Today we’d like to introduce you to Slava Otovska.
Hi Slava, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My family moved to the United States through 🇺🇸, a program started by the U.S. government for Ukrainians from the war in Ukraine. We decided to come to North/South Carolina because we had sponsors who brought us here. I started to improve my English in college and then thought about what I would do, how I would make money. I started taking photos before Christmas in 2023. And for me, it was not easy to decide to be a photographer because my best friend from childhood is a very cool photographer in Italy, in Rome. When I decided to do my first test Christmas shoot, I realized that I really enjoyed taking pictures, looking for good angles and communicating with people. That’s how my small business started. My start was not bad. I was looking for models for my portfolio. I also had several work photo shoots and one event. But one day our family got into a very serious car accident, it was June 9, 2024. We were all in that car. It spun out on a slippery road in the rain and we ended up under a crane for road work. My husband and I were very injured and in a coma, he for 2.5 weeks and I for 3 days. Our children were scratched and frightened.
I won’t go into details of all my injuries, but one of them is a complete loss of vision in my left eye. I was very worried about whether I would be able to continue taking pictures, that people would not accept a photographer without one eye. Three weeks later, I started taking pictures again. It was such a relief for me. I tried so hard. Thank God. I still have a lot to work on and learn. But I know that my thirst to create and photograph has only increased.
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?
I have already shared a little about both challenges. The first one was the fear of starting to make a name for myself as a photographer, of taking money from clients. And the other is to continue doing this work when I have visible injuries on my face and the fear that people will not accept me without sight in one eye. Later, I realized that people do not even realize that I am blind in one eye.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a photographer in NC, SC . I like to capture the happiest moment of people’s lives. My specification is family photography, portraits, maternity, different type of events. I can also do backstage photos and videos for small business. I really like to create. I used to run a small wedding business in my country. And it gave me great pleasure to think through even the details of a photo shoot for brides and grooms.
I think that one of my advantages is that many of my ideas for photos come in a creative moment or when I think about all the details of a photo shoot for a long time beforehand.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I never thought about it. Luck is not something I believe in. I believe in blessings.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @photo_slava_nc
