Focus on the Moment Photography
Bristol, TN
(4)
Bristol, TN
(4)
WEDDING PACKAGES STARTING AT $900
Focus on the Moment Photography provides wedding and engagement photography services to couples in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and both Carolinas. The company is owned and operated by Elena Soboleva, a former photojournalist with 10+ years of experience working for a European equivalent to “National Geographic”.
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4 customer reviews
Samantha Simpson
Elena is amazing! She was an absolute blessing and would 100% use her again.
Sydney Sturgis
Elena was prompt and professional. We had a great session! I plan to work with her again in the future!
Reply from Focus on the Moment Photography
Thank you very much for your review, Sydney! I enjoyed every moment of our photoshoot! Would be happy to do it again :-)
Kim S
Elena was amazing and very professional. Her pictures came out beautifully and she made our entire experience magical. The best photographer!
Reply from Focus on the Moment Photography
Thank you very much for your review, Kim! It was a great pleasure to photograph your beautiful wedding!
Autumn Thompson
Elena did an excellent job photographing my wedding! She is a very professional and experienced photographer. We had a "COVID wedding" which presented some unique challenges, but she did a great job overcoming any "COVID difficulties" and adjusting to any last minute changes/surprises. I would recommend her to anyone interested in high-quality, professional, and beautiful photos! We couldn't be happier with our photos :) More...
What’s the secret to taking a great photograph?
My secret is to make you feel comfortable, to provide you with the very best depiction of your day, and to make you forget that I am even there. I also believe in treating my clients with respect, so I will never impose my vision on you; instead, I like to figure out who my clients are and then let them be themselves. This day is yours, after all, not mine.
What questions might you ask a client when starting a new project?
I like for our first contact to be a quick video chat, so we can talk about your personal preferences and expectations. Specifically, I’m interested in hearing how you envision your wedding day and what you are looking for in your wedding photography. If we decide to work together, I will then email you a pre-wedding questionnaire that will contain questions about your event: times and locations, names and phone numbers, group arrangements for the formal photos, etc. The answers to the questionnaire will help my assistant and me better manage your wedding day photography needs.
What do you love most about your job?
Being allowed a glimpse into others’ lives is an extraordinary honor. I love capturing every moment of a wedding, whether it’s sweet, poignant, or (sometimes) completely ridiculous. What inspires me, and what makes me enjoy my work so much, is being able to share in the tender moments with beautiful people who open their hearts and let me be with them on their wedding day.
What inspired you to start your own business?
My love for weddings is born from my passion for a great story. As a graduate of the Photojournalism Program of the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York City, I spent ten years working as a photojournalist for GEO, a European travel magazine. Throughout my photography career, my goal was to help others “see” the people I had met and “visit” the places I had traveled. I wanted my photographs to show others how multi-faceted and diverse the world really is. I wanted them to see, through my eyes, how large our planet is and what incredible things can be found on it.
My approach to wedding photography is the same as it was to photojournalism; the only difference is the subject matter. Love is one of the most wonderous human experiences, and I enjoy documenting a couple’s special day. To follow my passion, in 2017, I created my own wedding photography service, and "Focus on the Moment" was born.
Why should our clients choose you?
For most of your wedding day, I will be photographing the natural events as they happen - this is what I can do best: I am always alert and never miss an important moment. On the other hand, I do not shy away from guiding you if needed and can always provide suggestions to help bring out your natural reactions.
My images will reflect your dynamic as a couple and the emotions felt by everyone present at the ceremony, but I will also capture those little in-between moments that you will want to relive again and again. In other words, I can help immortalize your day by giving you keepsakes you will treasure for years to come.
