We recently connected with Abby McLain Moore and have shared our conversation below.
Abby, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
Anyone involved in the wedding industry, in any capacity, knows that it can be an intense, high-stakes and high-cost arena. In the last decade, photography has climbed the ladder and taken residence as a top priority for many couples when planning their day. In my – albeit, biased – opinion, wedding photographers have one of the most important jobs in this industry. For many couples, when the day is over, the only tangible items that remain from their wedding are their photos. Photos are physical memories that can be passed down for infinite generations to come, even when those in the photos are no longer there to share them.
The “old school” ways of wedding photography are well on their way out. As new generations emerge into the industry, as vendors and clients, it is becoming more evident that clients expect to pay for an experience as beautiful as the photos they receive.
I’ve heard horror stories of couples working with wedding photographers who typically do beautiful creative work, receiving uninspired photos and walking away from their experience with a bad taste in their mouths. I’ve heard couples say they felt as though their photographer had an arrogance about them that sent the message “YOU are lucky to be working with ME.” Others have stated that they felt as though their photographer seemed annoyed or inconvenienced to be working with them and made no effort to accommodate or connect with them in any capacity. Most often, these stories from couples who don’t fit the ‘traditional’ aesthetic and photogenic ideals of thinness, whiteness, ability, age and gender.
It merits mention to say there are SO MANY photographers emerging into the industry today that actively combat these experiences. I’m proud to say that I work hard to be one of them. I make a conscious effort to give my clients an experience they treasure as much as their photos. I show my clients that I am more than just a photographer on their wedding day. I’m a cheerleader, an advocate, personal assistant and friend. I open myself up to their vision, their priorities and their needs. I make myself accessible and approachable so my clients feel confident they can count on me to show up for them and support them in the ways they need on one of the most glorious and emotional days of their lives.
With enough training, anyone can have the technical talents and checklists that make a “good wedding photographer.” However, I believe it’s the attention, devotion and service that is the difference between a good wedding photographer and a GREAT one. In my experience, approaching an environment as emotional and landmark as a wedding day with empathy, excitement and grace is the only way to do it. It’s about making sure ALL my clients know I feel lucky to be working with THEM.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
From the time I could walk and talk, I have always been a creative person. Whether it was painting, sketching, my fashion choices (4 year-old me always had to have a color-coordinating handbag!!), writing or making music, I felt the most confident when I getting creative. I knew music, writing and painting were in my blood, but I didn’t know until recently, that photography was in my lineage as well.
In 2010, my interest with photography started alongside the launch of Instagram. At the time, I saw it as a platform to stage artful scenes and showcase my vision to all of my 35 followers (ha!). By 2013, I’d gotten an entry-level DSLR and started taking photos of friends in abandoned houses, overgrown fields and whatever scenery piqued my interest along the numerous never-ending gravel roads in my hometown. By May of 2014, I’d job shadowed a successful local photographer and taken several classmates’ senior photos. When I was in college, I upgraded my equipment and started a full-fledged business I ran in addition to full course load and a part-time job. In 2015, I shot my first two weddings and knew I was never looking back.
My last semester of college in 2018, I took a digital photography class and learned everything I could about operating my camera, natural and staged lighting, photoshop and fine art printing. I paired these skills along with numerous online trainings and seminars to build up my expertise. I felt more confident than ever to establish myself as a serious photographer. In May of 2018, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication, a Minor in Psychology and a Multicultural Certificate.
In March of 2019 I moved to Kansas City, MO and decided I needed to niche down and find an area of expertise so my business could thrive. I weighed all my options and it became apparent: my most fulfilling work came from weddings. By July 2021 I quit my corporate 9-5, and I took my wedding photography business full-time.
Now, I’m almost 8 years into my photography journey and 1.5 years into being a full-time photographer running my own business and brand. While I specialize in weddings, engagement, elopement and couples, I still find a lot of joy with pursuing other areas of photography. I still work with families, seniors and small businesses. I offer sessions to celebrate clients and milestones including maternity, first homes, boudoir, milestone birthdays and corporate events. I am always excited to do something new and branch out creatively, so I rarely say no to a client request.
For some people, professional photography is a luxury. I am a firm believer that everyone deserves to have nice photos to treasure. This is why I offer services at numerous price points to fit almost any budget and schedule. I offer everything from 30 minute “mini” sessions to 8+ hours of wedding day coverage. Everyone deserves a chance to feel beautiful and celebrated, which is my primary mission when working with clients. Regardless of the type of shoot you book, I do everything in my power to celebrate my clients so they can walk away feeling confident and comfortable in their skin. The most common response I get after a shoot is, “I am so awkward in photos and was so nervous, but you made it so much fun and so easy!” Even the most camera-shy clients feel cover model-worthy by the time we’re done!
