Today we’d like to introduce you to Parmita Katkar.
Parmita, please share your story with us.
My 20’s were the most glamorous years of my life. After winning Miss India Asia Pacific, modeling and acting opportunities kept me busy. But every time I had an opportunity to work with some of the biggest photographers in India, I constantly learned about photography even while I was being photographed.
I changed my gears in my 30’s. I enjoyed being a wife, a homemaker and raised two beautiful sons in New York and Connecticut area. One thing I constantly did was, take creative pictures of my boys. Some of the friends and neighbors started hiring me professionally to take their family portraits and that’s when I decided to learn photography at New York Film Academy to sharpen my technical skills. It would’ve never been possible without my father- in-law‘s encouragement.
I did make a couple of videos and posted on YouTube. But never pursued it as a career seriously.
We moved to Chicago in 2016. And the change wasn’t great for my business. While on one side I had to start from scratch and get new clients on the other My you get son fell pretty sick and we were in a hospital for a week. By the time we got out, I had 3 people walk up to me recognizing me from my video on “how to pose”. When I checked the video it had close to 1 million views in the last 3-4 days.
That’s when my husband asked me to pursue YouTube whole heartedly and share all my talent and knowledge with the new audience that was engaged with my channel.
Had I believed in the concept of “jack of all and master of none” I don’t think I would’ve been where I am today.
Today, I share my knowledge as a photographer, model, an actress, A fitness enthusiast and beauty expert and a multitasking mother, all on one platform… YouTube! My Channel started off With the concept of helping my clients look better in front of the camera. Soon enough, I grew from 300 to Close to 400,000 subscribers who Believe that my channel doesn’t just help them look good in pictures but in fact, it empowers them and inspires them to lead a better lifestyle and have a better self-image, they feel more confident about themselves.
My topics are relevant, interesting and what I teach is practical to understand and follow. Adding a dash of humor has also worked in entertaining and growing my audience.
In this last one year, I have learned to balance my life as a photographer and an influencer/video blogger. I carefully pick and choose the topics and brands I really enjoy and truly believe, will improve my audience’s self-image.
Things have moved really fast in the last one year and I’m still trying to learn every day.
Today, women are traveling from all around the world to do one on one sessions with me or get on Skype calls to chat with me or to get their portraits shot by me.
I travel to do workshops and talks for groups of women or individuals and even companies like Google.
Like I said, I’m new to Chicago! And working with Chicago based businesses also helps me connect with more wonderful Midwestern people.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I really enjoy being a mother and a homemaker. I try my best to see that my work does not affect my duty or role as a mother or wife. I work every single minute when I’m not with family and after they go to bed I stay up and work till 130am or more. At least once a week, I have to work all night.
But I consider my struggles as a privilege. When I asked my kids if they will be happy or I will be a better mother if I give up my work, they say, seeing my work hard and succeed makes them way happier. My husband says and sees now is a better role model when they see my work. When they proudly talk about me or when I read the encouraging comments from my followers, I feel very driven. All I have is gratitude for being able to do what I enjoy. And my reward is that I’m able to make positive changes in my followers’ lives.
My advice for other women is that, be good to yourself! Find and showcase the best of yourself. Treat yourself like a queen and others will do so too. Fill yourself with so much positivity that no one, including yourself, can make you feel otherwise.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about BlushWithMe-Parmita/BlushWithMe.com – what should we know?
I’m a Chicago based lifestyle portrait photographer and a YouTuber. instead of sharing my knowledge through blogs, I knew I was very comfortable in front of the camera and everything I want to share with my audience just gets better when I bring my whole personality in front of them, instead of just a blog.
Thanks to a platform like youtube, I’m extremely proud of how I empower women across the globe. My channel is dedicated to making videos that help women find the beauty hidden within. The comments of my followers on my YouTube channels Blush with me-Parmita and my Instagram page, really boosts my enthusiasm to do better work and improve my content.
They are a lot of YouTubers in their 20s and 30s who treat this as the 9-to-5 job and work really hard. As a middle age mother, a busy photographer and YouTuber, I write my own scripts, shoot videos and edit them myself. I work hard and I love that I have carved a career for myself around my Children’s schedule.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Watch all my videos on YouTube. Wink! Wink! Every video will help you change your confidence for better.
The outer packaging is as important as your inner beauty.
We spend years and money on educating ourselves about the job we seek. We all want to look our best for the part too. But how many of us even know where to start, how to find our personal style, how to present ourselves well, how to build confidence for work, pictures, social functions. For those of us who need more direction in presenting ourselves better, “Blush with me-Parmita” is that school for you.
Pricing:
- My Portrait and Headshots start at $150
- one on one session $150/hour. Group session/party price differs.
Contact Info:
- Website: blushWithMe.com
- Phone: 203-918-8244
- Email: parmitakatkar@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/blushwithme_parmita
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParmitaKatkar.Photography/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/blushwithme-parmita
Image Credit:
@BlushWithMe-ParmitaPhotography
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