Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Roseann Willson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Roseann , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

When I started my business, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought a photography business would be pretty straight forward and simple. I didn’t realize I would use so many skills that I had learned in my past. The two of the biggest skills are organization and customer service.

I spent a few years working in a law firm. There I learned so many valuable skills. Organization is key to being a successful business owner. You have to keep your records, invoiced, tax documents and all book keeping organized. When you have a lot of clients you need to document and take detailed notes of all points on contact. You need to keep organized and backed up all photos taken at every wedding and event. Clients are trusting you to understand their needs and wants for all photo coverage on a wedding day. They put their money, time and heart into planning their wedding, you must stay organized though the planning beforehand, the actual wedding day, and after. All photos need to carefully organized and backup.

The second skill that I really learn on, is customer service. I sent over 16 years working in bars and restaurants. I took home so much more than just cash. I learned the value of great customer service. Being able to read people and work with everyone is such a powerful too. It cannot be taught, but really only learned. At the time, I thought working in service was just good money. But it really gave me tools to be successful in life professionally and personally.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Covid changed all our lives. At the time I was working in sales at a hotel and a bar down in Florida. Within a couple weeks everything in Florida shut down, with bars and hotels being the first. I had a basic starter camera that my husband had got me from Costco. I decided to just hop on youtube and google and figure out how to take a good photo. There was more to it than I expected. I defiantly underestimated what I would need to learn to be a photographer. I spent the first 6 months or so just learning all that I could online and shooting. I tried to shoot every day and constantly look on how to improve.

A few years later I like to think, I can take a beautiful and meaningful photo. I’m a traveling wedding photographer, based in northern Kentucky. I look for brides who want a documentary style photographer, with a love for black and white photos too.

Smiles are infectious, and thats why candid photos are just so emotional. I strive to capture all the moments in a wedding day, from great candid photos to the real show stopper moments that you’ve dreamed about. I try to capture everything, so when my clients get their gallery, they get to relive their wedding day.

There is a lot to planning that goes into a wedding, and it can be a lot to navigate at first. I ask my brides to use me as a resource, or even just a sound board. Ask me all their questions. I’m here for them. The more I know, the better I can serve them. I want them to have the wedding they dream, and i want to get it all on camera!

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

I am very passionate about my job. Every person I run into or meet, I tell them about my business. I absolutely love working in the wedding industry. I get to work with people on one of their happiest days of their lives. How cool is that! Its easy to smile and be happy talking about it, and I think most people enjoy being around someone passionate and happy.

One of the best ways that I have grown my business is talking with people I run into throughout the day. I make eye contact, smile and introduce myself to people everyday. I genuinely want to know your name, and where are you from and what are you doing today. Just make meaningful connections, without an agenda. Just want to say hi.

In general. word of mouth, referrals from people in the industry, and of course recommendations from my clients. And clients seems so much more formal, they become so much more than that at the end of it all. I get to work with people as they begin their marriage, and many time will photograph them as they grow their families too. I feel so lucky to be able to do that, and give people lasting heirloom photos and memories.

So, the key take away of this don’t underestimate the power of getting to know the people in your community. Its a small world and never know who you will meet.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The internet is full of so much information! When your learning I think, in a way it boils down to time and money. You can find everything online without paying for information. its out there, the questions is do you want to spend time looking for it. I am a frugal person, and it helped that covid keep me at home and more time to learn. So I never paid for anything in terms of access to any private group or class, or any subscription to this or that, and anything like that.

Aside from combing through google and youtube, i fell in love with podcasts and a few facebook groups. One of my favorite podcasts is The Bokeh Podcast by Nathan Holritz. Every episode is full of very practical and useful tips and tricks in the photography world. Such a gem! Listen to many different shows, but The Bokeh Podcast always delivers.

I really loved lots of before and after shots i would see on social media. I joined a few groups, all free, but the Wedding Photography Education by Rob Dight was really helpful. I watched many of Robs live shows. You could ask questions and even send him photos to critique. It was incredibly helpful.

Again, there is so many inspiring and people out there who really do just want to share and help other. But these two stood out to me. I hope to pay the favor forward and help others in the future. Such a great thing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.weddingwire.com/vendors/storefront
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/right_angles_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RightAnglesPhoto/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/rightanglesphotography/