have been doing, you know, following your passion for, well, over years, 10 years. Yeah. Well, over 10 years now, right? What’s something that if you could talk to Dina at Mass Mass uh College of Art? Right? And Dina is like, I’m going to show in every single studio and I’m gonna have these black and white shots and I’m going to be in, you know, the developing of New York.

What would you say to her? Like, what not necessarily advice but what, what would you say to her? Knowing what, you know, now, what would your future self say to that? Aspiring photographer? I think a lot of creators need to learn business. We’re all about being creative. We’re all about creating the, I mean, it, it’s accidental entrepreneurship that happens and we wake up one day and we, we realize we’re business owners. So yes, business. I, I like that. I did take a business course. I ignored it and went down the creative path and then still did exactly the same.

So that’s really nice. Having some basic knowledge wouldn’t hurt. Right. At least I think it should be a part of every school, whatever you end up doing, have one class that will show you how to manage your business money, whatever it is that you do, you know, after you leave the school because I’m sure half of the kids don’t do what they do in school when they leave the colleges. You know, even if it’s not art related. So one of the, one of the fun things we’re trying to introduce, um and that is we ask our last guest to, to ask you a question.

So I actually have a question here from our last guest and it is. And so just to warn you, just to give you a heads up, you will have this question as well. You will have to give us a question for the next person. OK. So I have a little think whilst, whilst you answer this. So the question is, um is there a time in your life that you felt um that felt your greatest? Oh, I didn’t write that down very well. Um Was there a time in your life that you can pinpoint that gave you your greatest strength strain?

Yeah, it’s a great question. This question very deep. Yes, I wasn’t prepared this Friday. You know, thinking, sorry. Um, I don’t know if it’s one moment necessarily because I feel like you don’t, even if it happens, you don’t feel that moment until some years go by and you realize, oh, that was the moment that pivoted me and how I’ve become this person after that, right. Um, I think definitely going through hurdles, um, you know, closing business, opening up businesses, all of that for sure. But I will say becoming a mom, becoming a parent, um, is something that really changed me inside, as I’m sure it gets to all women are, are men who have babies.

You know, they, they do change and, um, they think different. I don’t know, they, me, I started looking at things a little bit from a different perspective in general and I was able to, I’ve be, I’ve really grown with having Children and, you know, I was able to see the strength that it took to be physically a mother and, uh, you know, and a wife and a business owner and all of those things, it takes a lot of strength. So at the time you don’t think about it, you just kind of do and go and go, go, go and then when I look back, I do see, you know, those times in my life or those moments where, like, how did I do that?

Right. How did I get through that moment or through these months or whatever? There’s definitely challenges for sure. Um But I think my kids made me stronger if that’s, if that can be a short answer. I love that. I think that’s a great answer. And yet you went through, you started off in the US sr in a very different environment, you moved to America at a tentative age and it was, it was the humbling experience of becoming a mother that is your, you pivot. I mean, I definitely, I think, I think coming to America was such a much further away from now, right?

Um For me, that that was a very different time altogether. For me, it was definitely that kind of growing up teenage years. I’m sure everybody has their story. It was a very challenging time. I’m not going to lie. It build me up to be who I am today 100%. I mean, you had a childhood that many of us wouldn’t, wouldn’t ever be able to understand. It’s just not. But I think what that made me do is figure everything out on my own. I didn’t really have anybody to rely on much.

You know, my parents were figuring things out and, um, I, you know, I had a little sister so it was just like I had to, I had to figure everything on my own and, um, from getting my first job as a babysitter, you know, making three bucks an hour, I was always working, I would say. And so, and always finding the next thing and always figuring out, ok, what’s the next step? What from, do you know if I want to do b how do I get from a to this?

Right. Um I think that’s just the quality that I carry through now and that’s how I’m able to sleep by myself and figure it out and keep going right? Without too many extra hands. I love that. So, um, what’s your question? Have you got a question from the next person? I was still thinking about answering. I was now, I had to think about that and it could be anything. I know that was a very deep question you were asked, but it could be a question. It’s a great question. Yes.

