We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jacqueline Franquez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jacqueline below.
Jacqueline, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
To be successful I think you need to have a lot of grit and drive. The amount of times I’ve been told no, turned down, ghosted, and someone saying, “maybe you should do something else” are endless. At times it was discouraging, but I never listened. I’ve been ruthless in my endeavor to make my photography business work. I am so incredibly passionate about photography, and turning your passion into your business can be a double edged sword at times.
My business was almost born out of necessity. I went through a divorce during the pandemic, and had to find a way to support myself, as I was “just” a stay at home mom to my two daughters. Finding a job during a pandemic is no easy feat- so I had to get creative, literally. I had already been shooting for fun for years. but never really thought of making a business out of it. It started slow, and I did have an assortment of odd-jobs to help ends meet. From working at a friends salon to working on a blueberry farm. I was relentless in my pursuit, and the inquiries started rolling in. This past year I’ve done weddings all over the country, and I plan to start pushing to do international weddings.
Jacqueline, 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?
Hello! My name is Jacqueline Franquez and I am a wedding & portrait photographer based in Asheville, NC. My aesthetic leans towards editorial- as I approach each wedding or shoot as I’m there to tell a story. So documenting the details and couples in a way that is unobtrusive is very important to me. I feel as though that is why my clients choose me to photograph their important days, they appreciate that type of imagery.
How I got started in this industry is through modeling. I modeled for over a decade (and still do from time to time), and I learned a lot about photography, lighting, composition from simply listening on set. I started realizing I was far more interested in being the one behind the camera instead of in front of the camera. I would say some of those photographers are my biggest mentors, and really have provided me wonderful guidance on my business and creative eye. It has also helped me immensely in helping my clients pose, when posing is needed instead of capturing the day candidly. You wouldn’t realize but sometimes just the simple way someone holds their hands in a photo can make all the difference!
To keep my creative juices flowing I often do fashion editorials with models from my hometown. I love the creative collaborations that come from these shoots, but I feel like it has given me quite an expansive portfolio, which I’m quite proud of.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I definitely which I had known about booking platforms and photo gallery platforms. I personally use Honeybook and Pixieset- which has truly been a gamechanger on keeping my business organized and efficient.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Social media is amazing- if you use it correctly! I don’t feel like I know it all, but I will say knowing when to post (days, times of day), posting regularly, and using the correct hashtags can get you seen by the right type of audience! So taking a look at those analytics is a great tool.
For me I personally don’t do reels, but I know today’s instagram algorithm that would be a way to possibly get “seen” more. It’s just a personal choice for me, as I feel like I can spend my time doing something else rather than filming myself doing some silly voiceover. Not to say I don’t enjoy them- as I watch other photographers do it in my industry and it always makes me laugh.
I think having a great portfolio really does wonders for your social media too. I tend to post my weddings and my creative shoots so my clients (or potential clients) can see how diverse my work is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.waywardwanderessphotography.com
- Instagram: @thewayward_wanderess
- Linkedin: Jacqueline Franquez
Image Credits
First photo- by Nicole McConville
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