We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristi Telnov a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kristi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I never planned to be a wedding photographer.  I stumbled into photography back in 2010 while I was studying for my MBA degree, and it lit a fire inside of me that seems to grow every year. Art has always been a huge part of my life. Drawing on years of experience in classical art school and growing up in the family of a fashion designer, I eventually became interested in fashion/beauty photography. After a few years in front of a camera I finally found myself behind the lens and from then everything just fell into place.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My husband gifted me my very first camera, a Nikon D90, and I was still knee-deep in graduate school at the time. After diving into the manual and experimenting with various subjects, I quickly found my passion: photographing people. With a bit of background in beauty and fashion, that’s where I focused my lens initially. Also, my Godson was just one at that time, and let’s just say his early years were very well documented!

Things took off faster than I ever imagined. My very first shoot happened in May 2010, and from there, I was shooting non-stop through the summer and fall. By winter, I found my work unexpectedly published in a few magazines, including the back cover of a sports magazine featuring a dancing shot I captured. My first wedding inquiries came from brides who used to dance with that same dancer featured on the magazine cover.

In 2011, I had the joy of capturing my first four weddings, and from then on, the bookings came pouring in faster every year. I was juggling two jobs for 3 years —my career in finance and honing my photography skills. Photography was all about passion for me at that time, not business. I never actively sought out clients or paid for advertising. I simply fell in love with wedding photography and the opportunity to infuse a bit of fashion and editorial flair, drawing from my background. It became another form of art for me, leading me to put aside oil painting completely in favor of photography.

Even as I pursued a financial career, my photography business continued to flourish organically. Eventually, the hours became overwhelming, and in 2014, I left my corporate job to focus on wedding photography.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My photography seems to undergo a complete “rebranding” every 3-4 years. While my style remains recognizable, the way I see through my lenses, play with light, interact with people, and compose shots can shift dramatically. Take editing, for instance—from classical art-inspired photos to dark and moody tones, to a more natural edit, and eventually, only working with professional editors as that consistently delivers the results I love. It’s a never-ending movement of change.

My website alone has seen about 15 redesigns to reflect the changes within my photography. It’s a significant investment of time, but each cycle allows me to rediscover myself and engage in deep self-analysis, resulting in something completely fresh and invigorating.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’d say it’s following trends. While it’s crucial to create contemporary photos, I’ve found that the latest trends can become outdated in the blink of an eye. Remember the days of selective color, like black and white photos with red roses? Looking back, it’s hard not to laugh at how quickly that trend faded. And I’m sure we’ll feel the same about some of today’s trends soon enough.

In the end, what truly stands the test of time are timeless elements: impeccable lighting, true-to-life colors, genuine connections, and an essence of elegance and class. These are the qualities that never go out of style, no matter what trends come and go.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kristitelnov.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristitelnovphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristitelnov