Check Out Petra Persaud’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Petra Persaud.

Hi Petra , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I am Petra, (Czech-American) a European photographer living in sunny Southern California. My main focus is weddings and couples 🙂

I was into photography ever since I got my first disposable camera as a child. From there I kept developing my interest in this hobby, but I never had any thoughts about starting a business as a photographer back in the Prague/Czech Republic where I was born and raised. I came from a 9-5 corporate job and did photography on the side when someone asked a favor. After I met my now husband and moved to the US, I had a few months to figure out what type of work I would do once I was legally allowed to work in the US. All my friends gave me the same advice: follow your dreams, it’s America, everything is possible! That made me stop and think. I wondered what the hell are my dreams? What do I really like? I pondered that question for a while until one day my husband asked me what I was truly passionate about. I was begrudgingly getting used to the idea of joining the corporate world again, when he told me “Look at your phone, you have over 60,000 photos! You have an eye for this!” and to be honest the signs have been with us all along.

Taking this as a “sign”, I decided to learn as much as I could about photography. Unfortunately, at that moment Pandemic hit and there were not a lot of opportunities for in-person learning. I decided to improvise and began learning everything online from YouTube and as many digital workshops that I could find. Once pandemic restrictions softened, I started attending styled photo shoots and working as a second shooter with more experienced photographers. I realized firsthand that it’s not an easy business, but I chose to challenge myself and adopt the mantra “if not now then when?” I started to ask friends and family if I could do photos for them to build a portfolio while I began to build my online presence, my website, and digital marketing strategy. One very important thing I learned is that everything changes month-to-month, so you always need to be open to upgrades and just keep showing up. I got my first few bookings, word of mouth began spreading, and here we are now!

Now, as I became a mom it’s even more challenging to keep up with my business and maintain that work & life balance, but so far everything is working well and I can keep creating timeless memories for my clients and be a role model for my daughter.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My photography career started during COVID, which was a challenge in itself. But we made it through, and everyone knows that story haha. Of course, there were struggles — imposter syndrome, countless free shoots while learning, and moments of doubt. You really have to be courageous to be a photographer, especially in this digital age where everyone is a photographer, AI is changing the industry, and staying reliable and authentic is harder than ever. So who is saying photography career is smooth, is simply lying haha.

So this is for all my creatives: don’t give up!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a wedding photographer with focus on storytelling with an editorial touch 🙂 As one of my clients said, everybody can take a good pictures, but I want ART, that’s why I book you! And that left something deep inside of me, happiness… I am creating art which will live forever every time my clients look at their pictures.

What am I proud of? I am proud of the fact I can do what I like, which is documenting people in love in all forms possible. When I am photographing weddings I always have tears in my eyes and shivers, that’s how I recognized I was doing something that I am supposed to do. And what sets me apart from others? I am European and without a filter, so it will always be fun!

What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is my family, especially my daughter, because they keep me grounded and motivated every day. Professionally, as an artist and wedding photographer, I’m happiest when I see my clients genuinely emotional and excited about the memories we created together. Knowing that my work captures important moments that people will treasure for years is very rewarding to me.

Pricing:

• Wedding packages start at $5000
• Portrait packages start at $600

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.petrapersaud.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/petrapersaudcom
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/petrapersaudcom

Image Credits
Photographer @PetraPersaudcom