Rhea Whitney is a Houston Tx Wedding Photographer who left her corporate accounting job to pursue photography full time. Today Rhea talks about building your Know Like and Trust factor to attract more clients than ever before and also deliver a world-class experience to your current clients.
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In This Episode You'll Learn:
How Rhea got into photography while working as a corporate accountant
Rhea’s definition of the Know Like Trust Factor and what it means to her
How to build your Know Like Trust factor when just getting started
Where Rhea sees so many photographers get the KLT factor wrong in their marketing
Premium Members Also Learn:
Rhea’s #1 tip to build KLT factor with new clients on Instagram
Why you need an email list to keep in contact with potential clients and have them excited to book with you
How to use the KLT factor to enhance your current client’s experience
Resources:
Houston Wedding Photographer Rhea Whitney’s website
Follow Rhea Whitney on Instagram
Did you enjoy this episode? Check out more recent interviews with other great guests!
Full Episode Transcription:
Disclaimer: The transcript was transcribed electronically by Temi.com and may contain errors that do not reflect accurately what the speaker said. Because of this, please do not quote this automated transcript.
Raymond Hatfield: 00:00 You left your corporate accounting job to pursue photography full time. And that's a big step. That's a real big step. Tell me when you knew that photography was going to play an important role in your life.
Rhea Whitney: 00:11 Oh, I love that. So yeah, no, it was such a big step. And I'm gonna kind of back up a little bit because when I was in corporate America, I always had an interest in photography, like as a little girl, and I became privy to this class that this guy saw in DC at a studio. And so that's kind of how my whole, like I stepped my little toe in the pool of photography and it just opened and my world changed and my eyes open and just so much change for me. So I would absolutely have to say and you know, me taking that leap of faith, taking this class it's was like a six month class in a studio and you learn how to shoot in manual and how to manipulate light and everything like that. So it was like this intro to professional photography course.
Rhea Whitney: 01:01 And it just changed. I knew then that I was like, Oh, this is like, yeah, I'm so happy to be here. Like, I love everything. You know, I was just really enthralled and learning and just for myself in it. And I just had a feeling that things would never really be like, I was just, it was, it was my thing. It was my thing. It's always been my thing, but I wouldn't call myself a professional until I really knew how to manipulate light and shoot in manual. Right. Like shooting whatever type of lighting scenarios I was placed in that was really big for me. Cause I was just scared to like be this professional and then really not know what.
Raymond Hatfield: 01:40 Sure, sure. So I know I had a very short period in the corporate world. It wasn't an accounting or anything, you know, important I guess. But I know that it can take a lot of your time. It can take up a lot of who you are and even, even your free time, if you're given a, a phone or like a laptop to bring home with you. So walk me through the process or the decision rather to commit to taking a six month photography course like that had to have been a big commitment for you. What were you hoping to get out of it?
Rhea Whitney: 02:11 Yeah, absolutely. You know, it's, at the time it was such a big commitment. Like to be honest, the class was on like Thursday nights. I was, you know, in corporate America, but I was a fairly new like college grad. I went to Howard university. I was working and living in DC. So like Howard's in DC. And so I had a lot of like friends and, you know, it felt like Thursday nights was like our happy hour, you know, we would get there, you know, just go to a happy hour, half fun Fridays. The next day here comes the weekend and it was just like, you know, that type of thing. And so I, at that time, it's so crazy to say, to think, but this was so true. I was just like, you're not going to do, like, I'm going to miss my friends.
Rhea Whitney: 02:54 Like I'm going to miss happy hour for six months, you know? But at the end of the day, I was just like, why not? You know, I had just turned, I want to say, I had just turned 25. Don't get me lying. Yeah. I think I was about to turn 25. So it was like, okay, you know, this could be really exciting, really fun. You know, I think it was like $150 a month or something like that. And again, I'd never invested in anything ever outside of, you know, going to college. And so it was like, okay, $150 a month. Okay. six months, it's going to take me through the whenever. So like all these things, but it was definitely a big sacrifice. And I think looking back, it just was, you know, it was just that, that small decision that changed it for me, you know, I'm so thankful for my younger self for just being like, okay girl, try it, do it.
Rhea Whitney: 03:52 Why not? You know this is something that you're really interested in. You're obviously, you know, how I became even aware of the courses, my coworker I love her. She's like, you know, who kind of introduced me to it also. She's like, Hey, my mom is taking this photography course. And she needs some subjects to stand in. For her homework assignment, she was like, you and two of my other coworkers, like you guys, you ladies should come down and be the subjects. I was like, okay, that photo shoot. Yeah, we're totally down. So we go and she had this, this paper with all of these homework assignments. One was like a silhouette. And one was like document, how far someone has come or document how far someone has to go. And one was like a rule of thirds. It was like all of these things.
