Today we’d like to introduce you to Haritha Nukala.
Hi Haritha, 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?
The first camera I got was a Kodak film camera. It was a birthday gift for my 13th birthday from my grandfather. I had asked him for it and had to convince him for over a year to get it. I spent the entire 1st reel taking pictures of the neighborhood and family. But getting the pictures developed and buying new film reels was expensive, especially for a school-going teenager from a middle-class family in India. So my photography hobby was on the back-burner and reserved only for special occasions. After I moved to the USA for my higher education and started earning a little, I saved up and bought my first DSLR – Canon Rebel TSI, and started practicing my photography skills. After I got a job where I started earning more, I could invest in my hobby by taking photography classes to improve my skill. After that, it is all about practice, practice and practice!
Over time, I realized I love taking pictures of people, families, children, couples, etc, and helping capture their memories that can be cherished in the future. And that led me to create “Memories By Haritha”. I have been doing this for the last 5 years, over weekends.
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 wouldn’t say that it was a cakewalk, but it hasn’t been that difficult either. As an artist, it is hard to put your work out for the world to see and judge. From the time that I started to the current point, I have been growing both as a photographer and as a person. Starting my own business taught me a lot of things, from creating an LLC, to running my own books as well as the art of dealing with customers. My expertise in working with clients from my weekday job helps me navigate customers in my photography business as well.
One thing that I never anticipated when I started my photography business was the need to educate my customers. Oftentimes, the customers are not aware of what it means to hire a photographer for their services – that it includes their expertise in posing, locations, curation of pictures, etc. Also, photography as an industry is pretty saturated and it is difficult to gain clientele who love your style of work and trust you.
I wish I had a full-time lifestyle photography business, but I am glad to be in contact with creative people around me who love to experiment and collaborate with me. As a full-time working professional and a single mom, squeezing in editing time is the most challenging for me!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My love for photography is due to the ability to freeze those moments that are precious for my clients and be able to capture them in a way that makes memories. A moment captured from my lens is as important to me as it is to my client and I am extremely happy to be part of my clients’ celebrations of life that they deem to share with me.
I specialize in couples, family, maternity, and newborn photography but love capturing dance and fashion as well when an opportunity presents itself.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Meetup is a good way to find your group of like-minded folks and it is also a great way to network and build your portfolio. I would also not hesitate to reach out to people whose work you love on Instagram or Facebook and start chatting and soliciting feedback/advice.
Pricing:
- Portrait Sessions (Couples, Family, Maternity) $300
- Maternity + NewBorn Sessions $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.memoriesbyharitha.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memoriesbyharitha/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memoriesbyharitha
