Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Berges.
Hi Justine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started as a Social Media Manager after graduating from an MBA in the United States, a Master in International Business and a Bachelor in Foreign Languages applied to Business Administration in France.
I’ve always wanted to have my own company. I grew up doing photoshoots with my friends and in my jobs, I was in charge of photoshoot organization, from concept to realization. So when it seemed obvious that the American corporate world was not a great fit for me, I launched my photography business. I started with a super basic camera and practiced over and over again, shooting for free. Until I was able to gather a good enough portfolio to start booking clients. That was last year. Since then, I purchased professional camera gear, I have rebranded, launched my website, created a full client experience, hired an assistant and outsourced certain aspects of my business. I have honestly never worked as much as I have this past year, but I also have grown so much, been happier, and proud of my accomplishments.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel like the road of entrepreneurship is never free of obstacles. I think the main challenge is the constant “egg and chicken” dilemma: you need to invest in your business to make it grow, but your growth is what provides the funds for investment. I have 100% overworked myself to be able to grow my business to where it is today. I am now at a point where I can afford outsourcing some aspects and earning some time back for myself.
Outsourcing has been another challenge – it can be so hard to let go of something you were in total control of. I was afraid of not finding someone that would care as much as I do about my clients. But I did, and it has been such a relief. Ultimately, hiring others to do the things we don’t know how to do best, or we don’t have time to do properly, makes your business better – not worse.
From a foreign perspective, managing finances and being self-employed has been a challenge. I’ve had to get familiar with the tax system here, banking (that whole credit system and credit score is non-existent in France), pension and health care choices. All of this has been a real learning curve for me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Destination Wedding Photographer. I photograph people in love worldwide, and honestly, I can’t think of a better job. My philosophy when it comes to photography is to capture the subtlety of what makes a couple’s story so unique. There’s truly no two stories and relationships that are the same. I love to hear all the coincidences that lead to two persons being together and how that affects the way they love each other. We all have our own way to love and to be loved. These are the things we can’t quite put into words, but that can be photographed.
During weddings, I love that I get to document once-in-a-lifetime moments – you hugging your brother that you never hug, your grandma shedding a tear, the emotions on your dad’s face. The photographs I take become family heirlooms. They are memories, not only for the bride and groom, but for their parents, grandparents, their future children, and the children their children one day. Documenting love and life’s most precious moments is such a beautiful and important task.
I think that what sets me apart is my culture. In the French culture, we always try to be subtle. I know people see it as snobbery, but in my opinion it is subtlety. It’s never “in your face”, it’s understated, it’s simple, elegant, effortless and timeless. These are all concepts I try to stand for in my photography style. I almost never photograph people kissing. It’s so obvious. But I will capture that look, laugh, hands holding, glass clinking and tight embrace.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Personality-wise, my parents raised my brother and I to be very independent and free. We had a framework of rules, but within that framework, we were free. I never felt like there was something I could not do, achieve or be.
Growing up, I had an interest in cultural and artistic subjects, but I was terrible at maths and anything scientific really. I wanted to be a wardrobe stylist for historic movies or a fashion historian. I think I loved the romantic feel of the 1800s, the extravagance of their wardrobe, and the elegance of their aesthetic. The romance has definitely stuck to me, and I love to document it.
Contact Info:
- Email: justinebergesphotograph
y@gmail.com - Website: justineberges.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/justineberges/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ justinebergesphotography
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Kristelle Boulos Photography Other Photos: Justine Berges Photography
