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Jan. 4, 2010 - Featured Members |
| Name: Kristina Juodyte, owner of PhotoKisses
Location: Rochester NY How long have you been in business?: I shot my first wedding in 2003. Even though the first attempt was amazingly pathetic, here I am 6 years later! How did you get into to photography? Thanks to my parents I've always owned cameras. From a professional standpoint, I got a job at my college's PR department one summer, and they happened to have a studio. I photographed a lot of my friends that year, which turned into couples, then into engagements, and then into weddings. Tell us how networking with other photographers has affected your business: This is my favorite question! I love networking. Before Facebook and Twitter, it was difficult to find other photographers. While in college, Victor Sizemore and I crossed paths, but unfortunately we never got to shoot together. When I moved to upstate NY, I impersonated a bride and went to a bridal show so I could introduce myself to photographers there. That led me to a wonderful wedding photographer Rachel Gracie who kindly allowed me to second shoot with her for two seasons until my own business took off. I will be forever grateful! However, the BIGGEST networking success came from - you guessed it - the [ b ] School! It was during one of those live studies that I let it slip that I was going to Spain, another member chimed up that he lived in Spain, and after class we chatted on Facebook and before long it was arranged for me to second shoot a wedding with him in Seville! His name is Marco Markovich I also organized a [ b ] School photographer GTG in NYC last year for 15 members. Gosh, I could keep talking about networking for hours! What is your favorite part about shooting weddings? My favorite part of the day is when I finally get the couple alone. Here in upstate New York most brides choose to avoid being seen until they walk down the aisle - so for the couple, and for me, the moment when they are finally alone after all the formals, is such an "ahhhh" moment, I could just melt. All the stress and people are gone, and it's just us. I try to make that moment last. We go for a walk, I let them cuddle and kiss, and we capture some amazing images during this time. All my favorite pictures are from this part of the day - and that's why I love shooting weddings. It's LOVE. What's your favorite piece of equipment these days? I travel light - so all my pieces are dear to me. I recently purchased a macro lens for the ring shots, which has been awesome not only in letting me capture amazing images, but also in increased bookings! Brides see the ring shots and it draws them to me, because they start wondering what I could do with their own rings. What is your favorite iPhone App? Oooooh... that's an easy one. I love to read, so I use Wattpad all the time! It's great because I can read at night and I don't need a bedside lamp. I also use Twitteriffic and Facebook, the WeddingWire and Wordpress apps. Oh, and Skype. I have an iTouch but with Skype and headphones with mic, I can talk to my family just like if it was a phone (grandparents are in Lithuania, mom is in Spain) My Skype is "kristina.photokisses" if anyone wants to chat! I'm always online! :) Please tell us something personal about you so we can get to know you better: Hmmm... Ok. I have three cats and two parrots. My favorite season is winter. I ski and skate. I have been to 26 countries, most of them either with my mom or with choir. I studied a total of 8 languages, but unfortunately only really know two now (Lithuanian and English). I have a Masters degree in choral conducting, but I haven't done anything with my degree other than sing in the shower. I am addicted to the game Bejeweled to the point that it interferes with my sleep schedule. I am horrible at housekeeping. I am sociable, love to laugh, but I also like to be quiet and listen. Where do you see the industry heading in the next 5 years: The technology is making it easy for everyone and their brother to be a photographer. I can totally see technology become extremely advanced but also extremely user friendly. And when everyone knows how to use the equipment, the selling point will no longer be technical skills but people skills. That means more interaction, more friendships forming between photographer and client, and it will make for a more powerful referral base. I see word of mouth advertising along with social media overpower paid advertising/marketing. Who's your favorite vendor in the industry?: My local vendor, Bouquets by Bonnie, has helped me book at least 5 weddings this year, we refer each other like crazy. I give her tons of pictures from every wedding she does flowers for, and she tells every bride about my photography. It works wonders both ways! A national vendor that I absolutely love is Vision Art. Their wedding albums consistently blow me away, and clients absolutely LOVE them. How important is your blog? I have a blogsite, so I would say it is of utmost importance. I ditched my website last year and went to blog only. I completely redesigned it as well, to incorporate my logo and colors. The feedback has been very positive. Brides love the funky bright look, they know we will have fun on the wedding day based on the look of my blogsite. Yay! I designed it myself and I think I've succeeded in making it my own. By the way, the lips are mine :) How has Facebook and/or Twitter impacted your business? Facebook has been fantastic in connecting with vendors and brides and booking weddings. In the last year alone I booked 6 weddings through Facebook (tagging the bride after the wedding, and her friends finding me through the link back). I am still trying to figure out Twitter. At this point I don't think it's doing much for me, other than letting me post my status directly to Facebook and vice versa. I sure enjoy *ahem* stalking other photographers though! My personal Facebook page My business page Follow me on Twitter One thing that I've recently started doing on Facebook is photo freebies. It's small things like free sessions with someone's pet, or a senior session, or discounts on prints, but it attracts more fans because girls share good news like that with their friends, and eventually they know that if they're a fan they will come across a really good deal, like a free engagement session or even free wedding coverage! Favorite thing about [ b ] School? Study Hall! I learn so much. When someone asks a question, even if Becker or his guest don't get to it, someone on chat or Twitter will answer it. It's a great learning environment but it's fun also because you get to chat during class. Are there any workshops or upcoming GTGs that you'd like to plug? Oh gosh, no. I'd be a bad teacher! However I would like to plug my good friends Zach and Jody Gray of Gray Photography - they do some amazing in camera lighting and post production workshops. They travel, so you may catch them in your area the next time they're around. Tell us what you like about the attached favorite photographs: My favorite photographs are ones that have a story behind them - either to my couple or to myself. This is my favorite image from the wedding I shot with Marco in Seville. My boyfriend who also traveled with me was "wind" in this shot, positioning the veil and letting it go at the right moment. The full post from this wedding can be seen here: |
| This photograph meant a lot to the couple. It was taken in front of the University of Rochester's library, where they first met. Now the couple lives in Ohio, so coming back to their home town and having pictures taken at their special location was the highlight of our day. |
| The newlyweds disappeared sometime during reception. I went looking for them, and found them admiring the most beautiful sunset. I snapped this image before they knew I was there. |
| This was the theme of their wedding. Kelly and David are both sheriffs and avid motorcycle lovers. She wanted to have a real life version of what was on their cake topper, favors, and decor. It was a scary few minutes because I thought that her gown would get caught! We recreated the pose perfectly though, and they were thrilled. |
| I usually take the wedding rings sometime during dancing, and travel the perimeter of the location to find fun places to put the rings on. Once I caught a bumblebee hovering around the rings! In this instance, the waiters had just brought out coffee, and the rings are resting on cinnamon sticks on the sugar tray. |
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