We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abbey Raynor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abbey, appreciate you joining us today. Some of the most interesting parts of our journey emerge from areas where we believe something that most people in our industry do not – do you have something like that?

I believe that you don’t need any special camera gear, lighting, props, etc. to make art happen. I’ve been taking photos for about 6 years now and some of my best work has been just setting up a table cloth in front of a window and finding random props in my bedroom. Most people believe you need the best equipment to take amazing photos, but I don’t. If 5 years ago I was handed the nicest camera gear I probably would’ve just taken it for granted. I think starting out with just a simple point and shoot camera gave me the push and motivation I needed to work hard, learn, and get to where I am today. I believe you don’t need money to make your ideas come to life and create the art you want.

Abbey, 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 Abbey and I’m a photographer/videographer based in Utah. I got my first real camera when I was in middle school and I immediately made a photography account on Instagram. I always made my friends model for me and just did it for fun until high school, and that’s when I realized I could make this my career. My favorite types of shoots to do are portraits/editorial work. I basically do it all though, and I love it! For example I do weddings, couples, families, brands, etc. A problem I solve for clients would be making sure everyone involved at the photoshoot is happy and comfortable. A lot of clients before sessions will ask me to pose them, which is something I tell them to absolutely not worry about because that’s why I’m here! Something that sets me apart from others I would say is just my overall style. My editing comes very natural to me and I would say I have a very specific feel to my work. I’m definitely most proud of myself and how far I’ve come with photography. Since I was little this has been my dream and now I’m living it. I want people to know just how much love I have for the art of photography and that each session is so special to me. Taking pictures gives me the best feeling in the world, and at some points in my life was the greatest escape for me. Putting my heart and soul into my photos and sharing those with the world is a very scary but rewarding thing.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing clientele for me has been social media, and word of mouth. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok has helped my clientele grow immensely. Posting my work on these sites, and being consistent has helped my following grow and that lets more people know about me. What I mean by word of mouth is a lot of the time a client will refer other people to me after our session, which is amazing and that’s how I get a lot of work as well!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is being able to meet and collaborate with so many other wonderful artists, and I’ve made some amazing friendships throughout the years that I will always cherish.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.capturedbyabbey.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturedbyabbey/