Portfolio – Sveta Buko – Child Portraits in the USA
What I really had to learn from scratch was the gear – and especially light. Light was the most difficult part and, honestly, I’m still learning about it all the time. Looking back, I realise I did a lot intuitively in the beginning.
Q You’ve recently moved countries and immigrated to the US, basing yourself in Dallas, Texas, so what was the motive behind this big step and how has it worked out for you so far?
Before moving to the US I was living and working internationally, primarily in Israel and Russia. The move itself wasn’t driven purely by my photography career, rather it was primarily a family decision. However, photography has always been an integral part of my life, so I knew that, wherever we moved, I would continue building my work and teaching. Immigrating to the US opened a new chapter for me professionally, even though it meant starting again in many ways.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Although I’ve won numerous photography awards, completed hundreds of photo sessions, and taught dozens of workshops around the world, being new to the U.S. market I’m currently having to build my photography business almost from scratch.
Winning a big award gave me strength and motivation to continue doing what I love, and I hope to gain more visibility, become an active part of my local photography community and build inspiring collaborations and partnerships. I truly believe in teamwork, and I feel my photography business will thrive here if it grows as part of a team.
Q How much preparation did you have to make to move your business to a fresh country, and did you carry out much research on the market in Texas before setting up there?
The preparation was significant, but no amount of planning can fully prepare you for starting fresh in a new country. I had international experience, awards and an established reputation abroad, but the US market (and Texas in particular) is its own world.
I did research on the local photography market, pricing, audience expectations and legal structure, but a lot of learning is still happening in real time. I’m building my business step by step: forming connections, understanding the mentality and introducing my work organically. At the same time, I continue to teach workshops and photograph clients, which helps keep continuity during this transition.
