Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Sokolovskaya.
Hi Tina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When people asking me what made me choose photography, I like to say that photography has chosen me. Because I don’t remember myself without a camera in my hands. It has started with an old video camera when I was five and still continuing now when I’m 30. My first photo exhibition with birds and flowers was in the 6 grade of school and first money with photos I made when I was 14. I guess I always knew that it’s my passion and growing up in a small town in Ukraine, I didn’t know anything about the life or that the best way to find happiness in your life is to do what you love to do. I was just following my gut and now after all those years, I can tell you for sure my gut didn’t let me down. I’m happy to be where I am right now but it took a hell of a road.
I was born in a very small town of Druzhkivka which is on the East of Ukraine (currently occupied by Russia), I was living there until I turned 17 and then moved to bigger city – Donetsk where I went to the university. We didn’t have any photography classes so I went to pursue the career of a philologist. But as soon as I came to big city, I realized I needed a job to be able to support myself (I came from a poor family), I had an old camera, I loved to take photos, I was trying to learn photography by myself from the books and practice and I saw this ads: “Photographer needed in a night club”. I decided to shoot my shot. I didn’t have any experience but I really wanted to learn so they accepted me. It was a great experience for me and my start in professional photography. The club was fancy, so I got a lot of clients from that place and quickly escalated my business. I still remember the day in winter when I asked my university friend to be my model, I had an idea for a shoot, I didn’t know how to do all those settings yet but I called my mom and I said: “I guess I want to take photography seriously and made it my profession”. She supported me and after that, it wasn’t a second when I had to doubt that. Photography became my life.
I was gaining experience, became top 5 in my city and then in 2014 Russia has invaded my city, my whole life was ruined, I became a war refugee and had to leave everything behind… I lost my home and everything I had. 2014-2015 was a pretty hard year for me, I didn’t know what to do, where to go or where to live. But the beauty of being a photographer – no matter where you go, you always bring your vision with yourself and your talent… I lived a bit in Kyiv and Odesa and then in 2016 my friend invited me to Dubai. I did a test trip and saw great potential in that city – it was a lot of money, a lot of people who would love to take pictures and not enough photographers to provide it. So I partnered up with a makeup artist and we started to take photo trips to Dubai every couple of months and very soon after, Dubai became my second home. I was pushing myself, set up the goals and was working towards them, soon I was working with A-list celebrities and doing covers for Playboy magazine and others. In 2017, I started to travel a lot and visited 20 countries and 50 cities all over the globe from Asia to North America with my camera doing amazing shoots.
In 2019 I decided to move permanently to the city of my dreams – New York and I didn’t realize how hard it will be for me. New world, no friends, legalization, money, etc. That’s where my depression hit me, and until 2021 I was in a really dark place. It took a lot of time to put back my life together and right now, I am proud to say that I’ve never been happier and glad that I never gave up during all those years no matter how hard it was for me! I still consider the beginning for me here in the States but I’ve already achieved some goals that I had for example last year, I did my first Vogue cover here in New York, worked with well-known names and been to the most unique locations!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My whole road was with ups and downs, the biggest struggle was that I had to start my life from zero five times during the last ten years and it was quite challenging. You have not only find new clients in each new city / country but also build your whole life again. Not to mention the cultural and language differences you have to adjust to. Specially I felt it as a freelancer – I never worked on someone so I always had to take the responsibility and find a work and make a living.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a fashion photographer based in New York. Originally from Ukraine.
My website https://tinasokolovskaya.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tinasokolovskaya/
I shoot in different styles but mostly I specialize in fashion portraits. I am known for my viral photo “On the wave” I did back in 2017. It’s still viral in the internet and a lot of people are trying to copy it.
Apart of being the best in your game, my clients like to mention my communicative skills and my personality.
I like to show the beauty of people in beautiful places through my lens. My biggest flex – that I’m fast in everything. I reply fast, I act fast, I shoot fast and keep the quality on 100! It’s always quick and fun with me!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I’m really happy for those who just about to start because in 2022, it’s so much information to learn from and gain the knowledge. When I was starting to learn – it was absolutely nothing except of old 90s books. The advice I would give – please work on your personality and communication as well as your working on photography skills! Those are important! Always be pleasant, be fast replier and be flexible!
Pricing:
- $600 – One hour of personal photoshoot outdoors or studio – Can change up to 2 outfits in one location – All (around 150 pictures) with color correction and 5 pics edited in photoshop – Up to 15 days editing time from moment you choose the pictures – Advice on the location
- $950 – 2 hours photoshoot outdoors or studio – 2-3 looks/outfits in two locations – Receive all (around 250 pictures) with color correction and 10 pics edited in photoshop (basic skin retouching). – Up to 15 days editing time from moment you choose the pictures
- $1300 – 3 hours photoshoot outdoors or studio – 3-4 looks/outfit in two-three locations – Receive all (around 400 pictures) with color correction and 15 pics edited in photoshop (basic skin retouching). – Up to 15 days editing time from moment you choose the pictures
- $1800 – Up to five hours of personal shoot outdoors or studio – Can change up to 6 outfits in multiple locations – All (around 500-600 pictures) with color correction and 25 pics edited in photoshop – 5 edited pictures in the next 3 days – Up to 15 days editing time from moment you choose the pictures – List of locations – Creating the mood board and pro advice with choosing outfits
- $3500 It’s a special package we offer for those who want to have some unique idea and can trust Tina with developing all the stages of the shoot. She will choose for you everything from A to Z. In this case you can be sure this experience will be true art and unforgettable You will have: – Developing the idea from Tina Sokolovskaya – Creating personal mood board – Helping with unique poses and locations – The time of the shoot is not strictly limited – Makeup, Hair, wardrobe, etc. included (unique locations as hotels are not included and paid separately) – Receive all (around 500 pictures) with color correction and 15 pics edited in photoshop (basic skin retouching). – 5 edited pictures in the next 3 days – Up to 15 days editing time
Contact Info:
- Email: tinaphotography12@gmail.com
- Website: https://tinasokolovskaya.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinasokolovskaya/
Image Credits
My personal photos of me by Ivan Shatokhin all other pictures – my works by Tina Sokolovskaya
