Meet Nastasia Zibrat of Centennial

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nastasia Zibrat.

Hi Nastasia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My photography journey is a nonlinear one – when other kids had pop culture posters on their walls, I collected National Geographic clippings and fantasized about being able to capture not only beautiful places, but raw human emotion. At the time, it was just that: a dream that was unlikely to be realized, because a kid with one working eye, coke-bottle thick glasses, an eyepatch and zero depth perception couldn’t even catch a ball or ride a bike, let alone travel the world and photograph its beauty.

Instead, I was encouraged to pursue other interests, so I became a concert pianist, complete with a Bachelor’s in classical piano performance, then a Master’s in clinical mental health counseling with a specialization in music therapy, but something was always missing. Photography was always something I did as a hobby, and because I can’t drive due to my total lack of depth perception (I see the world in 2D, not 3D), I felt like I could never truly pursue it.

Cue the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown and utter and complete burnout at my hospital job. I was a shell of a person, and after some deep heart-to-heart talks with my spouse, I decided to give photography a real try. I started with free sessions for friends, then was offered payment for my services, and all of a sudden I’m booked out many months in advance. I fell in love with capturing love. Working in the mental health field was devastating to my own mental and physical health, and being surrounded by people experiencing joy healed me. My transportation issue is solved by my incredible spouse, who acts as a behind the scenes assistant on all of my shoots, floofing dress trains, fixing ties, throwing veils into the wind, helping me navigate rocky terrain (fun fact: when you see the world in 2D, all steps and ledges look flat), and just being all around the best support.

I am a staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, am part of the community, and still continue to use my therapist training during wedding days to help problem solve logistics and family dynamics, calm down stressed clients if something doesn’t go according to their initial plan and help clients feel free and comfortable during sessions.

I am a bit of a “home is everywhere and nowhere at the same time” person. As a kid, we moved from Slovenia to Canada, then I moved to Boston for grad school and have become a US citizen as well. 3 citizenships, 3 countries and while there can be cultural and language differences when we move, photography transcends all of that. I feel most connected to other people when I’m a witness to their joy and love. Having photographed people from all walks of life, clients who come from other states and countries, in the end, we all love the same.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a photography business is rarely a smooth road. Initial investment costs aside, it takes much more than just “good gear” to become a successful photographer. I took it upon myself to learn everything about my cameras and lenses, take classes from accomplished photographers, actually do the homework, take risks and not be afraid to get back to basics. This way, once you’re working with paying clients, you don’t have to think about your settings, your focal length, etc., you can just focus on the client and capturing all those in-between moments that are truly the bread and butter of wedding and elopement photography.

There were many doubts along the way: whether I was good enough to make it in this extremely saturated industry, whether I’d burn out again, get bored or jaded, whether I could actually make enough of a profit for it to be a “real job”, and countless other worries and struggles we face as photographers. It turns out that the constant variety in clients, types of shoots and locations keep my cup full. I don’t get bored of this work, I don’t feel like it’s just a paycheck, it truly is my passion and I will continue to do it for as long as I’m physically able.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a wedding and adventure elopement photographer who also occasionally captures families and seniors. I do think of myself as specializing in anything related to couples – engagements, elopements and weddings. I’m known for lush tones, sweeping landscapes, big emotions and a stellar client experience.

I am meticulously organized, have a quick turnaround for the industry and strive to make each client feel like they are my only client. I don’t overbook myself because of that exact reason – no 8-12 week turnarounds here while I fight an endless backlog of sessions! I’m unapologetically myself at all times and I feel like that helps my clients relax and let their guard down to help me capture their essence.

There are many great photographers in Colorado, so setting yourself apart is important. For me, it’s the client experience on top of producing photos that my clients are extremely happy with. Having my spouse as a behind the scenes assistant is a massive bonus, and many clients have commented how smoothly their wedding or elopement day has gone, because we work so seamlessly as a team. I also help couples plan their elopements – from locations, lodging suggestions, activity options in the area, even vetting and suggesting other vendors, I’m happy to help you plan your big day and keep the process as stress-free as possible.

As far as my photography work goes, I focus on big emotions, adventure, excitement, quiet joy, great views and helping my clients feel beautiful. I am incredibly grateful to not only witness, but be trusted to capture so many clients’ most important moments. The only downside of all this is, that I end up feeling like I want to be friends with nearly all of my clients after our sessions!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Personally, I found incredible support in local women’s professional photographers’ groups that don’t focus on competition, but on support and mutual referrals. I love that we can ask technical questions, ask for feedback or constructive criticism, and grow as artists without it feeling like anyone is gatekeeping “cool techniques”.

I know that if I have an inquiry for a date I’m not available on, I can send it to the group’s members and dozens of fantastic, reliable photographers will reply and I’ve picked up a ton of referrals from other group members when they weren’t available for an inquiry that they received.

Finding a professional community like that took some time, and not all photography groups are created equal, so don’t give up. Yes, the industry can be very cutthroat and can feel really fake when attending traditional networking events (I struggle with performative niceness from strangers and can often clock fakeness a mile away), but there are positive and supportive communities out there!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nastasiazibratphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nastasia.z.photography