Meet Kristina Rusch | Photographer & Event Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristina Rusch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think risk is exciting, it ignites something inside of you that drives you to succeed. I used to be more risk adverse until I learned that without risk, you might never level up the way you want to. Sometimes you have to take the plunge, take a leap, and see where you land. Failures will happen, and failure is just as important for growth as success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a photographer and I love incorporating landscapes and natural elements into my photographs. As a wedding photographer, I often find myself in areas with sweeping views such as Estes Park, Colorado. I have blended my background in event production and adventure travel to begin offering microwedding packages in remote locations. Think National Parks, state parks, or places with amazing landscapes and planning an intimate celebration with 30 of your closest friends and family.

Photography was not an easy journey for me. My dad was a wedding photographer, and at the beginning of my career I was a concert and festival photographer, working part time for my dad’s studio as a lighting assistant. I took some time away from photography for a bit and followed a career in event marketing, until I was called back to photography. I fell in love with photographing in Colorado, and mixing portraits with landscapes. There are so many talented photographers in Colorado, so the competition is fierce and I am honored to be able to keep my business thriving in such a competitive market. I just kept going, no matter what setback happened. Networking, marketing, putting yourself out there. Its a never ending cycle of trying, doing, and pushing forward.

I’ve learned that you can’t give up. You need to burn the boats and have no plan B for your business. For me, there was no going back to the corporate world and so I need to work tirelessly to make that happen.

A little fun fact about me, I worked in event marketing for years before becoming a wedding photographer. I still work in event production for two major festivals in the US and I truly love being able to blend my love of events and photography. I have now started to produce my own smaller shows and events in a venue in Longmont and it has ignited this spark inside me that allows me to be creative, entrepreneurial, and bring my community together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh, goodness. I always bring my guests up for a day in Estes Park. We would start with a sunrise hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, followed by an amazing brunch at Brunch and Co at The Stanley Hotel. We would tour the hotel and I would share a bit of history with them. We would walk around downtown Estes and look at some of the shops along the riverwalk, maybe grab a coffee at Inkwell and Brew, get an ice cream cone, before dinner at Bird & Jim. After dinner, we would go to Aiden Sinclair’s Underground and watch an incredible illusionist show, and then if we’re feeling up for it, go to the Wheel Bar for a night cap, pool, and hopefully run into some friends!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shoutout to Amanda Piper with the Event Troupe! I met Amanda through a networking group online, we discovered we both live in the same town and got together one day. We clicked instantly and she introduced me to so many more people that has expanded my network tenfold. I also feel super comfortable talking to Amanda about all the ups and downs in business, and it feels like she always has my back. Thanks Amanda for being a friend and mentor.

Website: https://krushphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krush.photo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinarusch/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/krushphotovideo

Image Credits
Amazing Davis
Kristina Rusch