Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Leschinsky.
Hi Juliana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My road to a photography career was not direct or ever planned. My parents and I were immigrants from the Soviet Ukraine and we were the first in our family to come to America back in January 1980. I was just 6 years old. My mother, who was a doctor back in the Soviet Union, was determined to be one in the US. I saw how hard she worked and with no money or English, she managed to pass the medical boards within a year and became a doctor here in the US. I grew up believing that if I worked hard, I could do anything.
As a teen, I loved to write poetry and short stories and enjoyed using a film camera to take documentary style photos. I was living in Brooklyn at that time. Before attending college, I decided to pursue international law. I attended Georgetown University as a Russian language major in 1991 believing I would practice international law, focusing on relations with Russia after the Soviet Collapse. I attended Rutgers Law school and was fortunate enough to start my legal career in a prominent law firm in Midtown NY. I quickly learned that while I loved research and writing, the demands and daily practice of working in a NYC law firm was not what my heart desired.
At that time, I was planning my wedding with my husband who was an entrepreneur and owned his own computer business. This was 1998 and he saw that the internet was the future. Given how much I valued photography, I found a prominent photographer in NYC who had photographers that shot more documentary style photos. At this time, photographers did not have websites and my fiancé (now husband) had just built himself one and saw web development as the future. He offered to create a site for our photographer, and that got me thinking about layout and design and creative work that I was longing to do. Seven months into my legal career, I quit and my husband and I started a Web Development and Hosting company.
I designed websites for almost a decade and worked with my husband on all kinds of web related projects until we moved to the Jersey Shore and my second child was born. At that point, my focus shifted and I became a full time mom to my son and daughter. As a creative outlet, I ended up purchasing a digital camera, took some classes at Brookdale college and online to learn techniques and essentially learned the rest on my own through practice. My kids became my muses and I documented all of their milestones. It wasn’t until about 12 years ago when my husband and good friend suggested I become a professional photographer and offer my services to others.
I started Juliana Leschinsky Photography as a labor of love. At the height of the digital revolution, I insisted that prints and printed products were essential to my services. From day one, I wanted to be a full service photographer that created unforgettable experiences and beautiful finished products for my clients. I did not want to just hand over digital files that would be shared and then forgotten.
Nowadays, I focus on families, couples and pets, with surprise proposal/engagements as my biggest clientele. I love capturing the joyous moments of a couple starting their life together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think whenever you start your own business, there are questions. Are you doing it right? Are you pricing things correctly? Are my photos good enough? Being somewhat of a perfectionist, I had certain expectations of my work that I learned most people did not. My work was good enough. I just always want to do better and give more.
Another thing was visibility. I can offer the greatest services but if people do not know that I exist, then it means very little. I am fortunate to have my husband who is technical and was able to help me with Google visibility and promotion but it definitely took time. I have only been working full time for the last 4 years or so and that is when I started promoting my services more online as well as by attending relevant events.
I used to attend networking groups in the early days but I learned for the type of photography services I offer, they don’t really serve me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a full-service portrait photographer specializing in families, couples, surprise proposals, maternity, and pets with their people. My work is centered on connection and creating images that feel genuine, emotional, and timeless.
I offer a fully guided experience, helping my clients with everything from choosing the perfect location and planning what to wear to feeling comfortable in front of the camera. During each session, I create a mix of posed portraits and natural, candid moments so my clients have a well-rounded collection that truly reflects them.
What sets me apart is the personal attention I give to every client. I take the time to get to know the people I photograph and understand what matters most to them. After the session, I also help them turn their favorite images into meaningful artwork, whether that is a handcrafted album, a portrait box, or wall art designed specifically for their home.
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built and the trust my clients place in me to preserve some of the most important moments in their lives. Knowing that the photographs and artwork I create will become part of a family’s history is incredibly meaningful to me.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My mom, Dr. Alexandra Leschinsky, is one of the hardest-working, most loving, and generous people I know. It wasn’t easy for her to see me leave law, but she continued to support me through every stage of my career. She is always encouraging me and showing how proud she is of the work I do today, which means so much to me.
My husband, Steven Zahler, has been one of my greatest supporters throughout my career. He supported me both emotionally and financially when I decided to leave law and start a web development business with him, and he later encouraged me to pursue my passion for photography. He has been successful in every business venture he has taken on, and I have learned so much from him about entrepreneurship, taking risks, and running a successful business.
Mentor – Steve Sapporito: I first discovered Steve many years ago on Facebook and reached out to start a conversation. I immediately knew he was the right photography business mentor for me. At the time, he was a highly successful photography studio owner in Australia who also offered workshops for photographers looking to build thriving businesses.
What resonated with me most was his philosophy. Rather than focusing solely on making the most money, he emphasized creating an exceptional experience and genuine value for every client. I loved that approach, and it continues to shape the way I run my business today.
Pricing:
- Portrait session fees begin at $500 and include planning, the on-location session, professional editing and curation, and a Design and Ordering Session.
- Custom artwork is purchased separately, with collections beginning at $1,500.
- All-inclusive digital collections begin at $1,765.
- Pricing is subject to change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.photographybyjuliana.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliana_leschinsky_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julianaleschinskyphotography/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-leschinsky-23b5a7a6/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/juliana-leschinsky-photography-jersey-shore
