We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abigail Collins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abigail, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

The quick answer to this question would be for young Abigail to have believed in, and challenged herself sooner. We hear this a lot; to not care what others think, to not be afraid to take the first step and put your work and yourself out there. It’s easier said than done. I believe there is a direct correlation between your inner world and your outer world, and balancing the two takes time. The success of my photography has been a slow roll because of this. It’s taken longer than some, but that is what I needed in order to feel the value of all of my efforts. Sure, I would have loved to have had instant success, it would have saved a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but I wasn’t ready when I began back in 2015.

Since then, I’ve definitely learned how to frame photos better, and have patience and trust in the amazing moment I sense is coming. My editing style has developed into what I think visually makes you feel the image the most. I’ve also learned how to multi-task more fluidly. Trying to capture magic while also making sure people are comfortable and having a good time can be tricky. I will say that after a while of feeling like I wasn’t connecting like I knew I could, I downloaded a posing guide from a photographer named Emily Magers. I read what had helped her and applied them to my own personal style. I really noticed a difference in engagement after that. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, taking a workshop with one of your favorite photographers, or collaborating on a styled shoot. Connection is a learning opportunity, and one of life’s greatest gifts.

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.

I’m a Colorado wedding and family photographer. One of the biggest reasons photographers in these genres do what we do is to capture moments you will treasure forever. To freeze time. This is very true for me, but my inspiration has shifted.

For me, life has always been about finding its meaning. What gives you a reason to wake up in the morning? Are you happy with the reflection you see in the mirror? How would you challenge yourself to embody your true self? What is it that you want to experience before the grand finale?

I’ve always been a deep thinker, but now when I go into a shoot I’m thinking about the reasons why my clients want to freeze time. What are their own unique answers to life’s questions, and how can I portray them through my lens. I want to capture the meaning behind the moments they will treasure forever, and to deliver a gallery full of images that are windows into something tangible.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I went to school for photography, but I freaked out when I graduated college and just took the first place that hired me which was as a gallery assistant, and then that eventually turned into being an Executive Assistant for ten years.

I’m organized as hell so I was really good at it, but I always had a heavy feeling about my life path. Photography was always my side passion. I did portraits, events, maternity, boudoir, just anything I could get my hands on. The more I photographed life, the more I began to realize that heavy feeling was unhappiness, and also feeling of not being fulfilled. I wondered, where’s the joy? Where is the meaning?

One day I read, “If you love what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life”. I think that is where the fear comes in. What if you fail? What if people don’t like what you do? What if you end up hating the thing you thought you would love? All of these questions are full of doubt, which do not serve you. You will never know the answers to help you along in life unless you try.

I can be a hard ass and bulldoze my way thinking I can do everything on my own, but it truly takes a village to achieve big goals sometimes. Through amazing family and friends, and the luck to have met my husband around the time I decided to choose myself over any doubt, I am where I am today.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

You get to create as a job! I mean, what? Yes, there is an ebb and flow of inspiration, doubt, dry spells, and even imposter syndrome, but it’s life in your face every day which I think is a beautiful thing and completely unique. Also, as a mom, I’m able to balance my work life and home life pretty well which I know is so hard for some people. I feel very lucky to be able to do both.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abigailrcollins.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailrcollins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbigailRCollinsPhotography
• Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/abigail-r-collins-photography-los-angeles-2