We recently connected with Stephen Asmussen and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stephen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

When I started my business, there were very few pet photographers. The ones you typically would find shot photos of pets on cheap backdrops in the back of their mobile studios, surrounded by fake flowers. I knew I didn’t want to do that. I found a few photographers doing what I knew pet photography could be. Studio quality photos of pets and their people, both in studios and outdoors where the pets were comfortable. I went to some of their seminars and combined my 10 years of photography experience to create something pet families could cherish for years.

Stephen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been a photographer for more than 25 years, shooting for business publications and personal portraits. I love animals and think they bring joy to many people, so I incorporated pet photography into my work in 2010. Pets are a huge part of many families, yet with everyone having a camera on the phone in their pocket, many struggle to get great photos of their furry family members. That’s where I come in.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In my early days as a photographer (well before the advent of digital cameras) I would spend long hours in the dark room. When I’d make a print, I’d often compare it to the previous one. “Yeah, that’s better than the last one,” I would say to myself. But I soon realized that just because it was better than the last did not necessarily mean it was a great photo. That’s when I applied myself to ensuring photos were the best they could be in the camera, rather than trying to fix it on the back end. Many photographers today will just “fix it in Photoshop.” It’s the same mentality. Photos should be the best they can possibly be before you start processing on the PC. That comes with knowledge, experience, and planning.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Anyone can build a a presence on social media. It takes patience and persistence. Post every day. Be relatable. Quit worrying about what someone else is doing. Stop counting likes, followers, and shares. Focus on doing what you do and get the message out there. Research what the optimal times for posting on your different platforms are and compare that to when your audience seems to respond the most.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wagsmorephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wagsmore_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wagsmorephotography/