Today we’d like to introduce you to Aram Orchanian.
Aram, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began as a child, taking photos. I remember my sister when I was 7 or 8 told me “take the camera and do candid’s, hide and don’t let people see you taking photos” which to me, meant I can hide like a ninja and take photos, but to her it was more a way to keep me busy when her friends were over. As I got older I began getting more and more disposable cameras when I filled up my gas at a local Sunoco, and they all went into the back seat till I began using them randomly for family things and when out with friends. This was long before the digital age and even camera phones, so the only photos you had were the ones on this piece of plastic camera that made a weird sound when the flash powered up. After high school I took accounting and business classes, but could not sit still doing all the work. It was not that I was having a hard time, I was done to quick and still sitting in a room waiting, and wondering what to do after class and every time I had in mind going out with friends and taking photos for fun. I took a black and white developing class in college, which was where my life changed.
After college I went and studied at New England School of Photography in Boston and learned from masters in the field of photography about everything from studio lighting to photojournalism. I graduated in 2006 and began my studio “Aram O. Photography,” working hard to make a name in a market going all digital and having everyone with a camera start doing photography with no training other than the YouTube videos they may have seen.
I met my wife when she was shooting with me at an event, we knew each other for several years before we began dating, eventually getting married and combining our studios together to create Kataram Studios. We went back and forth for months on a name we would like and work well for us, and a friend of hers mentioned the combining of both names, which we instantly agreed. A lot of people ask why her name is first and mine is 2nd in the company, well if you are married you understand.
We have a 2 yr. old and a 2 month old, our work is what separated us from others and allows me to be home with my wife and daughters 4-5 days a week. We work hard networking, learning, and always being open to meet new people and work with new clients either a wedding or a corporate event. My personal strength to any type of work I do is knowing what is going to happen before it happens and planning for the worst case scenario. I do not need 40 batteries, 5 flashes and 2 cameras to go to a 2 hour event, but I feel better knowing I have it and can count of it if needed.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not one bit.
After my father passed in 1998, right before I graduated high school, my grades went from A & B to C and D if I was lucky. All this happened while I was getting ready to look at colleges and study for my SAT which we can just say the score was so low I could have done better not showing up to it.
Getting new clients is also always difficult in a saturated market where most only charge more because someone else does. We get undercut a lot, and have had a few clients tell us after how our pricing was straight forward and others seemed cheaper only to wind up costing more for less quality of experience and work.
I do have one thing I say all the time, everything happens for a reason. If my father had not passed would I have gone to photo school and found my passion leading me to my wife and two smart ass daughters? If that client had booked me for their wedding, would they have been trying to pinch every cent with me, or was it all for the best.
Having 2 kids and being home all as often as we are is amazing yet running a small business at the same time is a lot of juggling to do. I will spend a lot of time with my daughters and edit when I can either at 6 am or 10 pm, and a lot of times both.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Photography, though not every aspect. My wife does the Architecture work much better than I can, and I am first to admit it. However I am more of a people person, weddings, portraits, documentary work are some aspects I love to work with. I do enjoy Christenings a lot also which surprises some people, though weddings are still one of my favorite things. I come from a huge family, the family and friends are there to celebrate with the couple, and have a fun time and I am honored to be part of that day of celebrating.
What sets us apart is who we are. We do not pretend to be someone we are not at a wedding. We will be loud for formals, these need to be done and uncle mike taking a minute to walk over means we move on and he is down the list for being lazy and not moving when he could. We have the knowledge and experience to deal with brides, grooms, mother of the bride and drunk guests who need to sit down for a moment and take a break before falling over.
I just had a moment with the mother of a bride who said
MOB – “can you use a filter to make me look younger in the photos”
Me – “no, you should have had this wedding earlier”
MOB – “oh, I like you”
We have fun with people, we love seeing people happy and full of joy.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, this is an amazing city full of great talent. You need to find your market and your Niche. Most important in this business, is your word. News travels quickly amongst photographers, especially in the wedding industry.
Pricing:
- Kataram Studios Collections *Aurora – $3,200 6 hrs coverage with two photographers – USB flash drive of images *Belle – $4,400 8 hrs coverage with two photographer – Engagement Session – USB flash drive of images *Jasmine – $5,500 10 hrs coverage with two photographers – Engagement Session – USB flash drive of images – Trash the Dress / Post Wedding Session *Engagement Session $650 Includes a 1 hour session on location *Rehearsal Coverage $1,500 Includes four hours coverage
- Architectural Sessions – $325 per hour
- Event Coverage $450 for first hour $400 each additional hour
Contact Info:
- Address: Watertown MA., 02472
- Website: www.kataramstudios.com
- Phone: 781-888-0149
- Email: kataram@kataramstudios.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kataramstudios
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kataramstudios
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/kataram-studios-watertown/dd051ab637d78a16.html
Image Credit:
Kataram Studios
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