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

Abigail , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

My best investment is quite recent actually. I started renting a studio to use for my newborn/maternity/motherhood photography two months ago. I had put this off for a long time thinking, “that’s only for full time photographers, I can’t afford that!” Currently while my children are young I am focusing on being a mom primarily, my job as a photographer needs to coincide with that a seamlessly as possible. So I figured a studio would just be out of the question. BUT then I realized that I spent at least 2-3 mornings out of the month driving to my friends studio in Granville and that just one of those shoots would pay my entire rent for a month at a studio. I was sold, I needed to find a studio. But then came the issue of where and the look. I didn’t want just any office building. I wanted something gorgeous, with character and history. I know, it’s a lot to ask. But that’s part of who I am as a photographer. I remember touring 400 West Rich as design student 14 years ago and realized that was exactly the kind of place I wanted to be.
So here I am two months later and it has paid for itself many times over, actually allowing me to be more present as a mom and a photographer. I love it. It was so counterintuitive, to keep my business manageable I needed to expand it in key ways.

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 went to OSU for design and realized by the end of the four years that I did not love it and I did not want to work for someone else. I fell into photography and fell in love with it at the same time. I have done wedding photography for nearly 10 years and motherhood/newborns for about 2.5 years. I am proud of having been on the list for top wedding photographers in Columbus, I am proud that I can walk into any wedding and create something beautiful with that couple. I am also proud that I was able to start my sub- brand (Quiet Lives Photography) and it has really taken off, photographing mothers and babies has become a new beautiful passion of mine. I love that I get to create art and interact with different people nearly every day. There isn’t a single part of my business I don’t like, even the taxes. I don’t mind doing my taxes! I love working for myself and providing high end products for couples and families.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I almost quite my business in 2020. I’m sure I’m not the only one to say that. It was the only time that photography and creating became stressful and overwhelming. I had so many couples cancel or change their plans last minute, I had other creatives criticize me for photographing people at all and not shutting down my business during that time. Along with that, I had been under charging and taking clients I didn’t really connect with for several years. So I decided I either needed to quit or change everything about my business. I chose to change everything. I changed my prices, my website, how I worded my emails, my instagram, how I posted, how I advertised, what I offered etc I listened to podcasts and read books about business. I niched my work and started saying no. I said no to 8 weddings the fall of 2020 that didn’t line up with my new business values. I started to worry and then I booked wedding in October for the following year that fit everything on my list, and I knew I was starting to do something right.
Since then my business has been more stable, more creative and more fulfilling then ever before.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

If you can get a mentorship do it. I mentored with someone for free for wedding photography (she should have charged me though, her wisdom was invaluable!). I mentored with Ramsey Baker Photography for motherhood photos and it gave me literally everything I needed to have a thriving business. Find your free resources; understand business, listen to podcasts, read books.
But also find someone you trust about the business and pay them whatever they ask to show you how to get there. And choose someone who knows what they are doing. After 9 years in the business I finally feel in a place to offer mentorships. But I don’t think it would have been wise for me to do so before now. I have so much more to offer people at this time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://abigailreederphotography.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailreederphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbigailReederPhoto
• Other: Quiet lives photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quietlives_photography/