Today we’d like to introduce you to Aly V. Kolesnik.
Hi Aly V., so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Of course! I wish I could say that I was born loving photography, and it was super easy to get where I am today, but that wasn’t the case. It all started with my mom – she got accepted at a French Scrapbooking company and needed headshots + photos of our family. Me being the oldest child, I was left handling the camera. I could have done better at it. There was so much constructive criticism from my mom that I felt like a failure after every session. Eventually, that changed. I wanted to make her proud, so I would set early morning alarms to chase sunrises; in the evenings, I was photographing sunsets, and in between, all the neighborhood animals and weather changes. When it was snowing, I was the only person outside, crunching through the fresh snow to get that perfect shot. That’s when my love for photography started flourishing. I was finally proud of my work and even wanted to start sharing it with friends. So in 2013, I made my first Instagram. Within weeks I was receiving messages from people that wanted to have their photos taken by me. I was honored and humbled that anyone would consider me their photographer! I went from photographing family and senior sessions to being asked to photograph my first micro wedding, to then three more, and I realized that’s my real love – weddings. If I could photograph weddings for the rest of my life, I would be fulfilled.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been, but that’s with any business. Are you even driving if you’re not encountering bumps along the way? Plus, I’ve noticed that every rough patch was a teaching moment. At first, I came out very weak, but after thinking and looking over all the steps and actions, I started flourishing. There is one event specifically that tore me down. I returned and told my parents, my fiancé, and everyone I was done. I was ready to sell my photography equipment and stick to the medical field for good. I was a Medical Assistant at a local office at that point, still unsure which career path to officially follow. Without mentioning too many details about the specific event, I will say this – I am incredibly grateful that I went through that wedding. Even though it initially involved many tears and feelings of betrayal, I know I wouldn’t have become the person I am today without those days. I felt more confident and determined to reach for what I wanted. I learned to say ‘no’ and not be taken advantage of. I learned about boundaries and finding clients who love what I offer.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Luxury Wedding and Destination Photographer based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. I specialize in delicate photos that are genuine to the wedding day by focusing on realistic emotions. I pour my love into my couples’ romance in a timeless, sincere, and warm-hearted way, all while giving guidance and being their support system. Their families are also one of my biggest focuses. Many of them traveled a long way to get to this special event. Therefore, my team and I put a big emphasis on photographing them as well. I am known for my light-hearted approach to my couples. Many gave me feedback saying they were comfortable being themselves; they never felt awkward and even felt like actual celebrities – confident, glowing, and respected. This is extremely important to me as a photographer because I know what it’s like to be in front of the camera and feel out of place or uncertain even what to do with my hands. My biggest achievement is photographing the wedding of Pennsylvania Judge DeWeese and Pennsylvania Senator Bartolotta. It was an intimate event in the Harrisburg Capitol, but it was an honor to have been chosen for such a prestigious event.
What sets me apart from others is my caring heart. My husband often says, “sometimes it’s healthy to take care of yourself, too, as you care for your couples.” I take the time to meet with my couples as often as necessary. By sending them questionnaires, I can create custom timelines for every wedding and stay in tune with their expectations. It’s also tough to make me upset. I have learned to have a positive outlook on every situation, which keeps my team and myself thriving.
What characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to if you had to?
My determination (and my husbands) are the most important for success. I am one of those people that will dream up an idea and work until that idea is a reality. I’m a dreamer, daydreamer, night dreamer, everything dreamer. The dreams I get are usually so vivid and realistic that it’s easy to mistake them for reality. So when I realize that they’re just dreams, I write them out, obsess over them, continue dreaming, and work on achieving those dreams. A lot of credit is due to my husband; without his support and loving nature, I would never have made it this far. There’s also another person that has pushed me outside of my boundaries and helped me grow. Her name is Oksana Miller (previously Miroshnichenko). She is a photography mentor based out of Rhode Island, and I will forever be grateful for her.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alyvphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyvphotography/