Rhea Whitney: 04:38 And I was so into it. I was so into it. Like I was like, Oh, well we have to do a silhouette. We have to wait til the sun goes down because it has to, can't do a silhouette, but it's got, you know, whatever. I had no idea. Like she was like, she kept saying, no, there's a way to do it. I was like, no girl, you got to wait to the sun, you know, whatever. And she was like, you're really into this. I was just so into it. And that's how she told me about the class, how the universe works and everything, her teacher ended up being down there. Like we were shooting in Georgetown, D C, he was there. He just walked up on us. She was like, Oh my gosh, look, it's, you know, Daryl. And so she introduced us and we started chatting and he was an old Heller grad you know, and he was like, you should take the class.
Rhea Whitney: 05:21 He was like, do you have a camera? And he was like, yeah. And you know, he was just asking me. So anyway, it was just one of those things, everything works out for, you know, or it's reasons. And, you know, there's a reason for everything. But at the time it was a huge sacrifice, but I'm so glad I did it. I'm so glad I did it because owning a business is a sacrifice. And so that was just like a little chip of the iceberg that had me kinda steer into a direction that was going to like take me a lot, you know, to a whole new place. So,
Raymond Hatfield: 05:53 So when you're in college, you are studying for something very specific in your, or in your case, it was accounting, right? It was, it was numbers and finance. And then very shortly after you had graduated, you had thought to yourself, Hey, wait a second. There's this other thing here? And this is pretty cool. What was it that made you think, you know what? I can do this. I can go out on my own and I can be successful at it. Regardless of having spent four years in college to earn a degree.
Rhea Whitney: 06:21 Yeah. I mean, honestly it took a good amount of time for me to really get there because to be completely honest, my mindset entering into the class was, Oh, I'm just learning. Like I will never charge anyone. I would never charge anyone. And it's so funny. I was dating a guy at the time and I told him that and I ki kind of, you know, it was a horrible relationship, but anyway, he kind of held it over my head. As I grew into being this professional, that charged, he was like, well, I thought you said you would never charge anyone, but I'm like, you know, when you know, better, you know, more, you have to operate in that space. And so that when I was going in, I just didn't know. Right. I didn't know about the profession. I didn't know about it as a career.
Rhea Whitney: 07:02 I didn't really understand like all the genres, you know what I mean? Like, in my mind it was just like half this camera. I love to take pictures and to say record, you know? And so, yeah, like it was, it was just kind of game changing this whole, like, you know, the process of it all, but it took a while for me to get to the place where I was like, I can do this. It took up almost about like three years to be about exact, like a little over three years. And my story of going full time, I got fired. Right. Like I got fired for the second time. And by that time that's three years in like, you know, I had kind of built the momentum and just really like really was shooting every weekend. I was shooting every weekend for, you know looking sessions and stuff like that.
Rhea Whitney: 07:56 And so it was it, I knew, I was like, okay, I could probably really do this. And I had so many people telling me, like, you could do this full time. And, you know, I wasn't sure, you know, leaving this nine to five with the salary and, you know, insurance, it's just a big, it's scary. You're like, no. And are you going to cover your bills and all of that, but it just worked out like so great. And by the time I got fired, but for the second time, I wasn't really ready to go full time, but I already had a plan because the first time he got fired, which was like nine months before I was like, okay, I'm not ready to be full time. I'm going to go find a job. But I'm going to get myself there. Like I was giving myself a little bit more time, blah, blah, blah. I don't even know what that meant, but, you know, I had a different plan for me. And so yeah, I had a plan, like I have kind of a plan, the savings paid off some, my car paid off some debt, like just kinda like leaned out my expenses so that if the opportunity, you know, when it was time, it made sense. But it came sooner than I expected and I'm just, I'm grateful. I love it. I love being in this space. I love working for myself. So yeah.
Raymond Hatfield: 09:11 Yeah. I think, you know what you said there about leaning out your expenses. That's a big thing, you know, when you first get started, it's very fun to think like, Oh, this is a business expense. I will just go ahead and charge this or whatever it is, it was smart to take. But obviously having an accounting background, you know, a little bit about finances and you know, how it works more so than the than the average person. But I want to go back to kind of those, those beginnings when you decided to sign up for that photography class and you started shooting on your own, what was the hardest part about photography for you specifically to learn? Rhea Whitney: 09:45 That's a really good question. For some people, it is the idea of that shooting in manual or manipulating by which to me that concept of manipulating light is something that you will continuously always work on. You know, I want people to really understand that their lighting photography is nothing but manipulating light and there's just so many different types of light, you know, like so sometimes people really get so worked up in this, Oh, I have to, you know, know for fact on every little way to manipulate light. And I think that that is a part of the journey that really, you know, you find people that have been in it for 20 years and they're just like, Oh, I just learned this new thing or they're just feeling confident, you know? So anyway for me it wasn't shooting in manual. I think for me, it was really just kind of building out a business that felt authentic and true to the type of business that I wanted to have.
