Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebecca Musayev. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rebecca, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?

The Art of Listening:

Before starting my own photography business, I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian and dedicated most of my life to that profession, working as a veterinary technician, attending an Ivy League school specifically for a degree in animal science, and eventually being accepted into vet school.

One important life lesson I learned through that journey is the art of listening. I believe that listening is a skill not many people learn early in life—the ability to fully listen, hear, and understand someone, even if their thoughts and opinions differ from your own.

I had the privilege of working with a veterinarian who had mastered this skill. He could sit back and listen attentively to clients, speaking only when it was his turn and the right time. He had an exceptional ability to grasp people’s feelings and viewpoints, always making them feel seen. I was consistently impressed by this, especially during moments when people weren’t speaking kindly; sometimes, they were angry or upset. Nevertheless, he remained calm, simply listening. During my years working in that veterinary practice, especially while working alongside that vet, I absorbed that invaluable lesson—the art of listening.

I used that opportunity, my time in the veterinary world, to learn a few things. First, life has a way of guiding you to where you’re meant to be. Don’t become fixated on your preconceived plans for your life. Always remember that God’s plan is greater. Next, listen. Listen to people, to yourself, and to the world around you. Sometimes, amidst all the noise, taking the time to listen allows you to truly hear people and serve them best.

Rebecca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a luxury wedding and legacy photographer. I have always dabbled in photography. My dad was into photography and passed his passion down to me. From the time I was a little girl, I loved capturing moments and having a camera in hand. I started in film photography, always taking classes throughout high school, and developing my images in the darkroom. I continued to take classes throughout college. Never did I imagine in my wildest dreams I could make a career doing this side hobby, but now over a decade later, I’ve been a full-time professional photographer.

I am more than a photographer, rather a storyteller. I love capturing the real moments in people’s lives. I am most proud of the people I have been able to serve through my gift of photography. I am apart of the huge milestones in life, that is something that means so much to me because it is. much larger than ourselves. It’s a piece of history, a piece of someone’s legacy. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think photography is so personal to the photographer. We pour so much of our time and passion into our craft. When someone likes or dislikes our work, that is also taken so personally. Even in regards to the business aspect of our career, the moment we click the shutter, the copyright is ours. We’re so used to the mentality that these are our images.

Over the years in my business, I had to unlearn this. I had to learn that these images, these moments are not about myself, my art, and me, but rather to serve others. Instead of trying to change things to “perfect” the image, capture it the way it is shown. If clients ask for a specific image in color that I had put in black and white, give it to them.

Photography is not solely about the art but serving others and being a part of someone else’s story.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I worked a full-time job to pay for my gear and eqiupment. It was like living a double life. By day I worked to pay for my business and by night, I spent hours upon hours learning my craft and immersing myself in the industry. The saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” could not be more true. Becoming a photographer does not happen overnight. It is a long road of learning and creating a business that attracts your ideal clients. Eventually, I got to the point where my business required more of my time, and was also making more than my day job. That’s when I knew it was time to quit my day job and become a full-time photographer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rebeccamusayev.com
• Instagram: rebeccamusayev
• Facebook: rebeccamusayev