Meet Lina Kaplun | Photographer & Small Business Owner

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

Hi Lina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always known that I’d be happiest working for myself. As I got older I felt myself feeling like I’m stuck in a dead end job not really knowing what to do with myself, as I’m sure many of us have felt before! I knew something had to change and it had to change fast. So I thought of the one thing that actually made me eager to get out of bed in the mornings and that could become lucrative over time would be; for me that was photography. Back in high school I would dabble in it and it always got me so excited to see how the pictures turned out and how my models got excited too! It seemed to me that this was a door opening for me and all I had to do was walk through it with an open mind ready to start something great for myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Photography is a very tough business to progress in, might I say I’m still learning and progressing every day. It’s tough to find that special niche that sets you apart from all the other photographers and just to get you’re name out there in general. In this line of work, I’ve realized that word of mouth and referrals are one of the best ways to get more clients and this requires a great amount of patience. I’m now in my second year of business and my books are finally getting more full by the day. Success doesn’t happen over night, but I stuck with my plan and pushed through the dry spells knowing more work will come.

Of course, it’s also important to stand out, have a little something that makes me different from other photographers. I found what makes the best pictures are the ones with genuine emotion. It’s important to understand that each client is different and I just want to be sure that they get exactly what they are looking for. I’m always working to improve on that. For example, I’m currently working on creating a questioner to send out to the clients prior to the shoots to be sure I get all the “must need” components and just get to know a little bit more about them.

Pictures are so much more than meets the eye. They will always be there to look back on and remember the stories behind them. It’s my goal to give each client exactly that. It’s more than just a picture, it’s a memory that will be cherished forever.

Many people don’t really see what happens behind the scenes, the hours of work put in. It takes me about 2 weeks to get people photos edited. That’s really where all the magic happens, where all the colors come to life and really make the pictures pop. However, my brand is known for how natural it all looks. I tend to mess around more with the lighting tools to make the pictures stand out. Each photographer has their own style and each is unique and beautiful in their own way! I tell people that if their looking for something a little bit more realistic and true to real life, I would be their girl no doubt about it. I aim to capture the beauty in the world and in the eyes of my clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Denver for most of my life has given me a great “tour guide” reputation. The food scene here is definitely growing by the day and I’m still exploring and trying new places myself! A good spot I would recommend would be the Milk Market. It’s a great place for a group of people who are all craving something different. The atmosphere is great and there are so many options to eat from, and all are delicious.

I’ve also really been into going out on Broadway for more of a dive bar vibe (21+ only! Lol). I would probably take a friend out to Irish Rover or Burndown for a more chill vibe.

If we have a little more time, the true beauty of Colorado is all of our mountain towns! I personally love Glenwood Springs. For one, the drive up there is filled with so much beauty to look at and places to stop at. Plus, a long relaxing soak at the new Iron Mountain hot spring Is just what the doctor prescribed.

There’s so much to do in and near Denver. It would probably take me a whole page if I gave out all my secret favorite places 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that I have to say thanks to for my success. First and foremost, my parents. They have done so much for me in this process, starting with the very first camera I’ve ever owned. They bought me that camera knowing that this was something that could really be great for me. Not only that but my dad took me out as a little girl just taking pictures on hikes and showing me the in’s and outs of the camera operations. They’ve always supported and loved me through all of it and I couldn’t ask for anything more. And of course a huge shout out to all my friends so eagerly posing as my models, giving me that extra bit of practice and experience that I needed. And a big thank you to all of the photographers I’ve met along the way and all the ideas that they were willing to share with me to help each other grow.

I also need to give a huge shoutout to all my family and friends who believed in me even from the sidelines. Knowing that there are people out there who truly believe in me and share my work with others, truly gives me that extra hope and motivation I need to keep striving to do even better.

Website: kaplunkaptures.pic-time.com

Instagram: @kaplunkaptures

Image Credits
Personal picture: Emily Meshkov Behind the scenes picture: Ben Kaplun All other photos: Lina Kaplun