We recently connected with Gianina Naghavian and have shared our conversation below.
Gianina, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
In my journey through life, optimism has been my steadfast companion, nurtured by many diverse experiences. Like all of us, I’ve encountered the highs and lows that come. However, what sets us apart is how we choose to navigate and respond to these trials.
I firmly believe that life’s brevity demands an active stance against dwelling in self-pity. Instead, I advocate for embracing every moment with resilience and grace. My optimism isn’t merely a passive outlook, it’s a proactive choice rooted in sharing my life’s narrative with unwavering honesty and sincerity.
Even on the darkest of days, I’ve found solace in seeing the glass as half full, a mindset I’ve cultivated through genuine interactions and transparent communication with others. By embracing vulnerability and openness, I’ve discovered that every setback presents an opportunity for growth and learning.
Amidst life’s toughest challenges, it’s crucial to seek out the silver linings and uncover the inherent beauty within. This mindset shift has been transformative, allowing me to navigate life’s complexities with a renewed sense of hope and resilience. Ultimately, my journey underscores the power of optimism as a guiding force, illuminating the path forward even in the face of adversity.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a San Diego native though my family is Costa Rican, and our culture has greatly influenced my passion for life. ¡Pura vida! – It’s a simple and happy way of living, being thankful for what you have instead of dwelling on what you don’t. My desire as a photographer is to capture those happy, often understated moments in life that make our hearts beat. My specialty is capturing every important milestone and anything in between that is special to you and/or your family. That can start from a proposal session all the way through to your first newborn photos and annual family photo sessions to follow. The best memories that get passed on from generation to generation are the candid photos, the unexpected real life moments shinning through the photos with so much love, joy, and happiness.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
If you want to become a professional photographer and make it a business the three most important areas of knowledge and qualities you should possess are excellent communication, organizational and business stills. Communication is key when speaking to potential clients. It is important to be transparent on what you’re offering so they know what to expect. Communication is utilized in so many aspects; during the booking stage, before the session, during the session and after. Either in person, via email, text or through a CRM. Organization skills come into play when having to book session appointment. It can be done by having a booking platform, a calendar or having an assistant help you with these needs. In order to make a profit or a living as a photographer it’s very important to know your worth. Your worth is your time and talents and what you believe that should be worth. There are mentors that can help you build your business in a number of ways from brand/marketing, social media, website design to helping you make a menu of your package options. So not only does it take a nice camera, knowing how to use it and how to edit photos to become a professional photographer, it also comes with a lot of other knowledge and skills.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is someone who is investing in my talents, abilities and time. Someone who trusts me wholeheartedly with my work as the professional. My ideal clientele would also feel comfortable to present new ideas to collaborate to make their visions a reality as well. I’m open to new ideas and working with my clients. It makes things fun and exciting for years to come. As a Lifetime Photographer my goal is to document all your lifetime milestones wether it be your engagement, a mother’s day celebration or just family portraits to freeze time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lifelovebygia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifelovebygia_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeLoveByGia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianinaj/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SanDiego_Photographer
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/life-and-love-by-gia-san-diego
