We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Vasilyeva recently and have shared our conversation below.

Victoria, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

The story of my business is back to 2006 when I decided not to return to the office after maternity leave. At that moment I understood that I would like to combine being a mom, but still having a good income and being independent. My favorite hobby – photography became my own business. I learned a lot about lightning, composition, art history, editing, communication with clients, etc. I visited countless workshops and graduated from photojournalism school. All this gave me great knowledge of art. But, business is business. Now more than 15 years later I understand that I missed the most important thing – business education. This should be #1 on the list for anyone looking to start their own business. Yes, our world is changing at a tremendous speed, but the business fundamentals you need to know to succeed have not changed for many years. Proper investment in your own development will definitely bear fruit.

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 name is Victoria Victoria, and I am the owner of Victoria Vasilyeva Photography and full-time maternity and newborn photographer located in Raleigh, North Carolina. I have now been a professional photographer for 15 years for now, and have been grateful to work with hundreds of incredible families along the way. If you are like me, you are passionate about your amazing family, and are devoted to the joy, tender moments, and emotions that come with being part of it!
I believe that family is the most important thing. It is the most incredible gift that life has to offer! As a photographer, my role is to provide families with a unique experience that is comfortable and enjoyable. To do this, I take time to get to know my clients so that I can tailor their sessions to suit their personalities, wants, and visions. I am passionate about capturing the perfect photographs that families will reflect on and love for years to come.
Outside of photography, you will find me spending time with my family. As the wife of my dear husband, the mom of 3 boys, and the lover of my two cats and one dog, I’ve got my hands full! A little fun fact about me: I am the only woman living with 7 male souls, and all of their names happen to start with S! Our days are always busy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
I devote my free time to indoor green plants, hot and freshly-brewed coffee, going to the gym, dogs of all kinds, traveling, earth tones, reminiscing over old photo albums, and walking around barefoot.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My clients are pregnant women and parents with small children. As a mother, I completely understand that the first thing parents pay attention to is the comfort and safety of their child and their own. These are my number 1 priorities. Each client receives an individual approach, starting from the moment of booking and ending with the receipt of photos. I like to get to know all the family members in advance to build trust between us. When answering my questionnaire, many parents share intimate things and ask to be included in the photo session in one way or another. Their joy knows no bounds when they receive their family cards. Personal comfort, safety, trust, and confidence in the result are the main factors that my clients note.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

I will not be original if I say that Covid almost destroyed my business, like many others. Due to restrictions, I could not work for 7 months. This affected not only my bank account but also my mental health. I had severe depression. Thanks a lot to my family. I felt their support all this time. But I also had to turn to a mental therapist who helped me get through this period and get ready to return to work. Being a photographer means creating. I put my heart and soul into working with families, which means that creativity must always be nurtured.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://victoriavasilyeva.photography/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriavasilyeva.photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaVasilyevaPhotographer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriavasilyevaphotography/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/victoria-vasilyeva-photography-raleigh