Meet a Mom: Inga Skuratovsky of Photography by Inga!

This week’s Meet a Mom interview is with Inga Skuratovsky, a Ukranian-born Greenwich Mom of three! Inga came to the United States when she was 13 years old, spending her teenage years in Fairfield County before attending the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University majoring in design and photography. She also went on to receive an MBA in Marketing from UCONN. Eleven years ago, Inga and her husband moved to Riverside with their oldest son, when she was pregnant with twin girls and around that same time, launched Photography by Inga! She is a popular photographer in town and beyond for family photos, Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s, engagements and weddings. “I love being there for all of a family’s major milestones, and capturing the special moments for the family to remember forever,” says Inga.

We spoke to Inga about her photography business, favorite places to shoot in town, tips for taking your own pictures of your kids, and more. For examples of her beautiful work, see below.

To set up a session with Inga, click here or call (203) 895-6966.

Can you please share a bit about your family life in Greenwich?

My husband and I live in Riverside with our 3 children, a dog and a cat. Our oldest, Sam, started at Eastern this year and loves to play hockey, football and tennis. Our twin girls, Ally and Kate are in 4th grade at North Mianus. They love art, acting, tennis, dance and swimming. My husband is in Tech at Meta and creates iPhone apps in his free time. We moved to Greenwich 11 years ago because we love the community, the beach and local parks, and the strong school system. It’s also nice to be able to enjoy all that New York City has to offer, while also being able to enjoy Greenwich’s hiking trails, fishing spots, and local recreation.

Can you please tell us a bit more about yourself as a photographer?

My love for photography started in high school when I won a competition for a magazine cover. Back then we did photography the old-fashioned way, developing our own film in a dark room, and watching the image appear on paper, like magic. I double-majored at Syracuse University College of Visual & Performing Arts in Design and Photography. I started out doing corporate branding and designing consumer packaged goods while doing photography on the side. After having kids, I decided I needed the flexibility of setting my own hours, designing my own schedule, and being my own boss. I launched Photography by Inga in 2010.

What are your best tips for getting kids to sit still for photos?

Show up with a mindset that you don’t need to discipline your kids and just have fun. I’m going to be silly, funny and can be serious (when needed). I take care of everything, making sure the family has a fun time, and always looks good. I have three active kids myself. So I am very comfortable working with children of all ages and family pets.

If someone hires you to do a family portrait, what should they expect?

I first put the family at ease and help them pick their wardrobe to make them look their best. Then we talk about the time of day – if they want fresh and airy photos or sunset photos, etc. Do they want photos in their home, the beach or a more green/park setting? Once I establish the family’s personality, and the photos we need to capture, I make my recommendation on location and time of day. During the photo session, I want to put everyone at ease so their smiles are genuine. I like to give my clients both formal and lifestyle photos because sometimes the candid moments are the unexpected favorites of my clients.

What are some of your favorite locations in town to shoot?

I love finding spots where there’s a combination of trees, water and rocks. If the family prefers the beach, Tod’s point makes an amazing location. I think of the background as a painting, making the photos truly a piece of art.

Anything else you’d like to share?

The amazing thing about this town is that word-of-mouth goes a long way. There are a lot of photographers in this area but we all have our own following of loyal clients who have become family. I see them for major life events like family reunions, engagements, weddings, newborn sessions, milestone birthdays, holiday photos, bar or bat mitzvahs. To be trusted with preserving these precious moments is an absolute honor and joy.