Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Kazakevicius-Crane.
Hi Bethany, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m so excited to have the opportunity, thank you! I’m Bethany Kazakevicius-Crane. I have always been super interested in photography but it wasn’t until my birthday in 2019 that I got my first DSLR camera as a gift from my husband. After two years of practicing with that and doing a lot of free photoshoots, I started my photography business, BC Artistry. I came up with my “photography name” in back 2019. My reason behind “Artistry” was because I am a licensed cosmetologist and wanted to incorporate hair and makeup with my photoshoots. I wasn’t really able to do so until recently or only with my close friends because of the pandemic but I’m looking forward to being able to style more shoots in that way.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Yes, It has been fairy smooth for the most part. Honestly, I’d say the hardest part Ive faced would be the imposter syndrome that can come along with being a creative. It can be crippling sometimes, making me question why I’m doing what I’m doing. I just have to remind myself who I am. Some of the ways I overcome that feeling is by looking back on my favorite photoshoots, remembering the affirmations I’ve received from happy clients and thinking about how much I’ve grown though this experience. A big tip I always hear photographers share; is to never compare your work to anyone else’s. Only compare your work to your past work. The easiest part of my photography business has been the joy it has brought me. During the pandemic, I had a baby and was experiencing postpartum more severely than I had ever experienced with my other two children. Having a creative outlet like photography allowed me to feel like I had a life outside of quarantine and motherhood. I was able to get outside of my head, create art, and give people something to cherish. I really felt like I was fulfilling a purpose, and that’s kept me going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love doing portrait photography, basically working with and taking photos of people. I love shooting with couples, seniors, small families and big families, bridals/weddings, branding sessions with other entrepreneurs, creative shoots, motherhood and maternity, and probably anything else anyone could ask of me. I’m always down to try something new. I love incorporating the candid type of photos in my sessions by prompting my subjects. It really depends on what my client wants but most of the time I do a mixture of prompting and posing. I really enjoy letting my couples and families with young children just do their thing and I’m just there to capture all the little moments they share together. I recently started photographing weddings and that’s quickly become a new passion for me. I’d love to continue doing more and more of them. If my client came to me with an idea or gave me some things about themselves they’d like to incorporate into their session, I die over being able to think up a creative ways to style their concepts into their shoot…Like you and your fiancé love getting pizza on Friday nights, let’s do your engagement session at the pizzeria. The options are endless.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I would say there are several that I think really stuck with me that sparked my desire to be creative. For as long as I can remember I always loved painting with my Grandma Glenna when I’d stay with her. She taught me so many things about acrylic painting, sewing, DIYing and so many different crafts. She always supported my art in all of their forms. I always wished that I had gotten into photography just a few years sooner because maybe I would’ve had some photos of her before she passed. Some of the other childhood creativeness I can remember I ventured through was when I was around 8 years old I loved the spice girls and of course their fashion choices. I remember finding some Christmas wrapping paper that was like a holographic red and another in green. I cut it up and taped it into a halter top and mini skirt. Then when I was 12, I decided to start cutting my own hair and quickly my friends as well. I actually got in trouble at school because I gave someone a haircut in between class periods in 8th grade. This was around the age that I really started to get into doing “make overs and photoshoots” but just with a cheap digital camera and uploading the photos to myspace. I always wanted to style and shoot glamour shots like my mom would get done when I was a kid.
Pricing:
- My regular sessions start at $225 + tax
- Weddings start at $650 for 2 hours
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_bcartistry_/
- Facebook: Facebook.com/bethanycraneartistry