Rhea Whitney: 10:44 And so, cause I learned my whole journey in photography has been me investing in education or the next level, the whole journey. And when I look back on it, it makes sense. And it just I'm that type of person, like I'm the type of person where I'll take a course, I'll do a program, I get a coach, I will do these things that will open a no answer, the questions I need, open up doors that I need in order so that I can like save time and get to, you know, doing the things that I really want to do and not try to figure it out on my own and all this other kind of stuff. So for me, it was like learning about the business that I wanted to create. Like I wanted, I didn't want to be like high volume, low price point.
Rhea Whitney: 11:26 I wanted to attract really quality clients that cared about how they looked. They cared about how they showed up. They really loved like good imagery. Like they valued it. So that when I said my price point, it wasn't like overall, like you're tripping. It was like, yeah, you know, how do I, how do I, like, how do we get this on the calendar? That was my whole thing. And I think in the beginning I didn't have I didn't see a lot of that. And for, you know, where I was, you know, and I kind of had to get over just my fear pricing and like understand there's like so many different types of photographers, like shoot and burn and, and, you know, heavy post production and high quality. I mean, there's just so many different types of fashion and, you know, weddings and just all these things. And so it was really like building out the business that I really wanted that attracted the type of people that I wanted that could keep me in business. That was really my biggest challenge in the beginning. Right.
Raymond Hatfield: 12:31 Yeah. I'm really excited to talk about that because building the business is something that is it takes a lot of, it takes a lot of work and I, I kind of described to my own wedding couples who are looking for help. You know, sometimes I'll ask, like, what's been the hardest part about planning your wedding. And it always seems to come back to the fact that they've never been married before and that this whole thing is new. And, you know, it's kind of the same when it comes to photography, business owners, they know that they like the camera in the same way that a couple knows that they like each other, but they've never taken that next step. They've never done the business before. So that is always the challenge. And coming up with, you know, always looking for help finding those trusted advisors for you is so smart that I hope everybody listening picked up on and really, really takes to heart, takes to heart. So when you started doing that, when you started reaching out and you thought I'm really going to build this business the way that I want to especially having a more of a high end brand where you're targeting a very specific person we all know that getting somebody to know like, and trust you is extremely, extremely, extremely important. So in that sense, what did building a know like and trust factor mean to you and your clients?
Rhea Whitney: 13:47 Yeah, no for sure. For me, one of the biggest things that I did to kind of start that know like, and trust factor is like really building out my website or in a way that showcase the type of people that I, I really like to shoot or the outcomes my style of work. And then also listing out my core values on my website. I know that like sounds so strong and, you know, whatever, and people are like, well, why would you do that? But to me, that was important because I wanted people to like really like resonate with me if it resonated. They're like, Oh, I really like, these are great core values. You know, faith trust loyalty stuff like that, things that matter a lot to me just kind of really helped to repel the people that were just not really looking for all of that.
Rhea Whitney: 14:39 They're like, this is too much, I'm not trying to do all that. And then attract those people that it's like, no, this is the type of person that I really want to work with, you know? And still to this day, like I get people that will comment that will comment on my core values on my site or comment just on my story. Just things that I share about me in my, about me section, because they resonate with it. And they're just like, it's just something about you. I just know, you know, that you're the photographer for me and I just love, you know, X, Y, and Z. And to me it means so much because it's like good, you know? So it started on my website for sure. And then it definitely trickled to my Instagram and just like being authentic in my voice and in things that I actually just liked.
Rhea Whitney: 15:27 And being competent in that, because I remember early on, you know, you're building and all this, and you care about your peers opinions and all of these things. When in actuality, it doesn't matter because they're not your clients, they're just your industry peers. But I remember some guys kinda like kinda kind of critiquing my style or critiquing this, that heavy portrait photographer style. And just, you know, especially being in weddings, like saying, you know, nobody wants that. Like, people want moments, people want documentary, you know, photo, journalistic style, like to have just portraits, like that's cheating. Right. And I was just like, you know, at first it really got to me, but then over time, I'm like, I just became more confident because that is what I love. Like I loved even looking at my parents' old photos or my aunts and uncles or whoever.
Rhea Whitney: 16:23 I just loved a classic timeless portrait, like looking at them, you know, chose back in the day. They used to kind of look off and have this like really like stoic look or whatever. But I just love that. Like, that's just my thing. And so I, I became just more confident in this is just what I do. Like yes, I capture moments. Yes. I do capture authenticity within the day. Absolutely. Like, I think that's a part of wedding, you know, for me, but I also let my people know that, like, I'm also going to capture you in a portrait. Like I'm going to make sure that you were good, that your posts, well, the flight is good. You and you, and your new husband or partner, or you and your family, you by yourself and stuff like that. And so, you know, just being true to who I was and, you know, like, and what I was passionate about kinda to me starts that trust and that no, like no, like trust factor that people don't even think that they're factoring in when it comes to, you know, inquiring or, or, or booking with me.
