We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adedra Caulker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adedra below.
Alright, Adedra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The mission statement for my brand is “Making You Feel Beautiful”. The purpose behind this is to encourage and uplift each client I encounter, helping them gain more confidence after every session. I truly believe that each individual is unique and handcrafted by God. In Genesis 1:27, the scripture states “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” In every shoot, I strive to give affirmations. For example, if a client expresses discomfort with their attire, I automatically ensure my client that they are absolutely stunning just the way they are, because I see beauty in everyone. Another example is if a client feels self-conscious about a specific pose. I ask questions such as: “What is your best side (your left side or right side)?”, “Does this pose feel comfortable for you?” and I work around the pose that feels more natural for them. This is why my mission is important to me – to capture everyone’s beauty while building confidence and feeling comfortable.
Adedra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello everyone! My name is Adedra, and I am a female photographer located in Maryland. My passion for photography began back in middle school, where I was often bullied for being short or too small, which made me self-conscious. In an effort to build my confidence, I aspired to become a “short model,” but that ambition was short-lived. One Sunday morning, I attended church service and randomly held a camera, and I felt an instant connection. From that moment, I never looked back.
I have recently rebranded, and my focus is on beauty, lifestyle, and branding. I am excited to work with different brands, content creators, makeup artists, hairstylists, and more, capturing their products, art, and personalities. The problems I solve for my clients involve making their vision a reality, and I encourage each client to feel confident and fall in love with the work provided to them. My goal is to spread God’s love and word through my lens.
I am most proud of myself for overcoming the fear and comparison that had paralyzed me for three years, stopping me from promoting myself and growing as a photographer. Now, I have rejected fear and gained the faith and courage to operate in my purpose. I am thrilled about this rebrand and am excited to have you all along with me on this journey of growth.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is expressing my creativity through my lens, networking, and building relationships.
Expressing my creativity through my lens is rewarding because I can control and capture the images based on how I want to tell the story. As the photographer, I can control the entire project, from creative directing, lighting, setup, location, makeup, hairstyle, outfit, model, and choosing who I want to partner with on this project. This allows my vision or the client’s vision to become a reality, and it’s rewarding when others enjoy my work and the client loves the outcome.
Another rewarding aspect of being a creative is networking. I thoroughly enjoy working with and getting to know people on a deeper level. Networking allows me to learn about others’ stories, upbringing, thought process, and current business ventures. It’s also beneficial because you never know how the person you are speaking with may connect you with your next business venture or become your next business partner.
Lastly, building relationships as a creative is rewarding. I have built many quality relationships with clients and other creatives in the industry, which have turned into lasting friendships. For example, I have a good number of clients whom I’ve shot engagements, gender reveals, and birthday celebrations. They enjoyed the images so much that they hired me to cover more events. Some clients have trusted my work so much that I have become their go-to photographer for various life events. This has led to not only a strong working relationship but also invitations to personal life events such as weddings.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
One of the most effective strategies for growing my clientele is word-of-mouth and prayer. This is such an old-school method, but it still works! Providing your clients with great customer service, being relatable, delivering quality work, and giving them the best experience will have them raving about you to others! Your clients and the work they share will advocate for your business. I remember last year, I did not post any of my work, but I was still fully booked. My photographer friends always asked me, “how are you getting booked if you’re not posting?” I would always respond by saying, “my clients referred me and showed my work, and that’s how I still remain busy.
Another strategy that has helped me is prayer, and not just any prayer, but being very specific with God. For example, I prayed for God to connect me with my destiny helpers who will help my business reach its next level. I backed that prayer with scripture and had faith that it had been done. On many occasions, I’ve had a client hire me and connect me to other amazing clients who have granted me access to rooms that I never expected to be in and introduced me to phenomenal people.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photo Credits:
@folivifotos
@shotbyadedra