Conversations with the Inspiring Paris Karsh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paris Karsh.

Paris, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Since I was a child, I have always created things, whether it was paintings, clay sculptures, photographic art or videos- I was always creating art whenever I could. I got my first camera when I was in 6th grade and have been taking photos ever since. I fell in love with couples & wedding photography in 2017 and haven’t looked back.

I have always known deep down that I was meant to be a photographer, but it wasn’t until college that I realized I could make a full time business/career out of it while also loving what I do. When I finally took the leap and started to book up, I quit my barista job and went full force into growing my business and creating as much as possible.

To think of how far I have come in such a small amount of time still baffles me. I am so grateful for all of my clients, and to everyone who has helped me along the way. I love what I do and am so excited to see where it takes me.

Has it been a smooth road?
Starting your own business is not easy. There are so many moving parts, so many new things to be learned, and a TON of growing to be done. But if you are passionate and dedicated enough, the possibilities are endless.

The biggest struggle I have faced is remaining confident in such an oversaturated industry with so many incredible artists. It’s hard to not compare yourself or your work with others especially with social media. Learning to focus on your work and creating in a way that is meaningful and important to you is so much more valuable than copying or comparing yourself to others. This is something I am constantly working on and have to remind myself of every day.

My biggest advice though. is to NEVER give up on yourself. Success comes with failure. You will fail, everyone does at some point in their lives. But it’s the people who push past this and learn from their mistakes who truly succeed.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Paris Karsh Photography story. Tell us more about it.
I am a full-time wedding and engagement photographer based out of San Diego, California. I specialize in wedding photography but ultimately love creating images that capture emotion and love in it’s truest, most raw form. Think deep belly laughs, silly faces, and eyes filled with happy tears. This is what I love to bring out of my clients and to document. It’s always been about capturing personality and emotion for me and I think I’ve stuck pretty closely to this.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I think some of the barriers I’ve noticed are the ones we build for ourselves. In the wedding photography industry, you cannot be afraid to put yourself out there and be loud. You can’t be shy and you have to be good at communicating with others. I’ve noticed that a lot of female wedding photographers create barriers for themselves because we are givers. We will bend over backward for couples even if they are unappreciative and rude because we are people pleasers and want to make everyone happy. This is something I have noticed and am constantly trying to work on. Even though saying no is hard, sometimes if it looks like things just might not be aligning, it’s better to be real with yourself and put an end to things that ultimately will cause you more harm than good than to try to struggle through it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pariskarshphoto.com/
• Phone: 6192617242
• Email: pariskarshphoto@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pariskarshphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pariskarshphoto/

Image Credit:
Paris Karsh

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