Raymond Hatfield: 17:23 Do you think that that was a hard decision in the beginning to, to go that, I guess, let me rephrase the question. I know I E everybody knows their own flaws. Right. and when it comes to, you know, putting myself out there on social media, I know that I just don't spend a lot of time on social media, but when I'm thinking about, you know, sharing who I am you know, my mind immediately goes like to like, Oh, well, let me start talking about my views on politics and religion and all these things that I know that I don't want to share. All the things that people don't want to hear from. How do you, how do you deal with that balance?
Rhea Whitney: 18:01 Yeah. well, so I would say like, up until probably recently COVID, and, and just the racial discrimination that's happening. I think I really wasn't that vocal on too much politics, or I I'll definitely say politics, religion. I am, you know, I'm a fake, I'm a woman of faith. And so I put that out there because it's part of my core value. And when I, you know, I have friends of all different faiths, you know, Christian Mo Muslims, Jew, Jewish. I mean, you know, it, I don't discriminate in that way. I'm just like to share the type of person that I am and the faith that I do lean on, because to be honest, I would not be here without it. You know, to me, it's a gift that was given, and it's a ministry that I, that I do, especially with weddings, you know, but I just really, you know, it's a fine line.
Rhea Whitney: 18:59 And just as far as again, you have to, for me, I'm always thinking about, and it took me a while to really get this. Cause it's something I like coach my people on my students want, but when we're speaking, it's more, so it's not about dude, it's not about your, your, what your thoughts are, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It's about your target audience and what they want to hear from you. Right? Because we have to speak to them. We don't have to speak about ourselves and our own thoughts and what we feel and what we think matters. I think we really aren't me to be tailoring the conversation or our messaging around what they want to hear from you, what they need to hear from you, like some, you know, messaging that is valuable and insightful and helpful. And so, you know, when you're considering how to share things that matter to you, I think it's most important that you think about the audience that you're speaking to.
Rhea Whitney: 19:54 And my audience, you know, I think in a sense on heavy on things that are happening in the world that are affecting us, they don't mind me speaking to it. You know, they don't mind me taking a stance, you know? And I'm not mad at that. And, and because of that, I, I, you know, in bold and authentic, authentic in that way, but in a way that's still like classy and like, well received. And well put together well crafted, not to, you know, whatever, but that's just the type of person that I am and the type of people that I like to attract. And so it is hard. It is like a fine line. Like it is a little bit of a balance to find what works for you. But when you really get clear on who your people are and like why they resonate with you and things that matter to them, then you can tailor your message and you can be and share, but in a way that will resonate with them, not necessarily all about how you feel and all these things, it's all about your target audience that you're trying to attract.
Raymond Hatfield: 20:58 That is a huge mindset shift right there that I had never thought of, but makes a hundred percent sense in my head. I think like, you know, well, what sorts of things should I be sharing? And it's like, well, I like mint chocolate chip ice cream. I could probably share that. And I, you know, I don't want to share these views on, you know, other things that I have or, you know, whatever it is because you're always so worried about alienating people for some reason. And I never see any in between. It's like the trivial and then the radical, I suppose, you know, it's finding whatever's in between there, I guess, which sounds to me like the real meat that I have a hard time dealing with. So thank you. Thank you for sharing that. It's not about you. It's about what your ideal client wants to hear from you. That is a huge, huge difference. Huge difference.
Rhea Whitney: 21:46 I would also add that people want to hear that you love your mint chocolate chip ice cream, like, cause I mean, I find that, you know, they'll start gifting you that, or they'll read. It's just such, it's very interesting. Of course you don't want to go too heavy on it, but people love to hear special nuances about you about your likes and your interests. And to me, we're talking about that. No lack of trust, that's that? No, in like piece that people are like, Oh no, no, no like mint mint, chocolate chip too. Or, Oh my God, I had the worst experience with mint chocolate chip. Let me tell you what happened to me, you know? Yeah, exactly. And you're like, this is, this is so cool. Like I didn't even think we wouldn't have a conversation about this, but you know, that's just kind of starts to open you up as just a human and, you know, create people, you know, I have them creating a dialogue with you where they get to know you more and they get to like you more and all of that, no one like ends up leading to trust in, in, in when you're talking about sales and selling and things like that.
Raymond Hatfield: 22:46 So let me ask you a more direct question and that is, you know, it comes to know like, and trust. I can tell you I'm Raymond. I like the Dodgers and I have a good amount of reviews from past brides. It says that my photography is, you know, that they enjoy it. Is that enough? Is that enough? Should we be digging deeper? What am I missing here?
