We recently connected with Robyn Kolk and have shared our conversation below.

Robyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

One of the biggest trends I’ve seen in wedding photography is around the style of shooting and editing. There has been a lot “rule breaking” when it comes to textbook photography. It has allowed creativity to flourish and provides more emotion to the art of story telling. Out of focus shots, motion blur, unusual angles, it’s so fun to get weird and deliver something unique to each couple.

Robyn, 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?

My name is Robyn and I am a wedding photographer based in Austin, Texas! I also photograph couples, families, portraits, brands, and events. What sets me apart in my industry is my intentionality with my clients. I value timely and clear communication so my clients feel comfortable working with me right from the start. I also make it a point not to overbook myself so I can pay close attention to the needs of all my clients. When it comes to shooting and editing, my approach is unique. I guide instead of pose. I allow my clients to be themselves and capture angles and moments that that are true to them. I love the vintage vibe of film so I edit with grain, evoking that nostalgic feeling. I am most proud of the way my clients feel after working with me. Every time I leave a wedding or a session my clients comment on how fun it was, how easy I am to work, how confident they felt with the way I lead them. When they receive their galleries I am always overjoyed with how happy they are.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started my photography business in Charlotte, North Carolina. After two years I decided to move to Austin, Texas and that was a huge pivot for me. When I first approached relocating, it felt like I was basically going to start over, and that was intimidating. I made a list of all the strategies I wanted to tackle for building my business in Austin. I had about 6 months prior to moving, so I took full advantage of that time. I traveled to Austin a few times and found couples to model for me which gave me local content. I updated my website to mention my new city as often as I could for SEO purposes. Once I moved, I reached out to local photographers asking them to meet up for coffee so I could have friends and connections to potentially refer me to jobs or to second shoot for them at weddings. I met up with planners and venue owners so I could also be referred by them. Once I got a few bookings, I strived to make sure those clients had a great experience and would spread my name to their friends. Thankfully I was successful and am thriving as an Austin photographer.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Photography unintentionally started as a side hustle for me. After a really tough break up I needed something to focus on for myself. So I purchased a DSLR camera because I already loved documenting my life and wanted to grow my talent. It wasn’t long before I had acquaintances reaching out, asking how much I charged. I was so caught off guard and didn’t have the confidence at first, but it slowly developed. I had no formal business or photography training and also knew no one personally that had a photography business. When I saw there was a workshop coming up in Nashville for people wanting to grow their photography business, lead by photographers I recently found on social media and looked up to, I was all in. So a couple months after purchasing my camera, I attended this workshop. It was a huge milestone in my business. It gave me the confidence I needed to get legit and file for an LLC. A couple months after the workshop I booked my first wedding at a terribly low rate, but it allowed me the opportunity to learn the ropes and a lot of what not to do going forward. After a year of growing my business while maintaining my full time job, I took the leap of faith and went full time with photography. I enjoyed the challenge of learning what I needed to, getting the experience, and growing my confidence into the thriving business I have today!

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits
Robyn Dawn Photos