We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nadya Vysotskaya. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nadya below.

Nadya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

At first photography was just a hobby for me, I loved taking pictures of my friends and sharing them on social media. One day I received a message from a stranger: “I really love your work. How much do you charge?” I was stunned, because I had no idea what other photographers charged and I didn’t plan to be a professional photographer. I came up with a random price ($50) and she agreed. My first client really loved the pictures and even recommended me to her friends. After that session I felt much more confident and slowly started building my career as a photographer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My love for photography began in childhood. My dad was a hobbyist photographer and owned a few film cameras. He let me use them to take pictures of my family, dolls, nature, etc. We developed film together and it was always so fascinating to me.

Later I got a digital camera and began taking photos of my friends and sharing them online. My very first client found me on social media and asked how much I charge. At that time I didn’t plan to become a professional photographer, I was studying a completely different field at university (international relations), but I decided to give it a try. That first paid session marked the beginning of my professional journey. I started working part-time as a fashion and portrait photographer. A couple of years later I tried family and wedding photography and immediately fell in love with capturing those heartfelt and candid moments. I became a full-time engagement, wedding, maternity, newborn, and family photography, when I graduated from the university.

I guess my intuition and attention to detail set me apart from other photographers. I know how to photograph people the way they want to be seen. I aim to capture moments that matter, while also using the most flattering angles and poses. I can recommend the best locations and vendors, share outfit ideas, and help with the wedding timeline. My clients say that I’m easy to work with and that I make them feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I currently focus on Instagram, because I think it’s the best platform for photographers. Here’s my advice on how to build audience there: * Create a business profile and set it up properly: clear bio (what you do and where), highlights (services you offer, reviews, behind-the-scenes, etc.), visually cohesive feed with your best work.
* Post consistently, ideally every day. If you don’t have a lot of content to share, use 1–2 photos in each post, you can make more posts this way.
* Use relevant hashtags and geotags. For example, for family sessions I use #sanfranciscofamilyphotographer, #bayareafamilyphotographer, etc. + a geotag of a place where I took those photos.
* Instagram ads. I tried them only this year and I wish I did it sooner. I’m so surprised at how well they work when properly targeted. They’re also much cheaper than other ads I’ve tried.
* Collaborate with bloggers, wedding planners, and other vendors. Many of my followers and clients came from styled shoots.
* Ask your clients to tag you when they share your photos.
* Send the photos to other vendors and require them to give you a photo credit in each post/Story. Credit the vendors in your posts as well, it’s nice to promote each other and they’ll probably repost your posts.
* Submit your photos to wedding blogs. Some major wedding blogs featured my work not only on their website, but also on their social media.
* Of course post more Reels, because Instagram algorithm promotes them mostly. Share behind-the-scenes videos, tips for clients or photographers, etc. Ideally post at least 3 new Reels every week.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Definitely Instagram and referrals from my clients. I also tried Yelp ads in the past, but it stopped working for me last year, so I cancelled.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nvysotskaya.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nvysotskaya_photography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nvysotskayaphotography
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/50M0Kf2yI7

Image Credits
Photos by Olga Pankova