Today we’d like to introduce you to Vera Pashkevich.
Hi Vera, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first picked up a camera when I was 16 and living in Germany. My family was military, so we moved around a lot — and the town we were about to leave had been the only one that felt like a true home. I wanted to remember it.
Taking photos that day changed how I saw my town and how I experienced the world. It allowed me to hold onto something tangible, and I fell in love with the feeling of documenting my surroundings. After we moved, by happenstance, my mother and I rented an apartment next door to a wildlife photographer who became my mentor. He lent me cameras and taught me everything I know.
The rest fell into place. Photography felt right, so I became a portrait photographer in college while studying art history. Later, I began Vera Pash Photo, which has now been an active business for over a decade.
Alright, 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?
There were many road bumps, hills to climb, and bricks-in-the-face throughout my career. The biggest challenges were financial — coming from an immigrant family, we had very few resources for me to invest in gear. Somehow, something would always come through (a friend offering to lend me money for lenses, a client when I most needed one).
I was also cripplingly shy as a child, so photography forced me into hyper-social environments that felt foreign to me. Ten years behind the lens taught me how to approach anyone and to truly feel comfortable in my own skin.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a creative and portrait photographer based out of the Pacific Northwest; I work all over the US and worldwide capturing all facets of humanity. I have two branches of my business: my personal artistic body of work and my professional creative brand. The latter encompasses events, families, weddings, and adventure sessions in the wilderness. My personal work is largely conceptual portraiture.
I believe that what sets me apart is my love for experimentation, dynamic storytelling in imagery, and my more atmospheric portraits — but it’s the relationships I form with clients that keep my heart invested after all of these years.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes! I saw incredible generosity and willingness to help from my community. In the past, when struggling, I was prone to hide it from the world.
When the early pandemic hit, I was transparent about the possibility of losing my business. 2020 had looked so promising, but between cancelations and stay-at-home orders, nearly all of my clients chose to reschedule. I felt genuinely afraid, so I reached out on social media.
Immediately, I was struck by just how many people had offered to purchase prints or book shoots for the future. I was able to raise enough money to stay afloat, but the knowledge that so many people had my back empowered me to keep going.
Pricing:
- Portraits start at $475
- Weddings start at $2150
- Elopements start at $975
- Adventure sessions are $675
- Events start at $275 per hour
Contact Info:
- Email: verapashphoto@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.verapashphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verapashphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeraPashPhoto
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/vera-pash-photo-seattle
