We were lucky to catch up with Gracyn Applegate recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gracyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

I’ve learned that there is a solution to every problem — sometimes you just have to get a little creative.

Working in many creative fields pertaining to marketing and design, there are countless tasks that will throw curveballs, one of which occurred more recently. One day I was a Marketing Manager dealing chiefly with social media strategy and collateral creation, and the next my team was bringing me on board to starting a store from the ground up pertaining to the brand. I had no experience in such a feat, and to be honest, it was quite daunting. I was thrown headfirst into something that was completely out of my comfort zone and supplied a limitless list of problems to tackle and solve. The turnaround was incredibly quick, we had a team of four doing the work of a team of fifteen, and we had an idea that we were determined to make into a reality. From the early stages of research, to the crucial stages of planning, and finally the process of execution, every single detail was micromanaged and built upon in a way that now, when we are so close to the fruits of our labor being reaped, makes me so proud. I didn’t shy away from the problem of being tasked with such a huge responsibility of being involved in a startup, but instead put my nose to the grindstone in order to make it happen…and got creative along the way. Always take every opportunity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Gracyn Applegate and I am the Founder and CEO of Gracyn Applegate Photography! I’m a wedding and portrait photographer based in Austin, but always willing to travel to wherever you may need me! My wish for you is to be photographed in a way that captures the true essence of your beauty and highlights your unique story. Candids pull my heart strings while dramatic editorials make it flutter, so no matter your goals, I intend to help you achieve them.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I started my business when I was living in Dallas, TX and I was blown away by the feedback I received. I was blessed to have a steady stream of clients coming my way from the get-go and was quickly establishing my reputation in the community. However, my move to Austin proved not to have as great of luck. I was a newbie in a brand new city with a nonexistent client base. I was still new to the industry and unsure the best way to market myself. Balancing the growth of my company with college courses and building new friendships in a new place proved challenging. However, I didn’t let this roadblock stop me. Though my work slowed, it gave me time to focus on who I wanted to be as a photographer and as a brand. I began tailoring my niche and focusing on my ideal client. Now, two years after moving to Austin, I have a well-established business with a growing client base and more opportunities coming my way every day…and I couldn’t be more grateful!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth! This one is scary, as you never know if or when the referrals will stop coming in, but I consider it the sincerest form of flattery when my main stream of clients come from the kind words of past clients. I am currently building my marketing efforts to include new sources of clients for security and diversity of portfolio reasons, but I really do humbly believe that the best — or at least my favorite — source of new clients is from word of mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: gracynapplegatephotography.com
• Instagram: @gracyn.applegate.photography
• Facebook: Gracyn Applegate Photography

Image Credits
Gracyn Applegate Photography