Rhea Whitney: 23:06 Right. Definitely digging deeper. So I think a good way to go deep is, okay, you have to share more of your story. Like Raymond, how did you get into photography? What inspires you about being behind the camera? You know, what is it that got you here? How did you even start to shoot weddings? And a lot of times people like try to, they downplay their story. Cause it sounds just so regular to them. I mean, it's just a regular thing, but it's not regular, you know, there's something about it that made you say, Hey, I want to shoot couples. I want to shoot this type of couple. I want to shoot at these types of places. Or even the Dodgers, like what is it from your experience growing up or whatever that kind of had you start to watch baseball and, you know, get into, you know, being interested in the Dodgers and things like that.
Rhea Whitney: 23:52 And so you want to go deep, you want to share your story, share your story with what, how it got you to being the photographer that you are, whether that's part time, full time, whatever it is, you know, it's important. People want to connect with the creative. The life piece is like you said, like you like the Dodgers, but I'm sure you like a lot of other things, you know, people resonate. It's, you know, again, I say it's about repelling and attracting repelling and attracting. And so the more I can speak to, Oh, I'm a Nordstrom girl or I love TJ Maxx or, you know you know, whenever I went to an HBCU now I'm like repelling those people that are like, Ugh, that's not my type. Or I'm attracting those people that are like, Oh my gosh, I love Nordstrom too. And I went to this school and you know, it's this like similarity.
Rhea Whitney: 24:41 I like people to think about it. Like, I'm sure there's someone on the internet somewhere that you really look up to. Right? You feel like, you know them for some reason, because you feel like, you know them, you really like them. You like the way that they talk, the jokes that they share, what they wear, how they show up on camera or whatever. And then in an accent, you start to trust them. You don't even really know them for real, but in your mind, it's like, I know them like, you know and so it's what, what is it about that person that made you get all the way there to think? Oh, I do know that like, it's probably the way that they have shared things that they've gone through or experiences them being authentic to themselves. They probably share things that they like.
Rhea Whitney: 25:24 And you probably found a similarity in that. You know, so you want to go deep, you want to really share your stories, share your likes outside of photography, just the type of person that you are. Things that you're gravitated towards. I like to say things that I call these, like your business pillars, like co like you can just start conversations about it just so easily. You can just like ramble on and ramble on it because you care about it and you like it, you know? And then you're going to attract those people that are like like-minded. And like I said, that all ends up leading to trust factor, the trust factor. I also think the trust factor can be built when you position yourself, your messaging position yourself as helpful and valuable and as the expert. Right? So you have to say, you have to be confident.
Rhea Whitney: 26:11 I know what I know. You know, I'm a photographer. I photographed weddings before. This is not my first wedding. And so I can position, I can share messaging. I can share tips and tricks out there for new brides. And now they're, they see me as the expert. They are like, Oh, she really knows what she's talking about. I really like her, you know, they might pass it on. They might incorporate into their wedding planning, but now I'm becoming, you know, trustworthy in the fact of being the expert, being the wedding photographer, being the senior photographer, being the newborn photographer that has done this, you've done this, you know? So go a little deeper, just go a little deeper. I think sometimes it scares us photographers because we want to hide behind our photos. Like it's so easy to do, but people truly want to know the creative and want to know the person that's behind the camera and resonate, you know, they wanna, you know, resonate with you.
Raymond Hatfield: 27:06 Yeah. So you said there, which again, I think a really important there to build that trust, you need to, you know, share your experience, position yourself as that expert when you're first getting started and you really do have a lack of professional experience. Is there maybe another Avenue or another third, a suggestion that you would have as far as building that trust factor to start getting your first few clients?
Rhea Whitney: 27:29 Oh yeah. Well, I think that with every, every stage, there's still something that you can share. You just have to stop looking at it. Like it's so minimal or it doesn't matter. Right. For example, for me, when I first took this course, right from the day that I decided to take the course, that's something that I could share. And the journey that I learned in the course, the type of people that I met, the type of things that we did, you know, the aha moments that I had or, you know, and so when I would go out and shoot and you know, I'm learning and Ooh, now I really love a 51.8. Why like, what about the 51.8 changed it for you as opposed to the kit lens or when I really started to find my life, like the life that I love to shoot him.
Rhea Whitney: 28:13 Why? Like, what about that light just made me so excited. It sounds small and minimal, but when you start to just like, think about it, it would want to know like, there's your clients. They don't know about a 51.8. They don't know about finding the light, you know, maybe they know a little bit maybe, but for the most part they don't, but this starts, it's your journey. Like I think sometimes we're so focused on the end, like this end goal and whatever that is, right. Because by the time you get to the end goal, it's a moving target. You're going to have a whole nother end goal. Right. And so it's really about just actual, like really like leaning into your real journey that is happening right here in front of your eyes. And seeing that you're, you know, with every little thing that you've experienced with every little thing that you learn and you push yourself to do something new, there is some story telling behind it that really is just kind of different than what other people have experienced, you know?
