We recently connected with ABiV and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, ABiV thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

A trend I LOVE right now is the fisheye or wide-angle look. It’s everywhere. No pun intended but I’ve been eying these lenses for a long time. I usually edit my photos to give them a distorted look in the way the lens does naturally. Something about the perspective makes the photo seem tangible and more interactive. I’m definitely looking to incorporate that style much more.

Another trend I really enjoy are the grainy textures and blurred photos. I get so excited when a client asks me to incorporate that editing style into their gallery. Those photos are what memories look like in my head. They’re not all in focus, but you get the gist of what’s going on. Sometimes they can bring out emotions as well. Sometimes I wish I could edit all my photos that way!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Abi Voightmann, I go by ABiV which is a nickname I received in high-school. I got started in this industry by assisting and shadowing other photographers frequently. My first photography job was actually at my church. I would take photos for events and to promote services, and pretty soon I started getting hired by members of the congregation. I decided to take my photography business seriously in the Summer of 2020 by posting my photos on Instagram. For the first time ever I started getting noticed and booked through my social media pages.

Sometimes it this job feels like a dream. I never expected to be where I’m at today, and I know I’m just getting started! I was in a really bad place mentally before I started my business. The past 2 years have been a whirlwind, and it’s wild how much growth has taken place not only in my career but in my mental health. I really believe the harder you hit rock bottom, the higher you’re bounced back up. In short, that’s the theme of my career so far. Every failure is an opportunity for a new beginning. I can say I’m proud of myself for sticking to my faith and bettering myself. I’m thankful to God for where He’s brought me today. I haven’t arrived anywhere, but I’m excited for the journey and all that comes with it!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

The best advice I can give to a new business owner is to network like crazy. My best opportunities have come from complete strangers I’ve met by attending local artist events, galleries, showcases, etc. I know it can be hard to step out of your comfort zone, but it just takes repetition and practice to build up that confidence to market yourself.

Whenever I take photos for an event, I’ll exchange Instagrams or contact information to quickly deliver the photos to that person. To me it’s more efficient than business cards, because instead of being forgotten about in their pocket, I’m now at the top of their social media feed.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Communication is always key, but especially when working with clients. There was one time I spent 20+ hours shooting and editing for a client that completely fell through. There were so many emails between the client and I, and many misunderstandings about styling, lighting, and editing. So much would’ve been resolved if I just picked up the phone and called them in order to clear up the confusion. I guess part of me thought it would be more professional to have all business interactions through email only, but it actually made things worse. Especially since I have a bad habit of reading emails and only responding to them in my head.

I now have phone consultations for big projects in order to fully understand the concept and goal of each shoot. It makes my life so much easier and give my clients that reassurance that I can execute their vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://abivphotography.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abiv.330/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-voightmann-ab99181ba/

Image Credits
Andy Mineo Lecrae Paige Banks Quinn Gardner Yvonne Cyn-Wei Megan Jeanee