We recently connected with Carrie Rogers and have shared our conversation below.

Carrie, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I were to start over with my business, I’d like to go in with a clearer vision of my goals – who I wanted to serve, the type of work I wanted to create, and what I wanted my business to be all about in general. These are things I feel that I have figured out now, but it took a lot of years of doing work that wasn’t necessarily the best fit for me to get here. I’ve learned that it’s okay to niche down my services and market to a very specific audience instead of trying to appeal to everyone. I can only take on so much work every year and focusing on the projects that I feel excited about and taking on clients that fully trust me and value me is what leads to the best results in the end.

Carrie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My journey as a photographer started in college as a hobby while I studied for a chemistry degree. After graduating and moving to California, I used my free time to practice and began sharing my work on social media. This brought me clients and eventually I passed on a job using my degree and decided to do photography full time. At first, I photographed all types of portrait sessions and weddings (big and small), but now I specialize in destination elopements and most of my work takes place in the outdoors.

I work with couples who are drawn to the idea of a more intimate wedding but still want to make it a special day and put intention into their celebration. Most of my couples also share my passion for travel, hence the emphasis on destination locations in my work. My brand is built around the idea that the perfect wedding day is whatever feels the most authentic to you – and for some people that’s not a big traditional wedding celebration. Elopements have historically been thought of as a sort of quick, secret ceremony but the types of elopements that are happening now are planned just as thoughtfully as any wedding, there are just less people in attendance. With this type of wedding comes so much freedom – to get married wherever and whenever you want and to spend the day doing truly whatever makes you happy and feel most present with your partner.

As an elopement photographer, my job is to document the day and I do so with a storytelling approach, intentionally capturing all the details and little moments in addition to the big events so when my couples scroll through their gallery they can really relive the whole experience. My photos are full of emotion and details and showcase the essence of your love in addition to the beauty of the scenery surrounding you. I also offer lots of help throughout the planning process leading up to the day with things like location advice, crafting a timeline, personalized recommendations for vendors and accommodations, and even fun tips to give couples unique ideas about how to customize their day to reflect their favorite parts of their relationship.

One of the main things I like potential clients to know is that I’m not the type of photographer to just show up on the day and take photos. I want to build a genuine connection and provide a personal experience to my couples, supporting them throughout our time together. On the day of, I want it to feel like you have an old friend along to capture you being you, instead of just a hired professional. Lastly, and probably most important to me, I want potential clients to know that I strive to be a safe, judgement free space and celebrate all types of love, no matter your gender, sexuality, race, or any other factor.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I photograph couples in love – either on their wedding day or during other parts of their relationship that they want to remember. Memories like that are really special and meaningful so being trusted to capture them feels like an honor in itself. It’s rewarding to me that I get to provide couples a tangible way to relive those memories while also creating art that I feel proud of. Getting to do what I love and share it with others who appreciate my unique vision is very fulfilling.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Focusing on my website! This is where I showcase all of my best work and provide information about what I offer, who I serve, and what people can expect from working with me. I’ve optimized my website so that it now ranks on Google for specific search terms relating to my business – lots of my clients find me this way! Beyond this, sharing more of my personality on my Instagram has helped me further connections with clients. Being photographed can feel vulnerable so it’s important that people feel comfortable with me. I think showing up on social media helps with this and by the time I meet up with my couples it feels like we’re just a group of friends hanging out. Things like this are reflected in my reviews which are influential to other people in the future who are curious about working with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carrierogersphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrierogersphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrierogersphoto
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carrierogersphotography/

Image Credits
All photos by me (Carrie Rogers Photography)