Daily Inspiration: Meet Jim Vaiknoras

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Vaiknoras.

Hi Jim, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I worked as a newspaper and magazine photographer for many years in Newburyport a small city north of Boston, Ma. As a journalist, I learned many things. First, to see the world through the lens of the story. I left newspapers a few years ago and moved to the Kansas City area. Still, every photograph I take is informed by the idea of a story, whether I’m shooting people, products, or landscapes. Second, every photograph is a conversation between the subject, the viewer, and me.

A photograph only works if that happens. Third and most important is empathy, any creative endeavor, music, writing, sculpture, photography or even cooking without empathy is a failure. Seeing the Midwest through the eyes of a New Englander gives me a different appreciation than a native. Something that might seem common place seems new to me. Although Covid has greatly hindered my transition to the area, I’m hoping as things open up, I’ll be able to learn more about my new city and become a bigger part of the community

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Changing technology has been the biggest challenge over the years. When I started out, I was shooting film, there was no social media, email, or even cell phones. Now I edit videos for people 1400 miles away and chat with photographers in Asia and Europe. It’s important to embrace the tech but not to surrender to it. The temptation is to rely more on photoshop skills, then photography skills.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
One of the things I like to do when shooting a portrait is the spend 10 or 15 min talking with the subject. I want to know what they are hoping to convey through the photograph and help me glean some aspect of who they are. It also puts us both a bit more at ease. Similarly, in shooting landscapes, sports, wildlife, or just photography in general. I’m not talking specifics, but just enough knowledge to improvise, like knowing the chord changes to a song.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I guess my kids, now adults, raising kids teaches us patience, irreverence, how important small things can be, and how to see the world with wonder.

Contact Info:

• Email: vphotographics@gmail.com
• Website: vphotographics.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaiknoras/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.vaiknoras/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JimVaiknoras
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0aNpQFtdxSA_aLUcQVLV6Q