Meet Adriana Kopinja of Newton, Ma

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana Kopinja.

Hi Adriana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story with photography started in Poland, where my father was a crime scene photographer in the 80s. It sounds dramatic, but my memories are actually of spending time with him in the darkroom, which is where my curiosity for photography began.
I kept that interest through school, always being the one with the camera, but it wasn’t until I moved to the United States and had my children that I picked it back up seriously. About 10–15 years ago, I started with newborn and maternity photography.
Everything shifted when I turned 40 and decided to step in front of the camera myself. I hired a photographer with a beautiful portfolio, but she mainly worked with models. I showed up excited, and quickly realized I had no idea what to do, and neither did she when it came to guiding someone like me. That experience was frustrating, but also eye-opening.
I realized that the photoshoot experience needed to feel different, especially for everyday women who don’t know how to pose and are already critical of themselves. So I focused on learning how to guide and pose women in a way that feels natural and supportive.
Today, I run a studio in Newton, Massachusetts, photographing women at every stage of life, along with families and branding clients. What matters most to me is helping people see themselves in a way they didn’t expect, in the best possible way.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s never really a smooth road, especially in a creative business. Most people think photography is just being behind the camera, but that’s maybe 10% of what I actually do. The rest is running a business, marketing, systems, client experience, and constantly learning.

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out a business model that truly fits my life and the kind of work I want to create. That was a lot of trial and error, and honestly, a few “what am I doing?” moments along the way.

Social media and the backend of the business have also been a learning curve. Being creative is one thing, running a business is a completely different skill set.

What made a big difference for me was investing in mentors and learning from people who have already done it. That guidance helped me move forward faster and with more clarity.

I can’t say it’s easy now, but I can say I’m in a place that feels aligned, and that makes all the difference.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
If I had a dollar for every time I hear “I hate how I look in pictures,” I’d probably be answering this from a yacht somewhere instead of my studio.
That’s actually exactly who I work with.
I specialize in photographing real people who don’t know what to do in front of the camera and are convinced they’re “not photogenic.” My job is to change that, without making it awkward, stiff, or feel like a performance. I guide every step, from what to wear, to hair and makeup, to exactly how to stand, sit, move, and yes, what to do with your hands.
What I’m most proud of is that shift. When someone walks in nervous, slightly panicked, and leaves saying, “Wait… that’s actually me?” That never gets old. And no, we’re not waiting for 10 pounds from now. We’re doing this now.
Over the past few years, through the campaigns I’ve created celebrating women, I’ve even had two clients, one in her 50s and one in her 60s, go on to become professional models and start booking paid work, which is still kind of surreal and very fun to watch.
What sets me apart is how hands-on the entire experience is. I don’t just take photos and send a gallery link. I guide my clients through the whole process, start to finish, and help them turn their images into something real, albums, wall art, pieces that actually live in their homes instead of disappearing into a folder on their phone.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about the photos. It’s about changing how people see themselves… and maybe retiring me to that yacht one day.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think my whole life has been one big exercise in risk-taking, whether I planned it that way or not.

I grew up in communist Poland in the 70s and 80s, and then in my mid-20s I moved across the world to the United States, barely speaking the language and figuring everything out as I went. That alone teaches you very quickly that there is no such thing as perfect timing or being fully “ready.”

Starting my business in my late 30s was another big step. It wasn’t the obvious path, but it also didn’t feel surprising to me. At that point, I already knew that staying comfortable doesn’t really get you anywhere interesting.

My perspective on risk is pretty simple. Most of the things we’re afraid of are uncomfortable, not dangerous. And there’s a big difference. Growth lives in that uncomfortable space.

One of my favorite ideas is that success begins with risk. Not reckless risk, but the kind where you trust yourself enough to take the step, even if you don’t have the whole plan figured out yet.

Looking back, every major shift in my life started with a moment that felt uncertain. And every single time, it led me somewhere better than staying where I was.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://adrianakopinjaphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianakopinjaphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdrianaKopinjaPhotography/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-kopinja/

Image Credits
Adriana Kopinja Photography