Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Back.

Hi Renee, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I had been a photographer for Olan Mills for 10 years until a year after I was married. I always loved my clients and enjoyed the moments they got so excited when I got the shot. Bonus points if mom cried when she was looking at the photos. After that, I did a few things on the side, even several weddings, but never understood my camera enough to feel comfortable calling myself a professional. I had gone to several workshops in Kentucky where I first heard about mirrorless cameras. I thought that was the solution to all of my problems. Turns out, it was only half of the equation.

In January 2020, I bought my first mirrorless camera. A week later, I signed up for a shooting and editing course with Amy and Jordan. And then I was hooked. But then…well we all know what happened in 2020. I practiced as much as I could and when restrictions were lifted, I went to specific individuals and asked if I could photograph them at no charge to get practice. Then I gave them the full VIP treatment. They loved their photos and the experience and that’s when they started spreading the word about us.

Back then, I thought a pretty website and constantly posting to social media were the way to get ahead. After further education and just overall experience, I’ve realized that if people feel like your most important client and you truly care about them, growth is inevitable.

A few extra keys were partnering with some really good non-profits and getting our mindset right. We’ve come way further in four years than I thought possible and we’re just getting started.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No road is ever smooth. The biggest challenge is our ego telling us we aren’t good enough. The nerves every time I head to a session or send out a gallery are unreal. I don’t think they’ll ever go away. Then there are the technical sides of things…equipment failures, even learning the equipment in the first place and of course learning all the programs. I think my biggest struggle, though, was learning to set boundaries. Realizing everyone else’s needs don’t have to come before mine. That lesson takes awhile for us to learn sometimes, especially for people pleasers. But learning to say no has been so empowering. And then (elephant in the room) photography is expensive! The first few years I sunk ever penny I made…and way more…into equipment, education and software. I didn’t quite understand early on that there’s a huge difference between revenue and profits.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a branding and portrait photographer along with my husband, Kevin. We are known for helping those who feel awkward in front of the camera to learn to relax and actually love the way they look. I’m also known for the beautiful stories I write about our clients. When they learn to see themselves through my eyes, I’ve seen many come alive. They find the confidence to go after so much more once they get just a glimpse of their value. You would think I’d be most proud of having national brands find us on Google and ask to work with us. But that’s not it. I’m most proud of helping individuals to recognize their worth. Helping small businesses grow but also helping the mom that’s never felt comfortable in her own skin. It’s so much more than photography to us. We change lives.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I’m not local to LA. I’ve only been there once but I loved the diversity and the energy. Literally anything you wanted was within arm’s reach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kevinandrenee.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinandrenee.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renee-back-35
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kevinandrenee

Image Credits
All photos were taken by us (Kevin and Renee Photography)