I was always in awe of portrait photography as it captures the moment in time, so this is what inspired me to pick up a camera for the first time.  I tried various photography genres and nothing clicked with me more than portraiture photography.  Years ago, I was taking photos of a wedding in New York City with my husband Julian Ribinik, when the bride asked if we could take a few boudoir wedding photos of her in lingerie as she was in the process of “getting ready.” We’d never been asked that before! Julian turned to me and said, “Well, I can’t do that, so you have to.”  Truth be told, I had no idea how to pose someone in lingerie. But as I worked with the bride, I thought about how incredible it would be to shoot boudoir photos professionally. 
Long story short, the bride ended up adoring her photos and from that moment on I became captivated by the niche of boudoir photography.  I knew, however, that if I was going to become a professional boudoir photographer I wanted my work to reflect who I was as an artist. And in that, I mean I wanted the photos I took to showcase my raw, sensual, dark, and moody style. Hopefully, I’ve achieved that in my career so far!
One lesson I’ve personally learned from boudoir is to have the courage to go for my dreams, even if it’s scary at first. Scared was exactly how I felt when I first decided to open my own studio, Evgenia Ribinik Studios, in Brooklyn, NY. But taking the chance was the BEST decision I’ve ever made. Now when I’m taking photos of my clients, I feel like I’m having so much fun that time flies by. There’s no place else in the world where I’d rather be than in my boudoir studio.  My husband, Julian, has always been my biggest fan. From teaching me the nuances of high-quality photography and supporting my pursuit of boudoir style to praising how amazing I am (we never think we are good) – he has been there for me through it all. He just commented today that he can't believe my hobby turned into an amazing business!

To other working women like myself going for their dreams, I would say:

1. Take time for yourself. It’s important to make time for yourself, even when you’re busy. This can be something as simple as taking a few minutes to meditate each day or going for a walk outside.
2. Ask for help when you need it. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you need to do everything yourself. Sometimes, you have to ask for help when you need it. You don’t have to do everything on your own.
3. Always make time for family and friends. Taking time out to spend with your loved ones is so important, even if it seems like there isn’t enough time in the day. They deserve your time and attention, and they will appreciate you for it! So take a moment to sit down with your family or friends and enjoy their company. It’s good for your soul!  
4. Balancing work and life can be difficult, especially when you’re running your own business. For me, the key to maintaining a healthy work/life balance is creating a schedule and sticking to it. I try to plan my week out in advance, and make sure I have time carved out for both work and personal activities.  I also find it helpful to set priorities. If something is important to me, I make sure to schedule it in, even if that means pushing other things to the side. And finally, I try not to stress about things that are outside of my control.
I believe that life is a series of lessons. We are constantly learning and changing, and the people we meet teach us something new about ourselves.  It’s up to you to decide which lessons are most important for you to learn as well as how they’ll affect your life moving forward. I’ve learned many lessons throughout my life, some good and some bad, but I am grateful for them all because they’ve helped me grow into the person I am today!
For more on Evgenia Ribinik and her work, visit: evgeniaribinik.com and follow along on Instagram at @evgeniaribinikstudios.

WRITTEN BY

Evgenia Ribinik