Rhea Whitney: 29:13 So I would just say stop downplaying, like your journey, right. And just actually kind of zoom out. Like I can be, we can say that we're photographers, zoom out and see the big picture, because there's so much that's actually happening. Even though you haven't hit that target, there's still so much that's happening, that matters. And that's important to you. And so just sharing, you know what I mean? And I think that in the beginning I was just so hungry. I don't even know. I've never had a goal of being full time, anything. I was just so hungry to be a photographer and to be creating. And so through my journey early on, I just would share, you know, random photos why I liked it, you know of course there was no labs and story, you know, there were the stories and lives and all of that.
Rhea Whitney: 29:59 It was just more about sharing the work. But through me sharing, you could, people could see my eye transforming, they could see the passion, they could see the creativity. And that just helped because I put myself out there then even if it was like, I don't care a picture of a flower or it didn't matter. I would take pictures of a lot of my girlfriends, I'm in a sorority. So I had a lot of sorority sisters. I was just constantly hungry to photograph and early, early, early on. And I just continued to share, I just continued to share it, but it out there Instagram specifically. And, and so, you know, it just kinda opened up. People took me more serious and they could see my eye transforming. And I, you know, I, when I look back now, I see it more clearly, but I just was being bold in what was happening in front of me and not downplaying it.
Rhea Whitney: 30:53 You know what I mean? So it's, it's a balance and let me be honest. I did not do this seamlessly every day. You know what I mean? Like there were a ton of days when I'm just like, Oh, but I want this, but I want that, but I want this, but I want that. And I still have those days for sure, my wants. But it's all about the journey, you know what I mean? And when we can like really just shift our Mon a little bit and really like acknowledged what we're actually going through, as opposed to always trying to hit this end goal and not realize, you know, really seeing what's happening before us. And that's, that's how you find the storytelling.
Raymond Hatfield: 31:32 Oh, that is a, that's powerful, you know, to think of, think of it as a story and less strategic, I suppose, like most, most you know, the spaces that you're in when it comes to, you know, being in business you're, you know, you're, you're really told to think about things strategically and not just do things to throw them up against the wall. But what you're sharing here is I don't want to say that it goes against that, but being open, being vulnerable requires a little bit more of that reaction rather than, you know, what, next Tuesday, I'm going to share a story about that time, where this happened to whatever. And that's I could, I could see how that would obviously build that, build that trust with with, with your potential clients, but when it comes to the client process, right? I want to know for you, you know, this is very important to your business building this know, like, and trust factor. It's the only way that you can build a luxury brand. So I want to know what are you going to do this week to build know like, and trust factor with potential clients of yours,
Rhea Whitney: 32:34 You are listening to the free version of the beginner photography podcast, where each week you learn world-class photographer, see and capture the world around them. If you want to hear the extended interview with their best business tips to learn how to make money with your camera, does that become a premium member today, but heading over to beginner photography, podcast.com and click the premium membership button to join. Now
Raymond Hatfield: 32:57 That, I mean, that whole idea right there, that strategy when it comes to email is something that, I mean, nobody, nobody is talking about right now. And if I think I really think that if you're able to nail that and give them that information that they're looking for while they're in that inquiry stage, I mean, like you said, right there, I mean, they're really going to have no reason to go anywhere else. And I mean, that was just, that was just fantastic tip that, you know, we don't hear enough of on the podcast as far as, you know, just that follow up and really, really, I mean, driving up your sales essentially. So thank you so much for, for sharing that. Yeah. I want to ask you a question now. And when I was doing my research on you, I listened to a few of the podcasts that you've been on. And on one of them, you shared a story about your parents wedding photos, right. And how your parents' wedding photographer was a fraud. Can you tell me again what happened and how that kind of shaped who you are as a photographer?
Rhea Whitney: 33:56 Absolutely. So that's a part of my why and within weddings truthfully but yeah, my parents' wedding, my parents got married and Ooh, 83 or 82, 83. And so back in the day film days, you know and in a small town in North Carolina in July hot summer day, they tell me all the time was like, they tell me the story and long story short, their wedding photographer the whole time, exactly why he was taking shots, you know, getting that good angles. They paid him money. And then he disappeared off the face of the earth, come to find out that he had no film in the camera. And then he was just surprised he was a complete fraud. And my dad tells the story, know your mom cried for like three months straight at three weeks straight. I, you know, he always changes the duration.
Rhea Whitney: 34:48 But you know, she was really sad, devastated, rightfully so, because if you think about it, that on that day, you know, her life was changing. She was becoming a life. In all of her, her parents were both alive who are now deceased. His parents were both alive who are now deceased. All of her siblings were there. One of her brothers has passed away. So the point like the people in the rule will never be able to be in the room ever again. Right. And there were just a lot of, like, those photographs were going to like become more valuable over time. The more, you know, time passed and people left this earth. The more that those photographs just mean to them and the idea of her not having them just crushed her, crushed her completely. And they told the story and I'll never, I was a little, you know, younger.
