Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abigail Steffes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Abigail, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.

I would encourage anyone wanting to jump full time into photography to find a good mentorship or attend a workshop. It’s something I wish I had done, as now I’m seeing there are things I could have learned all at once much faster rather than trying to learn them all on my own over time by trial and error. Networking and meeting people is also a big advantage and something that I underestimated the value of. You can do a lot with online ads and connections now, but in person relationships and a network of people helps your business when you least expect it.

Abigail, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a portrait and branding photographer based in Fort Myers, Florida. I offer a variety of portrait sessions, including families, seniors, maternity, children, and engagements/couples. My branding sessions are lifestyle sessions, meaning they incorporate your personality and life, rather than being just headshots. (Although they include those as well! ) I love to capture your story and what makes you you, wether that may be showcasing your products, showing you at work, a behind the scenes of your day, or you at some of your favorite places/doing some of your favorite things. I also photograph events, such as birthday parties, networking or themed events.

I started dabbling in photography in highschool, and got my first “real” camera as soon as I graduated. My aunt was a photographer and she sparked my initial interest in it and was always happy to answer my questions. I started out just taking a lot of nature photos, but then began to practice portraits on family members. Over the years I continued to take more portraits on the side, as well as getting into food and product photography. It was just a part time side job for me that I enjoyed, but I kept saying that maybe someday I would do it full time. 2020 brought a lot of changes for me, just like for everyone else, but it included a big move to Florida. I decided that this new start was the perfect time to stop talking about doing photography full time and actually give it a shot. It has been an adventure ever since! Moving to a new area where I didn’t know anyone had some drawbacks on starting a business, but also opened the door to me traveling more for sessions, which was another dream of mine. I have continued to build my business here, traveling quite a bit within Florida, as well as offering sessions elsewhere in the continental US!

I love getting to meet new people, hear their stories and get to know them, all while being able to capture their story or a time in their life. I am very flexible with my sessions- I make sure to get the shots my clients want, but I also want them to be able to have fun and feel at ease, as well as incorporating any pets or elements they want! Family beach sessions include the children being able to run and play in the water, and I am a big lover of candid shots showing little moments. Children are one of my favorite types of portrait sessions. I grew up in a large family and was around a lot of little kids, so I am always down to get on their level, laugh and play with them, and even roll on the ground with them if needed. I always end up delivering more images than I say I will, because once we get shooting I don’t like to limit the moments you receive.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Initially a large portion of my social media audience was people I knew or connections thru them, but I started really focusing on including hashtags and locations in my posts and just did that for a long time. Over the last few years though, social media has shifted. There is a lot more focus on video content, which can be discouraging since it takes more time and effort, but following trends has an advantage to some point. Reels on instagram have been a huge boost for me, but a large part of social media is still connections and relationships. If you’re just starting out, I would reccomend consistency with posting, and connecting with people. Find a schedule that works for you because it can be a lot to keep up with, but I plan posts ahead so I don’t have to worry about it every day. Use relevant hashtags and search terms in your posts, as well as geotags to make yourself discoverable in your area. I also encourage taking time to search people and businesses in your area and building connections with them. Even things as simple as consistently showing support (commenting, sharing, etc) or having small conversations here and there can build a relationship and potentially turn into more someday.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

While there is a lot of photography resources online that I have taken advantage of, I wish I had realized the training resources the photography community itself offers. There are so many established photographers now offering resources and mentorships, doing in person workshops, online trainings, or even sharing free tips. You have the advantage there of hearing from someone who has already walked your path and can answer questions from their experience. Find someone who has the photography style you love or are hoping to have, and you have the advantage of learning how to shoot for that from the start.

Contact Info:

• Website: abigailjoy.photo
• Instagram: abigail_joy_photography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbigailJoyPhotos