We recently connected with Abigail Saalfrank and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Abigail, thanks for joining us today. Do you manage your own social media?

For my social media accounts, I handle them myself. I personally love to be hands-on in all aspects of my business, well as much as I can!

However, I have found certain systems help me maintain my social media and my peace and cut time down drastically. I use the system later, an online site where I can pre-post all my social media posts. They then go up at the scheduled time. Doing this instead of trying to come up with all my posts every day on the spot has been a time saver in my business. I take maybe 60 minutes total a month, and schedule away.

Abigail, 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?

You are probably assuming my about me section will have a story about how I always wanted to be a photographer, I came out of the womb holding a camera, but that couldn’t be me. I stumbled into it, literally. I had no plans to become a wedding photographer. I was either going to follow my dad’s path and go to dental school, or become a social worker. But a freshman in college decided to shoot a few photos for fun, and now over nine years and almost 200 weddings later, I could not imagine myself doing anything else. This is my dream job!

I am a Indiana based photographer who travels all over the midwest, and even the country documenting couple’s big days. Rather it be a small, intimate, beach side wedding, or a large church wedding, every single couple who hires me becomes not only a client, but a friend. My goal is to not only be their wedding photographer, but also their ultimate resource in their planning. This is why I put together an over 100 page bridal guide which I mail to my brides upon booking to help them prepare for their wedding and their engagement session. I also offer timeline help, and a quick turnout because I know everyone is dying to share their photos.

Outside of shooting weddings, I also shoot family portraits and have a passion project for families with special needs kiddos. Each year I offer a weekend, or two, sometimes three, or four, of free mini sessions for families with special needs kiddos. This year, I have set my record and have over 50 families I have photographed or will be photographed by the end of August!

Outside of my job you find me spending my time curled up on the couch with my sweet husband watching Netflix, and eating literally any snack we can find. We are probably discussing travel plans between commercials and cuddling with our fuzzball of a cat, Tulip or our newest addition to our family, Clover, the best mutt ever. If we are not on the couch you can often find me reading the newest mystery novel, drinking a Mango Dragonfruit Refresher from Starbucks, vacationing with my family at our lake house for a few days, reorganizing my house (hello OCD me), or trying to convince myself not to buy a vintage punch bug! Seriously hoping one Christmas my husband just make my dreams come true, but I won’t hold my breath.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think the biggest thing when it comes to building a reputation is your former clients. Word of mouth is how I get over 50% of my business. This is why when I started out, I POURED into those clients who took the chance and hired the new photographer. While I still pour into my clients, and I would argue I pour more into them now then ever, it is especially important in the beginning to build your reputation.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think the work culture of being a creative. I have such a flexible schedule, and can work whenever and wherever that it is often hard for others to see my work as work because I can do it poolside, or while on vacation. I think a lot of my family probably thinks I work like 10 hours a week, when in reality I am often working 40+. They just think because I can work whenever or go to lunch mid-day I am not working.      

Contact Info:

• Website: Abigailsaalfrank.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/abigailsaalfrankphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/abigailsaalfrankphotography