June 23, 2020

Meet Ricky Zastrow of Colorado Photoworks in Stapleton and North Denver

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricky Zastrow.

Ricky, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started photography in high school, 2006. It didn’t become a hobby until around 2013. I did hand lettering and took on a client who wanted wedding invitations done. After a series of events, I ended up being a second shooter at their wedding. After that, I was freelancing gigs while maintaining a full-time job and raising three kids. In 2017 I started my photography business and went full time by the end of the year. It was all or nothing for me at that moment.

Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road. Like most things in life, if you want it bad enough, you’ll endure some tough storms. Photography as a creative outlet is easy for me to maintain. I’m obsessed with the business aspect- building something from the ground up. So far, the biggest struggle has been this pandemic and stay at home order. Some of us in the industry will not make it out of this. Right now, we need help but more importantly we need to be our own foundation and help each other.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Colorado Photoworks. I started it in 2017. I specialize in portraiture but also do commercial and product photography. If you look at my work, the common theme is usually outdoors and dramatic lighting. In this social media driven world, your photos need to grab the attention of prospective clients and stop them from scrolling. Growing up in Colorado, there is so much beauty outside. It’s almost like cheat codes. Having this business, it makes me proud that it’s all mine. Doing what I love and being able to provide is very humbling and I don’t take it for granted and appreciate my clients more than they know.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Colorado is a great place to have a business. We are proud people and generally proud to support our own. Being such a diverse state, we still maintain that homegrown mentality. If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend starting within your community. Go to your local shops and offer your services, Build relationships with those directly in your community. Referrals are crucial to growth. I’m a firm believer in giving before you ask.

Pricing:

Commercial shoots start at $500
Family/Senior/Couples sessions start at $250
Modeling Portfolio sessions start a $150

Contact Info:

Website: https://coloradophotoworks.myportfolio.com/portfolio-collection
Phone: 303-242-0340
Email: coloradophotoworks@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricky.zastrow/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coloradophotoworks

Image Credit:
Jocelyn Weir
Danielle Renee Vivarttas

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