But we do like to put people on the spot and we’re like, this has been going great. Give us a question to ask for our next interviewee and people were like what did you have for breakfast? It can be as simple or as deep as you see fit for the next dinner? Vodka. That’s the question. Bloodstream. No. Um mm OK. They come on a topic or ask about inspiration, right? A lot of times and I’m thinking for about myself too is now that all these questions made me think back a little bit is how do you find the inspiration to keep going or to do something completely different to kind of take another route if things are not working, how do you find it within you and that, you know what inspires you to do that?

Is that a loaded question? Oh, that’s perfect. That’s yes it is. But here’s what I love about it. It’s as simple as someone wants to make it or that can lead into a AAA 20 minute story about being inspired and feel so perfect. There’s no literally, even if your question was Ginger Vodka, I would be like, that is a fantastic answer that also can lead to a 20 minute story. I I would like to point out it is now nearly eight o’clock here. So my question is, you know, vodka, Gin gin for me or a Vodka for Russia.

We knew it was going to be vodka. Same Serena’s made me a gin girl. So what can I say? I’ve moved to the dark Gin. I don’t discriminate, you know, but as their thing, I just to me it, the smell of it. But, uh, that’s fair enough. We can still be friends a little too much in college too. So, those have lots of those. We all, we all do. That’s why I don’t drink tequila. I’m like it was junior year of college. Well, now that people kind of, we know more about your story.

Our listeners know more about your story. Of course, we have all the information on, on, on our website, all that good stuff. But where can people find you? You are based out of Norwood, Massachusetts, correct. I am. Yes. And how can people find you if they’re like, hey, I want something bold, artistic. I want fashion photography. I don’t want the Run of the Mill white background. Smile. Next. Where can they find you? They should call me or go on my website. It’s DNA K photography. com and my number is 6179038302.

And I can happily walk them through the next steps or what to expect or just chat and answer some questions and people just need that too. Wonderful. Like every single time we chat, I always in my head. Imagine me having this Vava Vom photo shoot with you with like the fan blowing in my hair and bright red lipstick. Like I Shereen and I chat about every single time we’re done chatting with you. We’re like, we need some, we need some dynamic shots like you just, yeah, let’s go to Boston.

Here I come. I love that. Well, listen, thank you so much for chatting with us. I think that this has been so interesting to hear again, the evolution of you as a person, but also how that has influenced your, your career and also the realness of like, hey, balancing motherhood, balancing being a business person as well as a creative. I think there’s so many bits here that are authentic relatable, but also ultimately make you you in your, in your, in the essence of what you bring to the table.

So this has been very, very, very cool to learn, kind of all the ups and downs. And honestly, after hearing the story, I’m like, oh, if Dina can like navigate life as a 13 year old not knowing the language, culture shock and she’s figured it out. There’s a bit of me that goes, huh? Uh I’m gonna be ok with a bad hair day perspective though, isn’t it? You hear other people’s journeys and you feel kind of like, oh, she figured it out. So there’s no hurdle. I think any woman cannot figure out if you know, Dina could figure out moving countries, different culture, speaking a language or navigating a form of expression.

So thank you. It’s been a very, I think just very encouraging story about resilience. I want to be creative again. Now I want to go and do something A t if I inspired a little bit of that spark, please. I make my day my day. You did, you did even, even in the essence, I think your story is you’re so composed and you tell it so brilliantly. But I think, you know, people can read between the lines that, you know, we say, oh, it was a tough formative years.

We’ve all had formative years and Puff is a nice way of saying it sucked good stuff too. But all of that bubbles up to, I think the authenticity and also when your ability to see people through the lens is the ability to see the authentic self and kind of the the image of what people want to portray, even if they might not necessarily feel it about themselves in that moment. So it all kind of bubbles up to your ability and your vision through your own experience, which is pretty cool.

Thank you. I, I tried, I’m like your hype woman. I’m like, yes, go, Dina go every day on the day and just be like, you give me a little hype here and there. So I love it. Listen, it’s natural. I hear the story and I’m like, yes, everyone needs a Dina K photography shot. So find her online, find her, you know, call her. Um Thank you so much for chatting with us, Dina. This was just lovely. Thank you so much for, for this and having you um part of this podcast.

It’s amazing and the girls are so lovely to chat with.