Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emma Gibbs. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Emma thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
Out of so many things that my parents did right, the most impactful on myself and my career was being my number one supporters from the start.
I was a child who went from activity to activity, and nothing ever stuck. I tried ballet, soccer, swim, painting, piano, singing, etc. Every hobby imaginable that I wanted to try, they obliged. When I was finally introduced to photography in 6th grade through a nonprofit organization visiting my school, I fell in love instantly and wanted to keep at it. I knew that this craft was different, and something in me needed to continue taking photographs. After a lot of pestering and convincing, my parents helped me save my birthday money to buy my first crappy point and shoot camera when I was about 11 or 12. I took this thing with me everywhere I went! A few years later when my parents realized I wasn’t going to quit this hobby like all the others, my mom surprised me with my first Nikon camera that she found on Ebay. I used this camera all throughout Junior High and high school to further explore photography and grow my love for it. Like with my first camera, it never left my side. I took it with me to school functions, camping trips — literally everywhere.
Throughout this journey, my parents found me classes and different resources to help me learn since I didn’t take photography classes in high school. What I didn’t learn through online resources I learned through trial and error. As I got better and more competent with my camera, my mom found me an opportunity to shoot a wedding. She had a close family friend who was getting married but didn’t care to hire a photographer, so my mom asked the bride if it would be alright for me to photograph their wedding for experience and they said yes! I was still in high school at the time, and did not have the proper gear to be photographing a wedding, but my parents helped me get a better camera that would produce higher quality images than the one I had.
I remember being so nervous to shoot that wedding since I had no idea how weddings worked, where to start, or what to do. It was a small backyard wedding in Texas and my family were guests as well. My mom was by my side all day, showing me what needed to be photographed, nudging me in the right direction when photo worthy moments were unfolding, and teaching me the different parts of a wedding day. My mom has always had a good eye, and still does, so her help got me through that first ever wedding.
My mom was also my first ever critic in the best way possible. Once I gained enough confidence to start doing photoshoots for people, she would look the images over and tell me what I needed to improve on. When I started, I had a bad habit of cutting of people’s hands or feet in photos. Although I feel I did have a natural eye for composition, she helped me correct bad habits early on when it came to composing images and posing people.
My mom also played a huge role in helping me start my business. When I officially started my photography business and launched my website I was 17 years old, almost 18. Although I was experienced in photography, turning it into a service was a whole different ball game that I wasn’t ready for. My mom guided me through how to interact with potential clients, setting up contracts to protect myself, and initial pricing. When things went wrong — and they went wrong in the beginning — she would help me problem solve or help me find solutions to make my business better from my mistakes. Keep in mind I was still a teenager at this time, and I think her support was what kept me from throwing in the towel when things got tough.
Looking back, I was not very good when I first started compared to where I am now, and I think that’s true for most people. My parents most definitely knew that the photos I was taking weren’t the best, but they continued to believe in me, gave me encouraging words, and fanned the flames of my success. I would not be where I am today without them.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a 23 year old professional wedding and lifestyle photographer based in San Diego. I was born and raised here, and have a great love for this city and its people. Along with photography, I also coach boys sprints at a local high school. I love to read, surf, collect perfume, and spend time with my family either at home or traveling.
I first got into photography in the 6th grade. A non profit organization, Outside The Lens, came to my school and taught my entire 6th grade class an introductory course on photography. We were given tiny cameras to play around with and I was instantly hooked.
Now with a full fledged business, I provide my clients with an array of photography services. I mainly provide wedding and engagement photography packages, but I also do family, portrait and event photography. I help clients plan and book their photo sessions from start to finish. This includes coordinating times, locations, and pricing for the more simple sessions. For weddings, I provide detailed packages outlining what’s included for photography on a wedding day. I offer timeline assistance to couples, and a comprehensive wedding guide if couples are stumped when planning for photos on their big day. I like to provide my clients with as much help as possible since planning photos for weddings or even just an annual holiday card can be stressful and daunting.
With my business, I am most proud of how far I’ve come and the work I’ve put in. It’s easy to think that I just got “lucky” with finding my passion in photography and turning it into a career, but in reality it was a lot of hard work and dedication on my part. The one thing that I hope my clients know is that I do what I do out of sheer joy and the belief that everyone deserves beautiful photographs. With how much time, money, and stress it takes to run a photography business, it is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t have a passion for it, it’s not sustainable. I hope that my clients know that my main goal with my work is to deliver images that document their important milestones and events in the most authentic way possible. The best feeling in the world for me is when clients are over the moon when they receive their photos. That’s when I know I’ve done my job well.
One thing I like to do that may set me apart from others is lending a helping hand to other photographers. This industry can be very cutthroat, especially when you’re just starting out. I was fortunate enough to have a friend in the industry when I started, and we helped one another grow when things got tough or confusing. I now like to offer that same help to those who want it. I’m always happy to answer questions people may have about editing, shooting, gear, or business logistics. I’ve sent samples of my contracts to people who don’t have one themselves, and have even shared my pricing guide as a template for photographers who don’t quite know how to structure their own pricing. I know I could probably charge for this kind of information, but I do it with the intention of paying it forward, and I hope other photographers will do the same.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think what helped me build my reputation within the wedding photography industry is not only the quality of my work, but the overall experience I offer. I strive to keep contact with potential and current clients friendly and professional. When it comes to meeting them in person and working with them, it’s important to me to make them feel at ease and like they’re on a shoot with a trusted friend rather than a hired professional. This can be hard to do at times since you run into so many personality types at each session. I think my personality has also been a key factor in building my reputation. It’s important for freelance photographers to remember that you’re not only trying to sell your services, but also you as a person and your personality. Clients will be working with you one on one most of the time, so if someone doesn’t particularly like your vibe, they may prefer to go with someone else (which is totally fine). I would describe myself as kind, upbeat, and positive when working with people, and I try to attract clients with the same attributes.
Another thing I have done throughout my career that has helped me grow in this industry is my overall professionalism. It’s important to remember that freelance photographers are hired professionals and should present themselves as such. From emails, to texts, to the way you speak to a client, it should always remain friendly and professional. As a wedding photographer, it is so important to me to also look the part when photographing someone’s wedding. An all black, sleek outfit that doesn’t stand out is always my go-to when working a wedding, and I’ve been complimented so many times not only on my photos, but also how I presented myself while working. It makes a huge difference in your client’s overall experience, and I think this has also helped elevate my reputation within the industry.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Recently, the best source of new clients for me has been Instagram. I’ve historically been very bad at keeping up with my social media presence since it’s very time consuming and trends are constantly changing. I’ve devoted a bit more time to curating my social media feed, hopping on trends when I think I can add something to it, and making reels. I still don’t do it that consistently, but ever since I started to post more I’ve been getting a lot more new clients from Instagram. My second biggest source of clients are word of mouth referrals from people who have previously worked with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: emmagibbsphoto.com
- Instagram: @emmagibbsphoto