Check Out Kinga Sarabia’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kinga Sarabia.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always had a love for photography. I attended Beverly Hills High School and always took photography as my elective. As the years went by and through my travels, I loved photographing people. In 2010, a good girlfriend saw some of my work. She just had twins and had their photos done by another photographer. She expressed how unhappy she was and asked me if I could do her pics. So I did! Even her husband sent me a message of how many compliments he received on the photos of his baby girls. Thirteen years later, I don’t only have the pleasure of doing their annual photos, but I am the house photographer for the firm’s headshots. Every time a new attorney is hired I have the pleasure of doing their headshots.

Few months after I had my 4th child, I decided to take my kid’s photos for a Holiday card. The texts and emails were endless, with my friends and neighbors asking who took the photos and made the card. The response was easy, as I was the photographer and put the card together. In 2011, I did all my friends and neighbor’s family photos for just a donation as I was learning my camera. Every weekend, I attended photography workshops to learn my camera settings and composure. Shortly after, I put together a website and was in business by 2012!

My business is mostly word of mouth. Every year more and more clients contact me from referrals of their friends or family members. Since I am a mother of four, I am great with talking to kids and finding subjects to talk about while I photograph them instead of just asking them to pose. I bring fun energy to every session. This job also gave me the flexibility to raise my kids as a single mom.

In 2012, a local elementary school in OC approached me to be their Fundraiser photographer. I had over 60 families who participated. And most are returning clients!

When I moved back to Los Angeles in 2019, I discovered event photography. I am the head photographer for GBK Brand Bar. The company specializes in Celebrity Luxury Gifting suits. This led me to work with a few influencers and join them on their travel as well as local work. One in particular is Kinya Claiborne / Style and Society.

I expanded the business to events, small weddings, headshots, babies, HS Seniors, boudoirs, food, and products. I have enjoyed starting off with the families with babies and now capturing their weddings. I have the most generous and kind clients that I know will have a working relationship for many years to come. Many feel like my own family.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Facing the initial challenge of relocating to Los Angeles to grow my business, I felt like I was starting over, juggling being a single mom of four while seeking clients. Despite expectations of picking up new clients in LA, loyalty to local photographers made the transition difficult. Referrals from a friend in real estate helped, but the inconsistent workload led me to maintain a balance with my loyal OC clients.

Specializing in family and HS senior photography, the seasonal nature of the job meant back-to-back shoots from October to December and March to May. An unexpected opportunity arose in February 2019 when Gavin Keilly, who is the CEO of GBK Brand Bar and considered to be “The Godfather of Giving” invited me to work the Pre-Oscar gift lounge, marking a shift beyond my usual work and providing a local opportunity. He is known for his fabulous luxury gift lounges to the celebrities. He has a “consistent turnout and support from celebrities like Viola Davis, Helen Mirren, and numerous others”. I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I am always up for a challenge and expanding my talent. It’s important to demonstrate to my kids not to be afraid of trying something out of your comfort zone! And best part of it all is that it filed some of the gaps when work was sparse.

The second challenge came with the onset of Covid and lockdowns, hindering new client acquisition in LA. Some OC clients relocating due to Covid added to the difficulties, but considering the widespread losses, I understood the broader context.

My third and most significant challenge emerged in March 2022 – a breast cancer diagnosis. Despite being the sole provider for my family, I kept quiet about my health until I had answers. Amid tests and surgery preparations, I took on as many sessions as possible. Surgery in May was followed by 12 weeks of chemotherapy, which I handled well, allowing me to resume work with family sessions in August. Radiation in October proved challenging, but with the support of clients, family, and my mom (who is my angel in disguise), I completed all sessions, entering 2023 with gratitude, a fresh start, and a new perspective!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being a freelance photographer is more emotionally and physically demanding than people realize. Holding a camera with a hefty lens for hours, followed by extensive computer work – sorting, discarding, adjusting colors, and performing digital touch-ups, akin to “digital botox.” Despite the move from OC to LA, with a three-hour commute, strategic timing sometimes makes it comparable to shorter distances in LA’s streets, a shared experience among many.

Over the past two years, I’ve streamlined individual sessions into “Mini Sessions,” organizing 3-4 families per location within a specific timeframe. Choosing beautiful locations that work well in the morning or late afternoon, considering lighting is crucial in photography. The mini sessions give me the opportunity for reduced sitting fees, and meanwhile, I can conduct multiple sessions in one location, optimizing efficiency and maximizing the photography experience for everyone involved.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Your support through word of mouth is invaluable to me. Whether it’s a small project or a grand endeavor, I’m always eager to embrace new challenges and opportunities. In an era dominated by AI, the human touch remains irreplaceable, particularly in the realm of family interactions. Understanding and connecting with people on a personal level is a nuanced skill that adds a unique and irreplaceable dimension to the art of photography. So, your recommendations and support not only contribute to my work but also help preserve the genuine and personal touch that sets family photography apart.

Pricing:

• $425 -$550 for Family session
• $325 starting for Headshots

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bellaskyphotography.com/
• Instagram: @bellaskyphotography
• Facebook: @bellaskyphotography

Image Credits
My daughter Bella Sarabia