Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Kubat.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jordan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was an actor before I became a photographer. One day, I had a big audition and I had a friend take some headshots for me. At the time, I thought the pictures this friend took of me were really good headshots. At the big audition, the person I was auditioning for basically said they were awful headshots. I didn’t really understand why, and I couldn’t afford expensive headshots, so I decided to buy a camera and take my own headshots. The first headshots I took of myself were awful, but it lit a fire inside me to study photography and take better pictures. Soon I was practicing by taking headshots of my friends and then I started to charge them a little for each shoot. Pretty soon I was doing graduation photos and then engagement photos and now mainly wedding photos. Eventually, I quit acting and started doing photography fulltime. I love my job!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to being a photographer is full of obstacles and struggle.
Being a good artist and being a good business owner are two entirely different things. I know a lot of great photographers who are awful business owners and I know a lot of successful photographers who take “meh” pictures but they run an amazing business.
It is an expensive business to start. Gear, education, websites, marketing, insurance, etc. all cost money. There is a lot of continuing investment that is needed to keep a successful business going. I always tell people that they should save up for a camera and decent lens and then only spend money that they make from photography to buy new photo gear. If no one is paying you to take pictures, it is a pretty good indicator that you might want to consider another profession and not waste your money.
Competition/Technology. We all have cameras in our pockets these days thanks to phones. So, many people like to think photography is as simple as point and shoot. Also, with the cheap availability of DSLR cameras, you have a lot of people running around claiming to be “professional photographers” Fortunately if you are truly talented people will notice and you will get work. You just have to make sure you’re the best at what you do.
You’ll take a million awful photos before you take great photos. Becoming a great photographer is a slow learning process, but as long as you look at each image you take and ask, “what could I have done better” and then apply that to your next shoot, you will get better! Also, I look at and study a lot of other photographer’s photos. I try to figure out how they took it and get a little inspiration from people who are more talented than you.
People. Sometimes, people are awesome and sometimes people suck. You will meet amazing clients and you will meet awful clients. You will meet other photographers who are willing to share their knowledge with you and you will meet other photographers who will try to tear you down. Be a kind person and do the best you can, this will make dealing with other people easier.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Jordan Kubat Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
I photograph mainly weddings and headshots and those are the things I am most known for right now. I think I am starting to make a name for myself in the wedding photography world as someone who has “creative vision” and can make some pretty amazing photos. Being able to compose and create amazing images took a long time to learn, but I think I am finally starting to hit my stride.
I am most proud of the consistent quality of images I am able to produce as a photographer. Every bride I photograph is able to have some amazingly unique and beautiful images of them and their husband on their wedding day. Seeing their reaction to a great image of their wedding day is what I live for!
I think my creativity and friendliness set me apart. People see my creativity, so they just trust me to create amazing images for them which makes my job so much easier. Being friendly allows me to put models and clients at ease and get the best images possible because they are not stressing and usually laughing at my corny jokes 🙂 Also, because of these two things I get 90% of my work from referrals of past clients.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck is like 50% of your success. Who sees your work and when they see it. Will your next client see your work on Instagram? Facebook? Your website? Will a past client show their friends and business partners your work? Will you share a flight with your next client? Will someone who is jealous of you or had a bad experience with you suddenly start a social media smear campaign against you? Will a photo of yours go viral and lead to more work?
Its 50% luck and 50% talent that define your success of failure.
Pricing:
- My Weddings start at $2,800
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jordankubatphotography.com
- Phone: 765-413-2592
- Email: jordankubat@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jordankubatphotography
- Facebook: business.facebook.com/jordankubatphotography
Image Credit:
Jordan Kubat
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