We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristen & Pavel Adamkovi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristen & Pavel below.
Kristen & Pavel, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
We believe that every person is created beautifully, equally, and with dignity, and that we are all in need of, and deserve love. And in our job of wedding photography, we are documenting one of the most beautiful and badass celebrations of peoples’ lives—and we take it seriously. We LOVE not just observing and taking photos of moments; we strive to immerse ourselves in it, to become apart of it, to celebrate what they feel and reflect those emotions in the images we capture. We give so much of ourselves into encapsulating these memories of others because we know how much it will mean not only in 10 or 15 years later when minds get fuzzy, but for generations to come. To remember the uninhibited and unabashed joy that we experience surrounded by those we love and who love us—that is what we are here on earth for: to give it, to receive it, and to remember it. This belief is the driving force behind why we put our all into what we give to our clients—from creating a stress-free and fun experience of simply just taking the photos, to the intentional post-production of carefully refining each image (as opposed to sloppily pasting a generic filter on everything), to the final delivery of their gallery. We do it, because we all are called to give our very best to our neighbor.
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?
We are a husband & wife wedding photography team in Chicago, and we friggin’ love it. Meet Pavel, the powerhouse behind the lens, and Kristen, the creative mastermind behind the scenes.
Pavel brings the technical expertise and boundless energy to every shoot. With his extroverted nature and innate talent for seizing fleeting moments, he thrives in the excitement of weddings, crafting artistic shots that leave the couple awestruck.
Meanwhile, Kristen’s passion lies in the subtle nuances of color, contrast, and light. As a meticulous photo editor, she pours her heart into perfecting each image, ensuring that every detail is flawlessly curated to reflect the essence of the couple’s special day.
But our work and our joy doesn’t stop when the cameras are packed away. We take pride in delivering enormously comprehensive sneak peeks that showcase the most striking moments of the wedding day—capturing the warmth of embraces, the playful moments, and the stunning editorial shots. The overwhelmingly ecstatic responses we receive from our couples as they relive those cherished moments both humble and inspire us, and is what drives us to go above and beyond.
For us, capturing couples’ stories isn’t just a job—it’s an absolute privilege.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities that helped us on our wedding photography journey and the advice we would give in correspondence to these specific qualities:
1. Embracing Failure as Growth – Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart, and embracing failure is essential for growth. While it may sound cliché, it’s a truth we’ve come to live by. Running a business means facing constant rejection, but it’s vital to (1) not take it personally and (2) maintain belief in your work to weather the storms.
2. Seeking Support and Collaboration – Chicago’s photography community is a treasure trove of knowledge and support. We owe much of our early success to key individuals who generously shared their expertise. Being skilled behind the lens isn’t enough; tapping into this network is essential for success. While it may feel humbling, reaching out to fellow photographers for guidance can be a game changer.
3. Staying Grounded and Adaptable – While it’s important to take pride in your work, staying humble and adaptable is key to long-term success. As artists, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we’ve reached the pinnacle of our craft, especially after a string of successful bookings and accolades. However, we’ve learned over the years that trends change, client preferences evolve, and new talent emerges regularly. That’s why we remain committed to continuous improvement and staying relevant in a dynamic market.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Interestingly enough, we both have played crucial roles in developing each others’ skill sets in wedding photography. Our journey together has been a dynamic dance of mutual growth and collaboration. Kristen has always had an eye for aesthetics, but was completely clueless when it came to technical prowess (i.e. navigating around Adobe Lightroom). Pavel first ventured into wedding photography alone; however, funnily enough, Kristen strongly disliked Pavel’s initial editing style—which led Pavel to teach her the the basic skills of how to edit. What began as a quest for better edits soon turned into a mastery that even surpassed Pavel’s initial skills. Life’s unpredictability became evident as Pavel’s venture into entrepreneurship inadvertently uncovered Kristen’s hidden talents, revealing a side of her she never knew existed.
But our growth isn’t one-sided. Pavel is passionately creative and is innately self-motivated about constantly mastering his craft; however, weddings, life, and having children (we have 2!) can test your mental capacities. Kristen’s support and constructive feedback after each shoot helps Pavel to stay grounded, inspired, and motivated, ensuring Pavel’s photographic horizons continuously thrive. As previously mentioned, weddings can be arduous tests of endurance, often leading one towards the temptation of repetitive shots. However, Kristen’s persistent encouragement motivates Pavel to break free from the temptation of monotony, inciting inspiration and exploration of new angles, techniques, and styles. While we remain steadfast in capturing essential shots, Kristen’s encouragement to pushing boundaries (on top of Pavel’s already innate drive) ensures we deliver our couples something truly extraordinary.
In essence, our marriage isn’t just a personal bond; it’s the cornerstone of our professional synergy. Together, both as a married couple and business partners, we form an unbreakable team, constantly elevating each other to new heights of creativity and skill.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theadamkovi.com/
- Instagram: @theadamkovi
- Facebook: facebook.com/theadamkovi
Image Credits
The Adamkovi (us)
