**all images in this post copyright: Justine Ungaro. **
 

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear.com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as i do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

NEXT WEEK:  Leigh Caraccioli

You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

Justine, Your story is very different from most photographers in that you inherited a family photography business after you had explored the corporate world and discovered it wasn't what you really wanted.  And yet, like so many other photographers you knew late in the game and taught yourself.  Your work is beautiful and vibrant and you have so many bits of great advice in this interview. Thanks so much for being on Women and Business today.

How long have you been a professional photographer? Please tell us how you came to be a professional photographer.

I have been working as a professional photographer for 8 years now. But I was exposed to the business of wedding photography from a very young age because my mother was a wedding photographer. Her clients were always coming to our house and sometimes I would let them in and take them downstairs to the studio area and show them albums if my mother was running late. Sometimes she would take me to weddings as her assistant to help carry gear/ keep her company. Sometimes I would get to shoot. “Stay on f8 and use a flash” was my rule back then. It was always fun but I never considered it as a potential career choice. Later I got my degree in philosophy and jumped right into the corporate world, which I absolutely hated. I hated everything about it...the long commutes, the conservative atmosphere, the fact that all of my hard work was to put money in someone else’s pocket.

Then in 2002 my mother decided that she wanted to retire from wedding photography to pursue a new high-end portrait business. She had built a very successful wedding business with a stellar reputation in Washington DC and in my very limited business experience I was sure of one thing, that letting the business die was not an option. So I decided to quit my job and pursued wedding photography as my full-time career. I had a lot to learn so I just threw myself in full force and now 8 years later I am just now finally getting to the place where I have wanted to be. And of course I am still learning, still trying to get better with every job, and every year that passes.


What does your workflow look like? Do you outsource or keep everything in house?

For a while I was outsourcing my post-processing for weddings. That was great but when I looked at my numbers I realized that what I paid to an outside company to process a single wedding, I could pay to have an assistant work with me 2-3 full days a week. Hiring an assistant has been one of the best things I’ve done to take my business to the next level. The less time I have to spend on the computer, the better. Plus my assistant helps me with things like going to the post office, running errands for me, really whatever I need her to do so that I can spend my time doing the things that only I can do, or the things I really want to do.


What do you do to make your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?

For me, making children comfortable is easy because I photograph them in their own homes so they are in familiar surroundings with their things. I usually just try to play with them as I shoot, let them direct a little bit.

For adults it’s much more difficult because we have all sorts of weird insecurities about our appearance. I like to give everyone a little pep talk before we get started. I admit to them that they will likely feel silly or ridiculous for the first 10 minutes or so. That this is normal, everyone feels this way but that it will get easier. I tell them that I will give them direction when they need it. I also tell them not to worry, that they will never see any unflattering images of themselves, that those will be deleted and will never see the light of day. Sometimes I also tell them that I don’t like to be photographed either. Even though this is kind of a lie. The few times I’ve been in front of a camera, it was actually pretty fun. ;)


Your branding/ identity through out your blog and website are fantastic. How did you come up with such a great look? Did you have your website and blog custom designed? When did you know it was important to create a cohesive look for your work?

Thank you! I was very fortunate to work with Ellen Petty of Identity Kitchen (www.identitykitchen.com) on my branding and blogsite. I actually didn’t even know what my “style” was until a few years ago when my clients started giving me words to describe what they thought of my work. I heard things like “clean and classic”, “modern but timeless”, “naturally flawless” and I realized that I needed to completely redo my branding. Before that I was riding a wave of popularity of a sort of vintage look. But I got to a point where I was just over it and decided that I wanted to show work that would stand the test of time, that was free of any post-processing gimmicks or textures or color-shift actions. I wanted to put out work that I felt was worth investing in, that was clean and looked like it could have been shot with film, images that could be dated only by the style of the clothing or the haircuts of my subjects.

And then one night my husband and I were at the opening of our friend’s new art gallery.  I got to meet and chat with the artist Rob Wynne (www.robwynne.net) and was inspired by one of his embroidered paintings. It was a white canvas and embroidered onto it in white thread were the words “Almost Nothing”. And I had an epiphany that my new brand was going to be all about that idea. White on white, total simplicity, all about the images. But I needed a 2nd opinion so I went to Ellen with the idea to find out if I was just completely crazy or deluded. But luckily for me she loved the idea and so we set out to design my new brand to feel exclusive but friendly. Simple but not cold. Like a clothing boutique in Soho that only shows like 5 items of clothing but each one is exquisite.

Taking that brand identity one step further, we opted to create a website and blog within one platform. I didn’t want to have multiple sites to maintain and I didn’t really want a site that looked like a blog. This was actually the first of what has led to the inspiration for a new company Ellen just launched called Photography Blogsites (www.photographyblogsites.com), which are template blogsites for photographers. I think it’s the next best thing to having a custom-designed site.

