Stephanie Robinson is a Denver-based wedding and elopement photographer and a member of the Beginner Photography Podcast community. Growing up, Stephanie had an affinity for photography and was encouraged by her dad who, like her, was a photography enthusiast. After having her own Covid wedding, Stephanie decided to take the plunge into professional photography and left law school, where she was studying. Stephanie noted that with photography, her left brain and right brain are equally used, which is something she found satisfying and engaging.
Big Take Aways
Learned photography with engineering background
Work to capture authentic moments
Prioritize urgent projects first
Back up your data
Be confident and prepared
Authenticity is key
Build a sustainable business model
Invest in help for success
Track analytics to succeed
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Learn photography with engineering background.
Photography is a creative art form that is often considered to be a difficult skill to learn. However, for those with an engineering background, the technical aspects of photography can come more naturally. Stephanie Robinson is a perfect example of this. Growing up with a photography enthusiast father, she was exposed to cameras at a young age. And when she was 17, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, and the one thing that her family was able to save were their family photos, showing how important photography was to her family. After graduating from law school, Stephanie realized that she didn't want to be a lawyer and decided to pursue photography full-time.
Stephanie found that her engineering background helped her to understand the technical aspects of photography more quickly. She was used to operating large scale machinery and complex projects, so the technical aspects of photography came more easily to her. She also found that photography was a great way to use both her creative and scientific sides, making her feel fully engaged in the process.
Stephanie's story is a great example of how an engineering background can be used to learn photography. It shows that with the right mix of skills and passion, photography can be a great career path for those with an engineering background. With an understanding of the technical aspects of photography, those with an engineering background can use their knowledge to create amazing photographs.
Capture authentic moments.
Stephanie's story also shows the importance of capturing authentic moments in photography. As a wedding photographer, Stephanie strives to capture moments that are real and meaningful to her clients. She talks about how she describes her posing and directing strategies as a kind of meditation, helping her clients to relax and connect to the moment. By doing this, she is able to capture authentic moments that are unique to each couple.
The key to capturing authentic moments is to understand the people in front of the camera. Stephanie talks about how she gets a sense of how the couple interacts with each other and then uses prompts and games that fit their personalities. This allows her to create images that are unique to the couple and capture their personalities in a way that is true to them.
Capturing authentic moments is an important part of photography and something that all photographers should strive for. Stephanie's story is a great example of how understanding the technical aspects of photography and having an understanding of the people in front of the camera can help create amazing images that are true to the people in them.
Prioritize urgent projects first.
Stephanie started her journey in photography by taking a year to learn the technical aspects of studio photography. She then transitioned into shooting weddings, but the goal was always to get to weddings. Her focus on client experience has been paramount since day one, and it starts from the first interaction. She takes the time to get to know her clients, and makes sure to provide them with a style guide, answer questions, and provide location recommendations.
One of the biggest challenges Stephanie has faced in her business is balance. There is always more to be done, and it can be difficult to prioritize what needs to be done first. Stephanie has learned to prioritize urgent projects first. This means engaging in Facebook groups and seeing what issues are coming up for other photographers. This helps her identify what needs to be done first and what can wait.
Stephanie's story is a great example of how important it is to prioritize urgent projects first. By understanding the needs of her clients and keeping up with trends in the industry, she is able to provide a better service and create amazing images. By focusing on the urgent projects first, she is able to ensure that her clients are taken care of and that her business is running smoothly.
Back up your data.
Back up your data is one of those projects that is often overlooked until it is too late. We have all heard stories of photographers who have lost hundreds of images due to a computer crash or other disaster. It is heartbreaking for both the photographer and the clients, as all of their hard work is gone in an instant. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many photographers and it can be incredibly difficult to recover from.
That is why it is so important to back up your data. By having multiple copies of your images stored in multiple locations, you can ensure that your data is safe and secure. The three, two, one backup rule is a great way to ensure that your data is properly backed up. This rule states that you should have three copies of your files on two mediums with at least one of them being offsite. This way, if something were to happen to one of your copies, you would still have two other copies to fall back on.
By investing in data management, Stephanie was able to ensure that her clients would not have to experience the same heartache that she had read about. By having a solid data management system in place, she was able to provide a better service to her clients and feel confident in her ability to deliver.
Data management is an important part of any business, and it is essential for photographers to ensure that their data is properly backed up. By investing in a data management system and following the three, two, one backup rule, photographers can ensure that their data is safe and secure. No one wants to experience the heartache of losing their images, and by taking the time to back up your data, you can ensure that your images are safe and secure.
Be confident and prepared.
In addition to data management, photographers should also be confident and prepared when heading into a shoot. Trevor Burrussell, a photographer, shared his experience of his first wedding shoot and the importance of being prepared. He had never shot a wedding before, but he was confident in his camera fundamentals. When he arrived, he was informed that the lead photographer had COVID and was leaving. Burrussell was now the only photographer for the wedding, and he had no idea how a wedding day was supposed to flow.
In order to be prepared, Burrussell had to take a few steps. He asked the lead photographer how many weddings he had shot before, and when he found out it was zero, he had to take the situation as it was. He gave it his best and the client was thrilled with the results. This experience taught Burrussell the importance of being prepared and confident.
When heading into a shoot, photographers should always be prepared and confident. Preparation can include researching the location, looking into the couple’s story, and having a plan for the shoot. Being confident can help a photographer stay focused and on task, and it can also help them create a better experience for their clients. By being prepared and confident, photographers can ensure that their clients are satisfied with the results.
