I've been inspired...

{learning with Spanki}

I've always tried to find ways to better myself as a person, as a photographer, and as a woman in business.  With the hectic day to day life of being a mommy, working full-time in the insurance industry, and well... photography, it's been very hard to find time.  Time to invest in becoming better, finding a way to stop the hectic days, and time to fall in love and be inspired with photography again.  Did I shock some of you?  Well let me rephrase that... I love photography, I love all the families I have met, all the relationships I have built, and all the fantastic friendships I have made.  However, I want to spend more time creating sessions that are unique to my clients, that express their families personalities, and help them pull it all together to display the images in their homes.  I want to see my clients faces when they see their images for the first time and sit with them to pick the ones for canvases and prints.

Back to growing as a photographer.  I knew I wanted to do a workshop to better my business skills and photography skills, but finding something local (because with 3 little ones and a full-time job I needed local) was extremely difficult. 

Then one day... it popped up in my newsfeed, the perfect opportunity... Spanki Mills was coming to New Jersey.  What?  No way!  I was so excited that a had an opportunity to learn from someone so amazing.  I mean, she's practically a celebrity in the photography world.  I didn't care... I just knew I had to go.  I was one of 20,000 of her closest followers on facebook.  I told you she was practically a celebrity!  Email sent to book my spot... email returned from.. yup... Spanki herself... was this for real?  Someone please pinch me, because I couldn't believe it!  
Off to NJ I go!  

The workshop was so much fun.  I got to meet 3 other amazing photographers that shared the same struggles, passions, and excitement as I did.  I spend time with them in NJ learning about ways to make our business better, we then met up with 4 soon to be graduate to take some senior shots of them, and then we hopped on a train to NYC.  Yes... NYC!  We spent the next day getting ready and hit the streets with our cameras!  As onlookers watched we photographed one another in multiple locations throughout the day and just had fun chatting up our businesses.

I needed this entire weekend, time just hanging out with other photographers away from my business.  Time with others that understand the business, how competitive it is, how valuable it is, and how we can each change what we are doing to be more successful.  We were all there for the same reason and it felt good to chat it out with them.    

I'm excited for 2014 because I've grown in 2013.  I learned from other photographers, I've learned from my clients, most importantly I've learned more about myself.

Here I come 2014!

See my entire gallery from my senior shoots here.  If you wish to learn more about booking a session with me email us at Justina Kubat Photography

good-bye 2013

hello 2014

What can I say about this year?  2013 was an amazing year for Justina Kubat Photography and by amazing I mean I photographed over 80 sessions including several weddings and added Sarah to my team.  I traveled to NYC for a workshop with 3 wonderful ladies & had the opportunity to chat with an amazing local photographer…these 2 experiences have inspired me.  They inspired me to be a better photographer, to value myself and my work, and to be a better business person.  I want to personally thank each and every one of  them for the little piece they contributed, because all those little pieces are going a very long way and are playing a role in helping me to take control of my business in 2014.  

So for you my clients, your sessions will be much more interactive, they will capture the true essence of your family, you will have the opportunity to have an in-home viewing session of your images once complete.  My goal is to provide you with an overall experience you will will remember year after year.  I will be doing less themed sessions this year as this is not my passion and my passion is to create timeless images of your family that you will want to display on your wall for a lifetime.  Although I do love themed mini-sessions I feel they are "what's hot now" and in a few years you'll pull them out look at them and ask yourself "why?"… quite similar to my thoughts when I look at those glamour shots photos I had done back in the 90's.. yeah.. I said it… who else had those "trendy" photos done?  Did you display them on your wall?  Nope… I didn't either.

  Speaking of displaying images, I want my clients to get those images out of digital form and display them on their walls for all to see.  I will no longer be offering digital images as an all inclusive package in 2014.  You will still have the option to purchase these as an "add on" to your collection.  Your session fee in 2014 will be $150 and will include my time shooting (approximately 1-1.5 hours) and planning your session, my time enhancing your photos, and will include your in-home session consultation.  Newborn session fees will be $250 and will include everything above except newborn sessions are approximately 2.5-4 hours as we operate on their schedules and each newborn (as us moms know) can operate on very different schedules. 

Session Collections of prints and digital images are available for purchase during your in-home preview session… I cannot wait to share the joy of viewing your images with you.  I've never had the opportunity to see the look on my clients faces or their reaction as they see their images for the first time.  I cannot wait! 

Thank you to all of my clients in 2013!  See you in 2014!