How did you become a sought after speaker for conferences? What do you recommend women do who would like to become speakers at conventions, etc.?

Although I always admired photographers whom had carved out a niche for themselves for speaking at conferences, I didn’t really set out to do so myself. I thought that someday it might be something that I would pursue but then it sort of happened accidentally through sharing my knowledge and experience on photography forums and occasionally on my blog. When people reacted positively and started asking me to give workshops, I said “okay” and it just sort of went from there.

For those who would like to become speakers, I suggest starting on the forums. I think you need to have something to say in order to get that platform as opposed to the other way around. Developing a niche that you are known for will lead to those opportunities. Be careful of taking the stage too early. Today’s market is flooded with photographers giving workshops who have yet to really prove their abilities, business savvy, or staying power. The photographer mob can quickly turn on you if they perceive you to be a fraud.


What do you recommend to women who are just getting started in the industry?

Don’t undervalue yourselves. My mother started in this business the same way many women get into it, shooting images of her children. It was more difficult back then because everything was film so it was more expensive to turn a hobby into a business then but the same rules still apply. I think for women especially, you need to differentiate yourself between your home/ life status and your business status. Avoid calling yourself “photomom” or “cameramom” or similar such things if you want to be taken seriously. If you want to be a true professional, you need to concentrate on differentiating yourself from the amateurs/ hobbyists as opposed to grouping yourselves in with them. The more you take yourself seriously, the more your clients will.


I love your use of light. What is going through your mind as you’re at a shoot?

For the most part, I love well-lit beautiful skin tones so that’s what I’m after. My work tends not to be particularly dark and moody but I have my moments. When I have to choose between exposing an overall scene and for the skin tone of my subject, I will almost always choose to expose for the skin. For what I do (weddings and portraits), creating flattering images of people is the most important thing to me.

I tend to shoot a lot with available light but I think it’s important to know how to add light when you need to or how to manipulate what is already there. Sometimes if I’m after  more editorial or commercial look, I will bring additional lighting to a portrait shoot even if it’s in a client’s home. There are no rules that say you can’t use studio lighting on location...but you need to learn how to make those tools work for you.


You are both a wedding photographer and a family portrait photographer. How do you market both sides of your business? What differences do you see in the way you market? What similarities?

I am very passive in my marketing for both sides of the business actually. I prefer to operate on word of mouth referrals as opposed to casting a wide net to reach people whom have never heard of me. I find that it is much easier and takes less time to book a potential client who is already familiar with me as opposed to someone who has found me through an internet search, or happened upon my site accidentally.  I think that my time is better spent taking care of my current clients who are happy to refer me as opposed to spending time and money on ads, mailings or other traditional forms of marketing. I don’t want a lot of inquiries, they are time consuming to deal with and most lead no where. I want just a few inquiries but the right ones. So I focus my efforts on letting my clients sell me instead of trying to sell myself.

I want to work with clients who see me as the first and/ or only option, not those who are shopping around for a photographer.



You travel quite a bit. How do you make this easier on your marriage?

I admit, it is hard to be away a lot. Luckily though I have a very understanding husband who is an artist himself and so he knows that when I’m away, whatever I’m doing is important to me. However, I’ve decided that I will only accept jobs that take me away from home that pay me a substantial amount of money. Otherwise, what’s the point of being away if I can’t contribute to the financial health of our household? Oh yeah, and I also try to buy him a present each time I go away, something that will make my time away more comfy for him...one time was a really nice down comforter for our bed. :)


What three products or things help you stay organized?

I have used Pictage for my weddings since 2003. I don’t want to be bothered dealing with reprints for weddings etc. so Pictage handles all of that for me. I also use their P3 system for credit card processing so that I don’t have to have a separate merchant account.

I use ShootQ for my studio management needs. All of my contracts/ billing etc. are done through ShootQ, it has really streamlined my business.

Photojunction makes album design quick and easy for me. It is also integrated with Queensberry so my album design and ordering can be done completely within one system.



What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content and blissful life?

Take “me” time. I think that women often feel as though they have to sacrifice themselves for others. But sometimes you have to put yourself first. Go get a massage or a mani/ pedi...whatever allows you to be alone in your thoughts and get in a little relaxation.

Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of traditional “female roles” if that’s not what you see for yourself. You can design your life however you want it to be. I’m lucky to live in a place (Los Angeles) where I see families everywhere who have completely redesigned the way their careers and home lives blend with one another.

Travel if you can. Even getting away for a weekend can leave you feeling refreshed and give you new eyes and the ability to be more creative.

Volunteer. This is a newer one for me but this past year my volunteer work in Haiti has been one of the most personally satisfying experiences of my life.

