We were lucky to catch up with Bailey Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bailey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

In the wedding industry as a vendor it is an incredibly personal and difficult decision as to when you’re officially ready to responsibly be apart of someone’s wedding day. I believe that only you can know for yourself when this time comes but most in the industry would probably disagree and say otherwise – or at least that was the case before Covid when “community over competition” wasn’t as prominent as it is now. As if someone else is qualified to tell you what you can do, how soon, and what your path should look like. Our careers are different from other professions because it is not one we have to do but “we get to do.” Determining when you are ready for such a privilege looks different for everyone.

There is an unspoken timeline that has existed for many years amongst the wedding community that you must do “x, y, and z” before you are allowed or should do your job. The truth is, just like everything else in life, we all grow are different paces. Some are born with natural talent, some go to school for many years, and some just take longer to catch on than others all of which is okay.

Personally I jumped in head first, responsibly of course, and it turned a lot of heads. I didn’t second shoot for “x” amount of years prior to being a lead photographer, I hadn’t spent $50K on lighting equipment, and I didn’t have permission from someone more qualified (until meeting my dear friend, Joanne, but that’s another story). What I did do was invest in gear that was suited best for weddings (full frame cameras with dual slots), a fireproof safe to store memory cards, a workflow and back up system, amongst many other things.

I offered weddings at a price point suited to my experience to no more than simply cover my own time for leaving the house and putting in the hours. This allowed me to gain experience and offer an affordable rate to those who may have not been able to afford more than a family friend or an iPhone without such a package existing. Transparency was key during this time and I was very thorough when interviewing potential clients of what this new journey and process looked like for the both of us. No one was deceived on their big day with false advertising or broken promises just because of my lack of years behind the lens. Ultimately the trust overtime has grown in to long term clients, I have gone full time, and photographed over 150 wedding days since 2018. All because I didn’t let an unwritten set of rules or group of individuals hold me back. All it took was a little faith, a whole lot of investing, and a handful of people to believe in me. If your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Bailey Hill and I am Northern Indiana photographer who specializes in weddings and education. I opened a studio Downtown Elkhart in the Enterprise Building earlier this year which has been a fantastic addition to Blackbird and Rye. It was not originally my intention to have a full time photography business as I was a nursing major at Ball State back in the day. Life had other plans for my family, we welcomed our oldest daughter, Rylan, in 2014 and I was determined to make a livable wage to stay home with her. Once her sister, Lennon, joined the party three years later I found myself dabbling with the idea of turning this little camera hobby of mine in to something bigger. At the time I didn’t know just how much bigger that was going to be.

I originally believed I wanted to be a newborn and senior photographer which looking back in funny now because it’s probably what I document the least of. I find great joy in seeing the same families annually and meeting new couples for their wedding day year after year. I believe what sets me apart from others in the industry is the relationships I develop with my clients along the way. I am not a “click and go” person who delivers a gallery and then disappears from their lives. I am extremely fortunate that some of these people have become my closest friends and most welcome me back year after year to watch their lives and families grow and change. This is something I never take for granted. It is so special.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The “rules” of posting on socials changes faster than than the seasons so trying to keep up with their everchanging suggestions can be draining and overwhelming. I personally tell others to focus on quality of their content and frequency of posting. Generally speaking in order to be best be seen you should be posting once every 24 hours if you are trying to build you social media presence. Posting often tells Instagram you are “important” and should be seen by your followers as well as new ones. If posting daily isn’t something you can take on right away make sure what you are posting is high quality content. This looks like introducing yourself, sharing helpful tips to your niche, or talking about fun facts in your industry clients may not know!

Personally I made a focus when starting out to put my focus solely on to two platforms: Facebook and Instagram. These at the time were best to be seen in the photography market to potential clients. You can’t put 100% of your time and energy to multiple platforms but you can put 50% in to two – so that’s what I did. I think this is a timeless rule of thumb and something I share with others often.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the moments I get to witness on people’s wedding days. Not just the big moments such as the first kiss at the alter or cutting the cake but the smaller, quieter ones as well that may go unnoticed by others. I love focusing on grandparents at receptions. Their reactions, smiles, and gestures as they enjoy themselves. I was personally very close to my Grandmother and deeply cherish every image I have of her now that she has passed. It is such an honor being able to provide those images to my clients that they can hold on to and pass down through out their families for a lifetime.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackbirdandrye.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird_and_rye/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackbirdandryephoto/

Image Credits
All my images.