We recently connected with Adam Griffin and have shared our conversation below.

Adam, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

I currently manage my own social media, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart! What started as a novel way to attract clients and stay in touch with friends via Instagram in 2012 is now a vital part of my advertising strategy and at the moment it’s easier to maintain on my own. An active social media presence is a must-have in 2024 so potential customers can find examples of your work *and* learn a bit more about the values behind your business. Gone are the days of simply directing someone to your website, or trying to maintain distinct boundaries between professional and personal views, so I’ve found it’s still best to have full control over my social media so my voice is always what people interact with online, As my business continues to expand that might change, but I like keeping a direct finger on the pulse!

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 33 year old New England native who’s now roaming around California and the world documenting weddings and people’s stories as a luxury event photographer. My style primarily focuses on dramatic light, candid moments, and editorial-worthy unique shots so looking back through photos of your wedding feels just like a movie. I started this business part-time in 2013 as I was leaving college, and in 2019 I made it my full-time career when I left my last corporate job. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community I know that too often many folks can feel overlooked, marginalized, and altogether ignored. I firmly believe that you should not only be able to trust the professionalism and talent of the photographer you bring along for your wedding, but that their values align with your own—especially on one of the most important days of your life. That’s why I do what I do: to provide incredible art and memories from this chapter of your life, and do it in an authentic way that keeps you at the center of it all.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I try to maintain a diverse digital advertising strategy that allows multiple social media platforms to provide consistent leads. From posting new content to Instagram several times a week, to creating new blog posts a few times a month that I re-share to Pinterest…all of it helps my most recent work stay in front of potential clients. My advice to any creative business owner would be to maintain several digital strategies at once in case there’s ever a dip in leads from one source. Instagram algorithm shutting you out because you post more photos than reels? Invest more time into boosting your SEO online so your website and blog posts reach clients via Google. Latest blog post not trending as high on search engines? Try a boosted post on social media that highlights some of your best work to get it in front of your target audience. In 2024 the best source for new clients is having *multiple* sources at all times.

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

My business started as a creative side hustle around 2012 as I learned the ropes for event photography in college! I knew a lot of young couples getting married, and I had several friends who were already in the wedding industry that took me along as their assistant to second shoot for the gigs they were booking. My degree was in graphic design so I already had a solid background in art, and I’d grown up with a mom who brought her camera everywhere we went, so it was definitely an easy segue at that point to start contracting my own clients as I found my own creative voice. It was invaluable to second shoot for those first few years after college because it taught me the rhythm of a wedding day, what most shot lists typically looked like, and then how to creatively expand myself once I’d built a solid foundation. Deciding to take the plunge into a full-time business in 2019 was scary, but the best step for me to better serve my clients and lean more into what I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: adamgriffinphoto.com
• Instagram: @adamgriffinphoto
• Facebook: facebook.com/adamgriffinweddings

Image Credits
Adam Griffin Photo © 2024 All Rights Reserved