Data management and being prepared and confident are essential for photographers. Data management helps photographers keep their images safe and secure, while being prepared and confident helps them create a better experience for their clients. By investing in a data management system and taking the time to be prepared and confident, photographers can ensure that their clients are satisfied with the results.
Authenticity is key.
However, there is more to photography than just data management and being prepared and confident. The key to creating successful and beautiful images is authenticity. Authenticity is the key to creating images that capture the true emotions of the subjects and evoke a sense of connection with the viewer.
Authenticity is the key to creating images that capture the true emotions of the subjects and evoke a sense of connection with the viewer. It is important for photographers to be able to capture the emotions of their subjects in order to create photos that are meaningful and memorable. Photographers need to be able to connect with their subjects in order to capture the true emotions of the moment. This can be done through conversation, body language, and understanding the individual.
In order to capture authentic images, photographers need to be present in the moment. They need to be able to observe and appreciate the beauty of the moment and capture it in a way that conveys the emotion of the moment. This requires photographers to be in tune with their subjects and to be able to capture the emotion of the moment without being intrusive.
Authenticity is also important for creating images that evoke a sense of connection with the viewer. Photographers need to be able to capture the emotion of the moment in a way that allows the viewer to relate to the image. This can be done through composition, lighting, and perspective. Photographers need to be able to create images that are meaningful and that evoke a sense of connection with the viewer.
Authenticity is key to creating successful and beautiful images. By investing in data management and being prepared and confident, photographers can ensure that their images are safe and secure. But it is also important for photographers to be able to capture the true emotions of their subjects and create images that evoke a sense of connection with the viewer. By taking the time to be present in the moment and capture the emotion of the moment, photographers can create images that are meaningful and memorable.
Build a sustainable business model.
When it comes to running a photography business, it is also important to have a sustainable business model. Having a sustainable business model means that the business is capable of sustaining itself financially and is able to grow and expand over time. It also means that the business is able to provide quality services and products to its customers and is able to remain competitive.
One way to build a sustainable business model is to invest in data management. Data management is the process of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data to make informed decisions. By investing in data management, photographers can ensure that their images are safe and secure and that they are able to make informed decisions about their business operations. Data management also helps photographers keep track of their customers, their products, and their services, so that they can better serve their customers and provide them with quality services and products.
Another way to build a sustainable business model is to invest in marketing. Marketing is the process of creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. By investing in marketing, photographers can reach out to potential customers and inform them about their services and products. It also helps photographers build relationships with their customers, which can help them build a loyal customer base and increase their profits.
Finally, it is important to invest in education. Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. By investing in education, photographers can stay up to date on the latest trends and techniques in photography and can learn new ways to improve their skills and services. Through education, photographers can also gain valuable insights into their industry, which can help them make better decisions and stay competitive.
In conclusion, building a sustainable business model is essential for photographers who want to remain competitive and successful. By investing in data management, marketing, and education, photographers can create a business model that is sustainable and can help them grow and expand their business. By being present in the moment and capturing the emotion of the moment, photographers can create images that are meaningful and memorable. Taking the time to build a sustainable business model can help photographers succeed and create a successful business for themselves.
Invest in help for success.
Investing in help is an important part of creating a successful business model. Whether it is hiring a virtual assistant, social media manager, or data manager, investing in help can help photographers take their business to the next level. Investing in help can help photographers save time and energy, allowing them to focus on the more important aspects of their business. Investing in help can also help photographers stay ahead of the competition by providing them with the most up-to-date information and marketing strategies.
Stephanie Robinson, a photographer and business owner, experienced the importance of investing in help first hand. After getting shadow banned on Instagram, Stephanie realized that she needed to diversify her efforts and invest in help. She invested in a social media manager and quickly realized the benefits. Not only did she save time and energy, but she was also able to focus on the more important aspects of her business.
Investing in help is an important part of creating a successful business model. It can help photographers save time and energy and focus on the more important aspects of their business. It can also help photographers stay ahead of the competition and provide them with the most up-to-date information and marketing strategies. Investing in help can be the key to success for photographers who want to remain competitive and successful.
Track analytics to succeed.
One of the most important tools for tracking the success of a photography business is analytics. Analytics provide valuable insights into how a business is performing and what areas need improvement. This can help photographers identify areas where they need to focus their attention and resources. Analytics can also provide data on customer behavior, which can help photographers understand what types of customers are most likely to purchase their services.
Analytics can help photographers make informed decisions about which platforms to focus their marketing efforts on. By tracking the performance of their social media accounts, photographers can identify which platforms are the most effective in terms of generating leads and inquiries. This can help photographers decide which platforms they should invest more time and resources into. Additionally, tracking analytics can help photographers identify which types of content are the most successful in terms of engagement and reach. This can help photographers create more effective content that resonates with their target audience.
Analytics can also help photographers identify which areas of their business are the most profitable. By tracking customer inquiries, photographers can identify which services are most in demand and which services generate the most revenue. This can help photographers focus their efforts on the services that are the most profitable and help them maximize their profits.
Tracking analytics is essential for photographers who want to remain competitive and successful. By tracking analytics, photographers can identify areas of their business that need improvement and focus their efforts on the most profitable services. Additionally, tracking analytics can help photographers identify which platforms are the most effective in terms of generating leads and inquiries. Investing in help and tracking analytics can be the key to success for photographers who want to remain competitive and successful.