My aim is to capture elegance, authentic feelings and unique bond between the couples I photograph; I’m most interested in my couple’s cultural traditions, the way they show love, and their stories…”
Inna Kostukovsky, And Your Story
Inna Kostukovsky of ‘And Your Story’ has been photographing weddings for seven full seasons and also specialises in portrait photography. The inception of her photography business coincided with her relocation from the USA to London. Since moving, she has found abundant inspiration throughout Europe and has been fortunate to travel extensively across the continent and the UK to document exceptional events. Here we discuss how Inna started and how she collaborates with planners and couples to produce the perfect album of images from their special day…
C&B: “Inna, you appear to have had great success since you arrived in London; when liaising with your clients, how do you ensure your style aligns with their vision from the outset?”
IK: “Most of the time I start with a consultation to make sure my clients and I align emotionally, energetically, stylistically. We discuss everything from our hobbies to inspiration, taste in music, art, etc…”
C&B: “Communication is key through the planning process; how do you typically ensure your clients needs and expectations are met so they’re confident everything will go to plan on their big day?”
IK: “I love staying in touch with my couples through the planning process. If we all happen to be in the same city, it’s not unusual for me to meet my clients for a drink to discuss the project in advance. Email is the way I usually communicate and, closer to the day, we sometimes chat on Wattsapp and exchange more messages. Prior to the day we build photography timelines and make sure my team and I are ready for the day; often the couple’s planner will get involved in the final communications…”
C&B: “Yes, on their most important day, it’s crucial they know that you’re going to capture their images just as they’d like. When you’re working with clients overseas, how do you schedule in the travel arrangements so as to ensure you’re on location in time?”
IK: “I love traveling and I’ve been lucky to shoot in Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Barbados and other gorgeous locations. I plan my own travel and my couples do not need to worry about that aspect – they can rest assured that I will be on location with ample of time to rest and get ready for their event…”
London and the English countryside have the most incredible and special wedding venues; I love photographing at Cliveden House and at Hedsor. Besides weddings and events, I also have a particular interest in design and architectural photography so Blenheim Palace and Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire are among my favourites, too. Central London has many beautiful hotels that are gorgeous for photos – The Langham, The Mandarin Oriental, and The Lanesborough are among many favourites…”
Inna Kostukovsky, And Your Story
C&B: “When you’re discussing the photography and the location, which may be overseas, do you offer bespoke packages for the wedding or the family photography sessions?”
IK: “Yes, I offer full day and multi-day destination wedding packages that include my travel, time with the couple, previews and full gallery of edited images as well as an option to purchase bespoke albums and prints. Everything may be customised to suit my couple’s unique wedding day…”
I currently use Sony cameras with a variety of lenses; I also love shooting film and bring my Contax 645 and Contax 35mm cameras with film. Each camera body has a back-up and sometimes my back-ups have back-ups. I take utmost care to ensure that my equipment is in great shape and I have a back-up should something fail…”
Inna Kostukovsky, And Your Story
C&B: “If your client is planning an outdoor wedding or event, they may be concerned about the weather; how do you handle unforeseen circumstances like a sudden rainstorm?”
IK: “Things happen and the most important thing is to stay calm, positive and focused. I always work with my couple’s best interests and wishes in mind and if something unforeseen happens I do my best to find a solution and get back on track. It is possible to create the most beautiful romantic photos on a rainy day and, if rescheduling is not possible, I recommend embracing the weather. Most often I photograph have a ‘Plan B’ in the event of rain or in case events fall behind schedule…”
I’ve had a fortune to work with many wonderful brands, planners and suppliers. Kristina Kempton and Larry Walshe, for example, are absolutely excellent in what they do and are just wonderful people…”
Inna Kostukovsky, And Your Story
C&B: “Once the special occasion has taken place and you’ve completed the job on location, what’s your process for editing and delivering photos, and how long does it typically take for clients to receive their final images?”
IK: “Once I leave the weddings, all images get backed up onto my server and then on a cloud. I take a lot of care to back-up my back-ups and to secure all files. 48 hours after a wedding, my couples are sent a few previews to share on their social media. Depending on the time of the year, full galleries are delivered within 6 to 10 weeks…”
CONTACT: http://www.andyourstory.com
AND YOUR STORY: QUOTES FROM HAPPY CLIENTS:
Dearest Inna, we’ve just finished going through the gallery and WOW, we’re so happy, thank you! You have captured so many moments, both the quiet, romantic ones as well as the energetic and fun (and sometimes chaotic!) moments! No doubt we’ll go through them again and again and notice new moments each time! Honestly it’s like reliving the day looking through them all! “
Sarah & Joe
“Inna, omg, thank you!! The photos are incredible and we cried looking through the ceremony images all over again. I feel so lucky to have found you, thank you for capturing our day so perfectly”
Sam & Jessica
