Today we’d like to introduce you to Vlad Vasylchenko
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 am originally from Ukraine. I was born in the beautiful city of Brovary, located 15 minutes from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. I spent my entire conscious life in Kyiv, where I obtained a higher technical education. However, even during my studies, I was passionate about creative pursuits: photography and music.
Since my youth, I have always had a small Olympus digital camera in my hands, capturing photos of everything that caught my eye, mainly people and nature. I organized my first photo exhibition when I was in the 10th grade. I created a series of works dedicated to the issue of AIDS, and on World AIDS Day, December 1st, my exhibition opened.
Then, absorbed by the academic process and a new stage in my life in the form of college, I put aside photography and focused on studying music. This captivated me deeply, and for a long time, I was involved in music as a DJ. However, I also continued to photograph for personal enjoyment and for my friends.
Due to war in Ukraine, I had to emigrate to the United States. I ended up in Charleston, and after a few days, I realized that I couldn’t stop using my phone to photograph the beauty around me. You know how much beauty there is in Charleston: from nature and architecture to people. I felt a certain call to start photographing again and to return to my beloved craft on a new level.
I went to Second State Coffee, ordered a cup of cappuccino, and worked until closing time, creating my website, buying a domain, and designing my business cards. The start was made!
Thus, I began my business, capturing the beauty of people and their special events, such as weddings, engagements, or mini-sessions for memories. Another one of my directions is video creation. I make stunning videos for businesses, telling their stories or creating amazing promotional videos.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
What I am doing now holds special meaning for me. My life here in Charleston is a new chapter, a fresh start. I left everything behind — everything I had, knew, and achieved over the years of my life.
Upon arriving in Charleston, I faced a tremendous number of challenges that I had to overcome. My first challenge was the language. My English proficiency was between A2 and B1, and for the first few weeks, I struggled to understand the people around me. I recall that time with horror. As someone who can talk to anyone, I was forced to walk around in silence like a fish out of water because I simply couldn’t understand the people around me.
Fortunately, I quickly adapted and got used to the local accent. Hard work and English lessons at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church paid off!
I started saving money for equipment, working a lot, and studying an enormous amount of information and local business laws. At first, I simply walked around King Street with my camera, photographing people on the street in a street style manner, recording the entire process with a GoPro, and posting it on TikTok in hopes of gaining popularity and exposure.
This did not yield quick results, and I couldn’t keep it up for long. The weather became very hot, and it took a lot of time. Step by step, I sought out local communities, attended various events, and promoted myself in every possible way. This started to bear fruit!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My business is called Vlad Photo – [https://vladph.com/](https://vladph.com/). My main areas of work include:
– Wedding photoshoots
– Real Estate Content creation
– Content Creation for Businesses
I have extensive experience in working with weddings dating back to my time in Ukraine. As a DJ, I participated in organizing numerous weddings of various levels and scales. Sometimes these were large events, and other times they were private affairs with celebrity guests. This experience not only provided me with an understanding of the industry but also allowed me to delve deeper into its processes.
Therefore, Charleston has become an excellent place for me to start my career, as there are many weddings held here! I fondly remember how enthusiastically I shot my first weddings in Charleston, studying cultural differences and immersing myself in the wedding process in this city – the true wedding capital of the southern states.
I was fortunate to meet Elizabeth from Elizabeth Elkins Events, who trusted me and helped me take my first steps in the wedding industry.
Additionally, I am passionate about flying drones, so I enjoy creating photos and videos for real estate sales. This brings me great pleasure and keeps me busy during the week when there are no wedding photoshoots.
In today’s world, it’s impossible to imagine a day without short, dynamic videos. Therefore, many people often ask me to create something for them or their businesses because they are all impressed by my videos. I realized that if people enjoy it and I love doing it, then that’s exactly what I should be doing.
So if you need to create content for social media or tell the story of your business, to get closer to your customers and provide them with value, I will gladly help you do it succinctly, modernly, and with high quality.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
With my company Vlad Photo, it’s not just about capturing moments; it’s about weaving stories, immortalizing emotions, and painting pictures with pixels.
My expertise in wedding photography stems from years of immersion in the art of celebration. As a DJ, I didn’t just set the mood; I became part of the fabric of countless weddings, from grand galas to intimate soirées. This background infuses my photography with a unique understanding of the rhythm and flow of special events.
Charleston, with its vibrant wedding scene, became my canvas for a new chapter in my career. With each click of his camera, I capture not just images but the essence of Southern romance and hospitality.
Pricing:
- Wedding packages start at $2000.
- Mini Sessions for 2024 – Cost is $400:
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vladph.com/mini-session
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=ru
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vldslvvslchnk/
- Other: https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-photographers/vlad-photo
