Today we’d like to introduce you to Zusha Goldin.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. The youngest from an Orthodox Jewish family of ten. My parents are immigrants. My dad is Ukrainian and my mom is South African.
The year was 2006. My brother was getting married in Montreal, Canada. I was seven years old, and I begged my dad to get me a small Canon point-and-shoot camera to take some photos at the wedding. He wasn’t really interested in doing so at first, but after much persuasion he conceded and the camera was mine.
The day of the wedding arrived. From morning until evening, I went around snapping shots of everyone from the bride and groom, to the guests and the uninvited guests. It was a thoroughly jolly experience. Come the end of the wedding, I decide to take a look at the portraits that I’d snapped that day. I turned my camera on, clicked the media section but something was wrong. It was empty. There were no photographs stored there. I had forgotten to insert the SD card. A novice mistake, but a mistake all the same. I was crestfallen. Needless to say, many years have passed since then and I always double-check my SD cardholder.
Fast forward to around three years ago. I dropped out of high school, and I decided that I was going to pursue a career in headshot and portrait photography. My sister went with me to Best Buy and we purchased my first ever professional camera. I was so excited to mount on this journey, but literally everyone I knew except my close family and two close friends scoffed, ridiculed, and told me that I would never get anywhere and that I should get a ‘real’ job.
I decided to pay no heed to the naysayers and I dived headfirst into photography. I gathered my family and some friends, did shoots with all of them. Built a portfolio. Created a website. Created business cards. I was ready.
A few weeks went by with not much happening until a friend of mine told me he has tickets for me to attend Tribeca Film Festival in NYC. I attended and handed out my cards to every single person there. Actors, producers, directors, guests. Everyone.
I did one shoot from Tribeca, but the real breakthrough was this… I was watching Game of Thrones and I was like, why don’t I message all the actors and try to do photoshoots with them.
I went through all my favorite movies and tv shows and direct messaged all the actors on Instagram. A few replied, even fewer didn’t.
Over the past three years, I worked tirelessly to establish a name for myself in the LA and NYC areas. I’m very blessed to do what I love and love what I do.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m going to be very honest with you. The biggest struggle for me is definitely self-doubt. Our brains are such powerful tools, and whatever we set our minds to do we can 100% do.
All of us here in the creative industry know more than anyone how hard it is to lack the security of a steady paycheck. The security of knowing whether you’re actively building toward something great, or if it’s all a big mistake.
Self-doubt kicks in and makes me think: you’ll never be successful, who do you think you are to think you can actually make it, it’s such a competitive field.
But it’s the small wins which makes it all worth it. When you have those small victories that make you want to never give up. EVER.
I have these dreams, which I’m making into goals, which I’m then turning into a reality. I have a vision and I seek to pursue it. It’s a beautiful quest for a something I love.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a photographer creating winning images for celebrities and business executives. I specialize in headshot, portraiture and lifestyle photography.
Every single photographer has their own unique eye. If you give my equipment to another photographer, they will get wholly different photos than me or anyone else because they see the world through an entirely different lens (no pun intended).
For my service to clients, it’s not just about the portraits, it’s about the experience. I’m a firm believer that the experience from the initial inquiry until after the photos are delivered is the most important thing. My clients should leave the shoot knowing their worth and feeling their best self, and when they receive the portraits, they feel that experience all over again. I try to make sure of that.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Faith and family. Faith in myself. The belief that I can do what I set my mind to do. We create our own destiny. We create our own luck. I know I’ll be successful because I have faith in myself.
Family, because you need a support system when you’re pursuing what you love. I’m blessed to have a loving family who supports me unconditionally.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zushagoldin.com
- Phone: 347-526-4581
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zushagoldin
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