We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kim Hildebrand. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kim below.

Kim , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

While being a business owner isn’t for everyone, it’s certainly a great fit for me, my family, and our lifestyle. I’ve been able to slowly and deliberately grow and scale my business as my kids have grown up and become more independent, which was a necessity for our family. Prior to the pandemic, my husband and partner traveled 3 out of 4 weeks a month, so I had to manage the house and kids while also running a business. Being able to balance the hours I worked while managing everything else and spending quality time with my kids was key, and has been fulfilling in so many ways! I think a work/life balance – which can look different at different phases of your life – is the key to having a happy and fulfilling life.

We moved during the pandemic and while I was trying to rebuild my photography business in a new location, I pondered getting a “real” job just to have a steady paycheck. But once my husband and I sat down and really looked at the numbers and options it just didn’t make sense. Not only would I have gotten a very rigid schedule and not much time off, it would have been for less pay!

Kim , 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?

I am a newborn & family photographer who loves capturing the beautiful story of family life for down-to-earth parents who value real, honest, and intimate photos with their loved ones. I’ve been passionate about creative and honest storytelling with newborns, kids, and families since 2007.

I’ve always loved photography and how images tell stories. I love how they become little time capsules of that point in your life that can be remembered over and over again. This love and appreciation for photography and visual storytelling came from my Dad, who always photographed our family vacations and milestones with his 35mm film camera. He kept meticulous family albums, and would bring the albums out every year for us to enjoy and relive what had happened through the years.

In this fast-paced world where being busy is valued, I want my families to also remember how valuable and important it is to just be. To just be together in the present and enjoy each other’s company. I try to capture these moments of connection and presence in a beautiful way on film. I use film because it is how real life looks – it’s soft and grainy and represents how we view the world through our own eyes. I also love how film makes me slow down and be present during a photo collaboration with my families.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I actually have two stories about this. The first pivot happened several years ago when I was renting a studio space but not doing much business there. At the time I thought I needed a studio space because having it would 1) show that I was a successful photographer and 2) I needed an indoor space to use during the unpredictable rainy PNW fall/winter/and spring months. The funny thing was I didn’t really enjoy shooting in the studio. I think it was too much of a blank canvas for me, and it had no special meaning to my clients. One day a good friend asked me why I had the studio. I hesitated. Then I started crying. I realized i didn’t need it at all and was wasting my money, but I was also scared. I was scared to not have a space to go to if it was rainy. So I pulled up my bootstraps and got to work figuring out how I could photograph families in their own homes using film. I figured out how to make it work for my business and then photographed a couple model families to try it out and I loved it. I felt so much more fulfilled and was creating the work for my families that made my heart sing. So that next week I got out of my lease and sold everything in the studio, and didn’t look back!

The second pivot is what I touched on earlier: the move during COVID. This was clearly a life and business pivot! I won’t go into a ton of detail but I was excited for our new family adventure but scared on the business side of things. I would have to start all over again in a new location and knew it would be a ton of work. To help bridge the lull in business, I decided to travel back to Seattle to see and photograph my families once a month in a block scheduling format. That was 3 years ago and not only am I building up my business in my new town, but I’m busier than ever in Seattle!

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I’ve worked really hard to cultivate a wonderful client experience for my families from initial contact to order delivery. I think having a strong brand and consistently delivering high quality images and experiences for my families year after year creates trust and loyalty. I become friends with my clients, and keep in touch with my families through social media on a casual level. I also use email marketing to share news, share stories and recent sessions, provide helpful tips, and create hype/promote session openings. This has consistently booked out my calendar!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kimhildebrand.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kimhildebrandphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimhildebrandphotography/
• Twitter: kimdhildebrand

Image Credits
Kim Hildebrand Photography