My biggest source of pride are the lasting relationships I am able to build with clients. I have clients who have been with me from the VERY beginning and continue to support me. I travel back to my hometown, my college town and to my family’s home state of Alabama, where I always have a full book of business waiting for me. I love being part of my clients’ journey in life and watching them flourish. That is definitely the most special part of my job. I love having a front row seat to all their milestones!
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Just like any career path, being a “creative” includes a lot of non-creative moving parts. Being a creative isn’t always stimulating and exciting work. In the background, there is an entire ecosystem operating to run a creative business, just like any other organization. There are a lot of early mornings, late nights and missing out on friends/family time for work. While a creative’s schedule and perceived workload may not look the same as a non-creative career, it is still honest, hard work in its own right! Here are a few things you may not realize go into owning a creative business:
First and foremost, you have to take the time to understand your tech and tools. Regardless of industry, you have to know your way around your equipment, tools, and accounting and CRM software. It’s imperative that you can operate all of these efficiently and consistently. Mastery of these items comes with education and consistent practice. Don’t be afraid of making responsible investments to elevate your business. Stay current on new industry advancements, trends and standards (both technically and creatively.)
Next, you have to know your numbers and keep them organized! Whether you’re looking at SEO and engagement analytics for your online platforms, or tracking receipts and expenditures for tax season, you HAVE to know your numbers. Keeping them organized, secured and current are crucial to operating your creative business. Your online analytics can serve as a roadmap to understanding what works for building engagement your business and what doesn’t. Take the time to learn what those graphs and numbers mean, it will help you in the long run! When it comes to accounting, you need to know your numbers and report them honestly to make sure you’re keeping your business legit. The IRS doesn’t care if you commit fraud “on accident.” There will still be consequences, and it could even cost you the ownership of your business.
In relation to knowing your numbers, you have to do your due diligence. You have integrity and accountability when no one is watching. Insure your business and assets. Create contracts and disclaimers between you and your clients that protect all parties and set transparent expectations. Communicate honestly, even if it’s uncomfortable. Always have a backup plan, because the one time you don’t have one, you’ll wish you did. One of my favorite teachers drilled into her students to “always save in three places.” I use this rule for all important business documents, creative materials and important client information. It’s a rule I still follow to this day and hasn’t failed me yet!
Lastly, use every resource available to you and be a perpetual student. I’ve found the best resource for myself is other creative professionals. There are numerous free courses, podcasts, tutorials and seminars available online. You can purchase training materials, attend creative retreats and connect with other industry professionals at networking events. The more industry connections you can make, the better. Networking allows for referrals and word-of-mouth promotion of your work. Getting involved in your industry is important for making a name for yourself. Be willing to share your wisdom and experiences with others, and never be afraid to ask questions! I am a firm believer that whatever you put into the world will come back to you tenfold. Be willing to learn humbly and share gracefully! It will serve you well in the long run.
These practices are crucial to the survival of keeping any business afloat. While there are certainly perks to running your own business (sleeping in on Mondays is my personal favorite,) there are a lot of sacrifices made as well. I’m sure my fellow wedding photographers miss their lazy weekends as much as I do sometimes! Just like any other career, burnout is possible. The moment your endeavors begin to infringe on your wellbeing, take some personal inventory and set boundaries where they’re needed! We are all just doing our best, so have some grace for yourself and others!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’m not sure if I had a specific moment of clarity about this, or if it was a gradual realization. It’s safe to say it’s common knowledge that women and minorities, of any industry, are often encouraged to move through the professional world quietly, submissively and with humility. We are socialized to be meek, gracious, and to not step too far out of line. You’ll save yourself a lot of potential embarrassment if you continue to underestimate yourself. We are coached that too much confidence will often misinterpreted as arrogance among other professionals. These aren’t rules we have to be directly instructed to follow. For many of us, it makes sense to assume this about the world around us, so… we do.
The quickest way to dismantle this internal narrative is to put yourself in rooms you don’t feel qualified to be in, and to do so unapologetically. Once you’re in those rooms, you’ll find that more often than not, that you are not the least qualified person in the room. In fact, I would be bold enough to say you’re just as deserving as anyone else in attendance. The moment you give yourself permission to “overestimate” yourself, you open up an entire world of opportunities you never imagined you’d have. You don’t have to be the most confident person in the room, but you can certainly pretend to be. Most great people get the opportunity to be great because they adhere to the age-old adage “Fake it ’til you make it,”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abbymclainphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymclainphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymclainphotography
Image Credits
All Photos provided by Abby McLain Photography