Today’s guest is Julia Kuzmenko, based in Los Angeles and internationally published she’s a professional Beauty, Fashion & Portrait photographer, digital artist, retoucher and educator. Julia is 100% proof that commitment leads to success in photography business.
When asking Julia to come on the show she had some concerns. She said…
I am probably not your regular photographer to talk about business of photography.
What I mean is, I have been focusing on my online business and projects and teaching all over the world and online in the past few years, so I could free myself from relying on income coming from photography clients, and shoot only what I like.
Most of the photo shoots I do are collaborations with creative professionals, and besides having a website and printed business cards I don’t do anything to find photography clients – they find me, and I either take on their assignments if I like them and if they align with my overall vision, or turn them down, if they don’t.
I was more excited than ever to have Julia on the show after hearing that!
Here’s some more of what we cover:
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to a $20 discount code for Julia's Retouching Academy: BEAUTY RETOUCH & PIXEL JUGGLER.
This is the photoshop panel Julia designed and uses for all her retouching work. The panel is designed to speed up your Beauty, Fashion & Portrait retouching workflow & declutter your workspace.
Note: Do not purchase from this link if you're a premium member.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
I just do photography for the love of it
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Julia or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
If you’d like an easy way to show Julia your thanks, and support for the show at the same time, click the link to create a tweet and automatically show you’re listening: https://photobizx.com/tweet
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple reasons. Firstly it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!
Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.
If you have left a review in the past, thank you!
If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your site like I have with Amber, Marcy and Chris below.
The most helpful podcast for aspiring photographers
In iTunes by Brisbane wedding photographer Eric Murano
If you want to make photography your business, especially if you’re interested in wedding or portrait photography, this podcast is a must!
Bite the bullet and pay to be a premium member to get all of the great information that Andrew gets from his guests.
In a previous Episode… let's rock this new HASHTAG… #tog_ether
In a previous episode with Sandra Aberg, we talked about supporting one another as photographers and no matter which rung you're currently sitting, on the ladder of success, everyone loves to hear nice things about their work.
As a sign of support, Sandra and I asked for ideas for a hashtag we could use to show our support for the photographers we like and admire or simply for photography that is appealing to us. After messing around with a few ideas, long time listener and mate of mine, Paul Pennell, threw out the idea of #tog_ether. It's perfect!
If you're following photographers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or any social media platform and you like what someones doing, no matter who they are, use the hashtag #tog_ether along with any comments or on it's own to show your support. Let them know you're loving what they're creating with this simple gesture.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
RETOUCHED Magazine on Google Play
Equipment
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Thank you!
Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks Julia for being an awesome guest!
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!
That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
I had heard of the Retouching Academy from a few other photographers but hadn’t looked into it as yet, loved learning about the background of the program. I love stories where photographers are not necessarily making a living out of shooting itself. The ‘day of the dead’ images are amazing!!
Thanks Angela – great to hear you enjoyed this episode.
Julia’s story definitely has a different spin to most we’ve heard on the show and isn’t her work incredible!
You’ll be happy to know I have a couple other guest in the pipeline that aren’t making all their income from shooting alone. 🙂
I really enjoyed this episode, thanks to Julia for coming on the show!
At first when I read the description, I wasn’t sure I was going to get as much from the interview as usual – But as usual, I was wrong… 😉
I love the way Andrew is creating a good mix of interviews with portrait / wedding photographers that are very heavy on practical information, and these more freeform interviews with people who at first glance seem outside our genre of photography. These are interesting and inspiring guests with real stories to tell, and I’m always surprised by how much I get from the interviews!
It’s so great to hear someone’s unique and specific story, and Julia’s was far from any ‘normal’ path. Thanks for sharing so much, it was so interesting to hear what a long (and dedicated) journey you had to your current success! I find when I hear someone explain about how and why their specific ideas and vision came about, it somehow helps me to strengthen my own ideas and vision of my photography – even if it’s totally different! (which it is…)
My favourite moment was when Andrew asked Julia if it wasn’t more stressful to do her current kind of shoot, with all those people depending on her? And she simply answered – No, that’s what I thrive on.
I instantly thought to myself, that’s what it’s all about! I personally have no interest in shooting Fashion or Beauty, but I absolutely know what I thrive on. Just thinking about what you thrive on can be a really useful tool, especially if you want to do what Julia does and just ‘shoot what you want to shoot’.
Cheers!
Haha, love your honesty Damian and I have to say, I was having second thoughts about the episode title for fear of scaring some listeners off. Glad you stayed and listened 🙂
I think you’ll notice more of a mix in guests over the coming months too, something for everyone and always something to learn.
Absolutely love your ‘takeaway’ from the interview and I still can’t imagine the stess I’d feel at a fashion shoot with that many people relying on me. Yet weddings feel like I’m totally at home… Horses for courses hey. (no pun intended :))
Hey Andrew!
Thank you for this interview with Julia. I currently work in fashion doing photography and retouching so this really resonated with me. It’s funny, shoots are almost exactly as she describes. Although I am the one shooting, there are so many other people involved in the process that make the photos look amazing. Especially, the lighting techs, those people are true geniuses.
I’ve been trying to hone in on what kind of photography I would want to be doing. The more I think about it, the less I feel I would want to be doing weddings, although those sound the most lucrative. I also grew up painting and drawing, and so the retouching aspect also sounds like something I’m drawn to. Anyways, that’s probably a personal journey I will figure out eventually.
But I just wanted to say this podcast was much appreciated because it goes to show you that there are many avenues to make a living but still continue to do what you love and shoot what you love which is every photographers dream. She really is living the dream!
thanks again!
Hi Marianne – so good to hear you enjoyed the interview.
It’s interesting to read you have a team that includes lighting guys – I was under the impression the photographer is always responsible for the lighting? Do you explain the type of look you’re after and the techs set it up?
I truly believe success will come easier… ok, maybe not easier, maybe with less resistance if you go after what you’re really drawn to. If you’re passionate about retouching and can work that into a business model, do that! Sure, shoot wedding or portraits at the same time but chase and work on achieving your dreams.
You have to keep me updated now, I’d love to hear how your life and business progresses – stay in touch!
And thanks for adding your comments, it’s good to hear from you.
P.S Did you hear the interview with Sandra Aberg? I’m sure that’s another that will resonate with you 🙂
Hi Andrew,
It may be different depending on the scale of the shoot. But if it’s simple product shots, I deal with the lighting but if it’s high concept editorial, I leave it to contracted lighting techs. You just explain the lighting and style you want and they basically know exactly how to set it up to make it happen. It’s incredible!
It’s interesting because many of those techs are also photographers who just happened to enjoy the lighting side as well, much like Julia who finds she enjoys the retouching side along with photography. There are just so many aspects to photography.
I will definitely listen to Sandra’s interview. I’m slowly making my way through all the interviews. thanks so much for the recommendation!
Hey Marianne – the idea of lighting techs sounds awesome!
Interesting to hear many of them are photographers too.
From memory, Gina Milicia and Helena Price used lighting techs too – there’s another couple of episodes worth checking out for you 🙂
Hope you’re enjoying a great week!