Meet Hrisi Udrescu | Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hrisi Udrescu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hrisi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I decided I want to start my own business, my family was the first one who supported me. It is very important to have their acceptance because once you start a business, of any kind, your time becomes the most precious and priceless asset. You have to acknowledge that planning, executing, and delivering your products are essential, therefore you need all of your family’s understanding and cooperation. Especially in the beginning stages, you need to develop systems that will allow your future clients to find you, gain confidence in your process, receive quality long-lasting products, and come back for more or refer you to their friends and acquaintances. All these systems are learned both through industry education and trial and error so you have to be prepared to spend time thinking and learning about what would best work for your area and your target market. There is always trial and error before there is success and you have to be mentally prepared and emotionally supported by your loved ones.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my early years, I was an introvert and I found it pretty difficult to approach people who I wanted to photograph. I was always an observer of people’s gestures and expressions and this helped tremendously. So, yes, it was hard to approach people with the formula “I would like to photograph you”. In the beginning, there were only a few people that trusted my skills but once they saw my vision of them in a photo, they started to spread my name and I started to gain confidence. I learned that blocks are only in your mind and all you have to do is ask – the worst it can happen is get a “no”. You should never get discouraged by a “no” – for a potential client this may be a “not now”, “I don’t think I am a good fit” or ” I need time to think about it”. All these statements have nothing to do with your ability to create memories and they should not stop you in the process of evolving. This confidence process did not start overnight and there is no fast recipe for it – we are humans dealing with humans, all in the same constant change and evolving process but not all of us in the same rhythm. At my current stage, I can create a legacy through a collection of portraits which can describe the multiple facets of a human being. My brand is about you, and all the hats you have to or want to wear on your life journey. My mission is to empower my clients through their printed portraits that will be cherished for generations. I come with my skill set and you bring your personality – together we create memories and magic for the next generations to treasure and enjoy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friend is a wildlife photographer and with me, living in South West Florida, this is actually one of the best spots to visit for this purpose. We have wild birds in our backyard, along with alligators and turtles which make our area a paradise to be treasured, respected, and enjoyed by all ages of people and especially by the landscape and wildlife photographers. You can pretty much find an international cuisine available along the coast so I would do a big disservice mentioning only one place to find good food instead of another. You can wake up one morning wanting a french croissant in an outdoor setting feeling the hot and humid Gulf breeze, an American barbeque for lunch, or an Italian home-made pasta dinner – you can have it all in a single day along the Southwest Gulf of Mexico Coast. National Parks in our area provide not only amazing views of the local flora and fauna but you can spend a day on a protected beach and interact with people from all over the world. I find it priceless to see smiling faces everywhere and people willing to give you a good recommendation to a new restaurant or hidden gem beach. I guess in Florida we all learned to love and protect our environment but also put our non-destructive print on it. We are an international community here and I enjoy being a part of the Florida lifestyle.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I would not be the woman I am today without following the life, love and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. On a more down-to-earth note, my husband and two adult now children are constantly by my side with love, support and advice on how to stay on top of my game. Together we experience the daily struggles and rewards of being self-employed. On a professional note, I am one of those many photographers who had a camera in her hand since her early years. It was a joy at first and became a responsibility once I understood there’s more behind the photographic industry than owning a camera. So I started my technical education at the New York Institute of Photography which laid the foundations of my skill set regarding using the camera for all professional needs – from copying artwork to understanding face structures and writing a story with light. This is actually the fundamentals of photography. In 2013 I have discovered Sue Bryce Education, which is nowadays an international well-rounded platform for educating photographers all over the world in the business, ethics, and esthetics of portrait photography. I am constantly learning not only the business practice of the industry but trying to stay on top with esthetic trends and market necessities. At this point, I can not only operate my camera but also retouch and prepare my work for the final printed products. All this takes time and commitment to be able to deliver to my clients the best work for my ability. And I am proudly admitting that I will never stop learning even if I am not in my 20’s anymore.

Website: https://byhrisi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byhrisi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hrisi-882273738535307