Rhea Whitney: 35:41 I, I, you know, it hurt, you know, cause when you're you go back to that, well, I want to see your wedding albums or I want to see you guys on your wedding day. And they just didn't have that many photographs at all from it, the pictures actually that they did have were from like friends that were there that were guests of the wedding. But again, we're talking about the eighties here in North Carolina, like a lot of people didn't have like cameras and, you know, whatever, but I feel their friends would send them with sin, you know, made a book or sent them a couple of photographs and those pictures just like they cherish, you know, it could be four photos and they're just like looking and, you know, just really cherishing those moments. And it just made me realize like how important is a role that we play us wedding photographers in the day.
Rhea Whitney: 36:27 You know, we are like to me, one of the most important vendors because it's like we bring it all together. We bring you know, we, we photograph the family, we photograph the ambiance, we photograph everything and the photos, yes, you charge however much you charge your wedding. But to me over time, it truthfully becomes priceless because number one, a lot of, you know, everyone in that room probably will never be in that room in one room together ever again. Right. It's the combining of families. You never know what's going to happen. And so, you know, when I go about photographing a wedding day, I really pay attention to the elders. To me, it's so important to get some portraits or get really beautiful shots of the elders in the room. And because you just, those people, it's family lineage it's I don't have to know them, but I know for a reason, I know that they are, they matter to my couples, you know, that, or maybe my couples make me aware, like my grandmother and my great grandmother or whatever, my grandfather, great grandfather, great uncle, you know what doesn't matter?
Rhea Whitney: 37:35 I just am always like, try my best to just like photograph moments. Yes. Photograph, I'll be honest and dancing and am dress and decor and all the beautiful things, but also like just pay attention to the people that are in the room that have helped raise them, especially the elders. I cannot say that enough. The people that sit in the first two rows just really being aware of how important these images will be post, you know, the web once it's done. And just fix me, think back one, being able to see the couple of photographs and my parents have of their wedding day and who was alive still and what they looked like and just their emotions on their face and just all the things. And also just seeing my parents in their youth, like seeing them, you know, going, starting this new chapter in their life and, you know, just being young and youthful and stuff like that.
Rhea Whitney: 38:30 So it is like really, really a core part of my why behind weddings. Like I will, I'm like, I will never run off with your photos. Like I care too much. I value what I do and I understand how big of a role this is that I play. And so I'm like, I'm like, I treated it like a major league baseball game. I'm like, we are going to kill it. We're going, I come to win, you know, hit the home runs every time. It doesn't matter what it takes. And so the final minute down, I'm, I'm giving it my all. And so that's just really how I approach the wedding day.
Raymond Hatfield: 39:06 Yeah. And obviously, I mean, you know, the devastation that it has, if, if a couple were to lose their photos and that has to just drive you so hard to, to really deliver for your clients. So I'm sure that even though it's a very unfortunate situation, that your clients really appreciate hearing that story that, you know, may maybe, maybe people wouldn't even think about sharing as, as, as you know, it, it could potentially bring up just the possibility that that could happen. You know, and that could be bad, but obviously it's worked out for you for, for the best. I love, I love to hear that even though, you know, as I said, it was an unfortunate situation that she came out ahead here, she came out ahead.
Rhea Whitney: 39:44 Yeah. Yeah. And that's just that piece of sharing, you know what I mean? Like, like really I knew that it mattered to me, you know, I knew that that story was special to me cause I'll never forget, my sister was getting ready. She was about to get married. And I was pulling images for her bridal shower of us when we were little girls and stuff. And I came across like a couple of wedding images and I ended up showing my mom and dad and they both just became theory and just emotional. And it was just like, Oh wow. You know what I mean? Like, my photographs probably will do that too. My, my couple, you know, you just never know. And it's just one of those moments where it's just like, okay, this matters, like what I do matters so much, you know what I mean?
Rhea Whitney: 40:27 And also just being, just also caring, like I care so much and, and being able to like verbalize why I care and how it hit for me with my parents. I haven't been, I'm not married. I've never been married either. So I don't have a personal story like for myself, but I do have a personal story as it relates to my parents. And I think that first of all, stories really start to show like character of people and into me. You know, again, I'm speaking to my target audience, they care about that. Like they care about that. And so, yeah, it's just part of my, part of my mind.
Raymond Hatfield: 41:07 I mean, that's a great, that's just such a great story, again, such a good story, but it sounds to me like kind of everything that we've talked about today really kind of boils down to just like friendship one Oh one, right. You know, like I really try to try to be nice to somebody, let them get to know you and just, just let them trust you or, or build trust with them. And yet, you know, we're all taught, you know, how to be friends with people, but I want to know from your experience, is there somewhere where you see maybe new photographers just totally dropping the ball and getting it wrong?
