We were lucky to catch up with Abbie Winistoerfer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Abbie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My photography business has been my creative outlet and it was a long time coming. It all just came down to when I was actually going to decide to go for it!
I have loved photography since I was a child. I can clearly remember receiving a compact Fujifilm camera when I was around eight years old. I took the camera anywhere you can imagine. From my best friend and I dressing up and doing “photoshoots,” to lining my barbies up and snapping a few photos, and even bringing it on school field trips… I was that kid! It came from having creative ideas, but led to me also realizing that I very much love documenting moments.
My first ever DSLR camera that I learned on, was gifted to me about ten years ago. My niece was born, and I got to be the one to capture the announcement, maternity photos, and that led to many more monthly photo sessions. I started to realize how passionate I was about it, and how happy it made me to get to provide photos that would literally last a lifetime.
I went off to college, and photos took somewhat of a pause as I was going through nursing school. When I graduated from nursing school in 2021, I landed my first ever nursing job. During that time, I decided that my love for photography was much more than a hobby and I wanted to serve others in a way I loved. I had been so busy, but it felt like the right time to kick off my “side hobby.”
It started off as offering “model calls,” multiple social media posts asking friends to model, as an attempt to help grow and expand my portfolio. Each year, I started noticing more people booking and some of them, I did not even know!
Fast forward to now, I am busier than ever and sometimes I can’t even believe I have people wanting me to take their photos! I appreciate each and every client more than they will ever know. It is such a blessing getting to do what I absolutely love.
Since 2021, I have learned how to navigate camera settings, different lighting situations, multiple editing software programs, camera brands, and making so many new connections within the community. It has led me to open doors, and new relationships with amazing people. Including, many other photographers/ businesses I have met along the way.
My approach to my business is to connect with my clients, and really understand what their photos mean to them. I often find myself asking, what is the most valuable thing my client can get from this session? For me, that involves a calm, no pressure atmosphere, and really just getting to understand who they are and how their family dynamic flows.
Photography is truly an amazing community, and I have had many full circle moments that have led me to where I am at in my business today. I get to fuel my creative side, and I also get to make people happy. It is a win-win situation. I am so grateful for where my life has taken me!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! My name is Abbie and I am the owner and photographer of Abbie Street Photography LLC. My business really came from a creative drive, with a combination of really wanting to use that drive to make more connections within my community. I absolutely love being able to use photography as a way to meet more people, and serve others by providing them with literal memories that could be their first, last, or in between moments.
Through the years, I have navigated through different editing softwares, different camera brands, learning different lighting techniques, and simply putting myself out there! I am always striving to expand on my creativity and learn more.
As a small business owner, it is hard to put your foot in the door, but the best lesson I ever taught myself was to just go for it because no one else is going to do it for you!
Photography is so much more than just taking a photo. It is helping clients navigate family outfits, posing, and simply guiding them that it is okay to relax for candid portraits. It is all about making a calm, fun, environment. I mainly photography families, newborn, and maternity. These sessions are like my bread and butter! Being a mom myself, I just want all the moms/dads to be able to get their family portraits, not stress, and have fun. It is okay for snack breaks, silly kids, and not always having the most perfect posed smile. Most of the time, the candid ones are the best anyway because it captures the families true, authentic self.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I think one of the most important parts of owning a small business is continuing to be consistent. Not only for your clients, but also yourself. A huge factor for me is ensuring I stay organized, and my communication is crystal clear with each client/family. I want them to rest assured that I have their session under control. The last thing I want them worrying about is how it will go, where we will meet, what they will receive, and them questioning if it was even worth it. I strive to lay out clear communication in each inquiry I receive. With that, I find that it already starts a good relationship consisting of good communication and expectations from photographer to customer.
Not only that, but just continuing to be yourself with each client! We are all humans, so being relatable and understanding is so important. I think kindness goes a really long way. It sets the tone for how your interaction will go.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Oh — social media! I feel like it just takes time to really build your name. No great thing comes overnight. You have to remember that it is a marathon, and not a sprint. Continuing to advertise your work on a consistent basis, having a supportive community/clients who share your work, and word of mouth comes a really long way.
I am a true believer in that every good thing takes time! Don’t feel discouraged if you have certain months/weeks where it seems like engagement is low. Your audience will come to you with time, consistency, and effort! Continue putting your foot in the door, advertise your work, offer a creative styled session here and there to freshen your portfolio, and stay true to yourself and clients. My biggest piece of advice is to not let social media discourage you and try not to get yourself into a game of comparison. Time will tell!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abbiestreetphotography.com
- Instagram: @abbiestreetphotographyllc
- Facebook: Abbie Street Photography LLC
Image Credits
Abbie Street Photography LLC