Don’t try to do everything yourself. Learn to recognize when you need to hire help or outsource certain parts of your business or your life. Whether you need an assistant, someone to clean your house or extra child care, I think it shows strength not weakness to know when you need help.


To see more of Justine's work:

Website

Blog

 **all images in this post copyright: Justine Ungaro. **

thanksgiving.

My friend, Becky, is doing a beautiful project.  She's inspired me and I want to do it, too.  Everyday this month she's beginning a post with "I appreciate..."

For a couple of years I've been keeping a Love book.  In it I record 5 things from each day that I loved.  I've shared an entry one time here on my blog.  This month, I'll do it here on my blog...hopefully, every week day...and if I'm somehow extra efficient...I'll include a picture.  It may have nothing to do with the post but at least it will have some visual eye candy.

Day One.

I love this post about being gentle with each other. What sign would you be wearing?  What sign would your friend, the person you're passing, the checker at the grocery store, your child be wearing?

I love that the early chilly mornings are now accompanied by a fire in our fireplace.

I love my husband.  He works like crazy and loves like crazy.  And I'm crazy about him.

I love planning Amercian Girl parties with my 3 sweet little missies.

I love looking out my window off my back deck and seeing pinks, oranges, rusty reds, deep purpley reds, greens sprinkled on the tips with yellow and burnt orange.  I love all of those gorgeous colors so close together with squirrels running in and out of their rainbow.

I love talking with my friend Melanie.  She is a caring, soulful, inspired, friend and person.  I love that she can say just what needs to be said in the most compassionate and real way.  She is dear to me.

Do you have similar project going on this month?  If so, let me know!

appreciate. LIFE.

apple picking.

We worked hard to make this shoot happen and we were so glad that we did; especially when we arrived at the apple orchard to find out that it would be the last day fof apple picking for the season.

Looking for apples from top to bottom and picking up plenty of apples that were long past their prime was fun.  We added in some book reading and bubbles for good measure...more to come later.

happy. LIFE.

** I'm posting these images because I love the movement...they have nothing really to do with this post. :)  **

when your nose looks this good.

Yesterday at church Grace was snuggled up next to me; she looked up at me with what I expected to be with hearts in her eyes and instead received a look of disdain.  She, in a very NOT discreet code kind of way, reached up to her nose and started brushing it as if to tell me, "Mom, you have something really creepy and disgusting on your nose."  In an embarassing code kind of way I wiped at my nose only to discover that it wouldn't wipe away.  You see, my nose is cracked and peeling and looks like it has dandruff from using FOUR boxes of tissues on it in the last 14 days.

So, needless to say, I've barely stepped outside my house for the last two weeks.  Not that I was headed to skinny-land before I got sick; the scale has definitely not been tipping THAT direction but I'm definitely feeling like I really need to get my muscles a bit less flabby.  Mostly, I don't fit into a single pair of my jeans and I've taken to wearing Nacho Libre's stretchy pants (leggings) and a very pregnant looking shirt/dress kind of things (I'm not pregnant, although it would be nice to say that that's why I've gained weight lately).

Today I committed to getting out of my house and walking.  I went for 10 minutes and could really feel that not only am I sick and out of breath I'm also out of shape and out of breath.  I'll be out there tomorrow pounding the pavement now that only my nose is running and I've kicked (fingers crossed) the fatigue, fever, body aches, headaches, and other good stuff associated with whatever the heck I've had for too long now.

So, for all of you who are wondering what to do about your exercise routine when you're sick, I thought I'd do a bit of research.  Here are a couple of links with more info:

Exercise could help you keep from getting sick: This research was done recently by a guy who studies colds at the University of Virginia.  He concluded from his study that people who exercise at least 5 times a day can cut their chances of getting sick by 30%.  So not only will exercise help you get healthy it can also keep you healthy during flu season.

Working out when you're sick: When you're sick with a cold or the flu and you're feeling run down, tired, suffering from fever, body aches, head aches, etc. you should refrain from exercising.  Your body fights a catabolic state when it works out...it's trying to do the same thing when it fights the flu or a cold and it will cause you to just feel that much more fun down and tired.

Another finding from this research is that sleep is so vital.  I've talked about that before on Move it Monday and it's always worth repeating.  Your body burns fat better when you get a good night's sleep and it also keeps sickness away.  People who sleep at least 8 hours a night are much less likely to get sick than people who don't get ample sleep.

So when you're sick take care of yourself...just like your mom always said.  Get plenty of sleep and drink lots of fluids.

healthy. LIFE.

favorite.

Grace is a reading maniac.  Can't get enough.  Loves to read everything in sight. 

Junie B. Jones especially.

She's a crazy girl that Junie B. Jones.  Unpredictable and nutty.

At school they had a 'dress-up-as-your-favorite-character-day'.

Gracie was Junie.

In every way.

mania. LIFE.