Rhea Whitney: 41:43 It would definitely have to be with being consistent, just being consistent with putting themselves out there and speaking to what they do and who they do it for. You know, they're like, well, I already shared this or I don't really have anything to create. I don't have anything new to share and I get it. I've definitely been there, but I tell my students and my, my my mentees all the time, we are master creators with this camera in our hand, we're master creators. Now how you go about creating it's up to you, but we hold so much power with these cameras so much. Right. So we have to like think outside of like our head and just get out there and create right. Make opportunities, put yourself out there, connect with people that you want to create with, you know, do some collaboration reshare your old work.
Rhea Whitney: 42:32 Like there's nothing wrong with like, you know, I think it's so funny. We'll be like, Oh, I already shared this couple have already shared. This is like, okay, sham again, you know? It's OK. Like, you know, that's, that's what it is. I would rather you share it again that you not share anything and then you're ghosting and then you just dump on us. And it's just like this inconsistent thing. And that's going to mess with the algorithm of your engagement. I mean, like it goes down a whole rabbit hole. And so I think that a lot of photographers just don't show up consistently enough to promote themselves to speak on what they do and who they do it for and who they are as a person. Because consistency is what's going to help build the momentum. No period, period. I feel like I could teach you strategy and stuff all day, but you have to consistently do it and consistently show up in order for it to get, you know, you, the clients that you desire.
Raymond Hatfield: 43:29 I don't I, I'm not sure that there's a better way to end it than that. I know that I've kept you longer than we were supposed to here. I really appreciate you being so open and honest about everything that we talked about today. Before I let you go I got one last question for you. And is there anything that maybe I didn't ask you that you, that you really want to make sure that new photographers or those just learning about the know, like, and trust factor really understand going forward?
Rhea Whitney: 43:56 Yeah. I mean, I think this was a great competition. I don't really have too much, but if I had to add one thing, I would say you know, really, really start to get a good idea of the type of business that you want to have. Meaning just like the type of services you want to offer, the type of price point, the type of money you want to make the type of just everything and, and B feel okay in, in creating those goals. I think sometimes we kind of go sleazy, you know, with it, but you are running a business or either it's an expensive hobby it's up to, right. But if you're doing it for business and you want business means you want to be profitable, then you really need to get clear on the type of business that you want to run and have some goals.
Rhea Whitney: 44:41 Once you get clarity around that, I think be realistic about where your pain points are, where you struggle and time help in that. I just cannot reiterate that enough. I think a lot of times beginning photographers are so scared to make an investment in education or coaching or mentoring or something that is going to just change it, change the whole game for you. I know it to be true because that is my story, you know? So the quicker you get over that, the quicker you get to like start the journey to where you want to go. Period. So I would just say that like, don't be scared to invest in yourself, invest. I say the word invest as opposed to like cost, because it is, you have to think about it as you're gonna get a return on investment when you do the work and you show up. But it is so doable. It's so possible. I know like if I can do it, anybody can do it. It's just about putting in the work. So yeah, that's what I was saying.
Raymond Hatfield: 45:39 I said earlier, I didn't think that there was a better way to end it, but sure enough, there you go. You just talked to it right there. Right? really, I mean, I can't I can't thank you enough for coming on and sharing everything that you did before I let you go. Can you let listeners know where they can find you and keep up with you online?
Rhea Whitney: 45:55 Absolutely. So you can follow me my right when he photography on Instagram at, at Ray Whitney, that's spelled R H E a Whitney spelled regular. That's my Instagram handle. I also have a digital education platform called photo bomb Academy where I help make your photos and your business bomb. It's my little slogan. So that's photo bomb Academy on Instagram photo bomb, academy.com is the website. I would love you to connect with me on there. Let me know that you found me from the podcast. I would absolutely love that. And yeah, so I'm always, you know, my platform and towards, like I said before, it's Instagram, but same things on Facebook, right? Whitney photography, PhotoBomb Academy. I have a free private Facebook group for the photo bomb Academy. So if you're looking for a community you want to just like, stay connected with me and learn more about offers and things that are coming down the pipeline with the Academy. I would absolutely love that. So join me in that group. It's where it goes down. I'm always like popping in and sharing gyms with them to get people, you know, keep people moving forward to build out the business that they dream up. And so, yeah, connect with me on there and let me know that you found me from the packet.
Raymond Hatfield: 47:10 Oh, wonderful Rhea again, thank you so much for coming on, sharing everything that you did. I really look forward to keeping up with you in the future and you know, keeping up with that consistency that's in seeing more photos of you on a, on Instagram again, that's the one thing that I definitely need to do is
Rhea Whitney: 47:26 You and have you, I want to see photos of you and your got it. You got it. Thank you again so much for having me on here.