We were lucky to catch up with Ainsley Buchholtz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ainsley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

My hero is my mom, Stephanie. While I have not learned photography or coaching from her, I have learned what it takes to be a great person. Through losing my father and other tremendous losses and hardships, she has always held true to who she is at her core. She has ALWAYS supported my dreams and found ways to make them even bigger.
For a long time, I talked about how cool photography seemed and how much fun it must be. All of a sudden. I was opening my first camera on Christmas day. I never expected it, not even in the slightest. She knew that my dad loved to be behind the camera, and she gave that opportunity to me. Since then, I have gotten so many fun experiences with photography, and even got to bring my other passion, coaching volleyball, into the mix. I have been able to photograph high school seniors, events, volleyball games, and more!
Throughout it all, my mom has been standing right behind me. cheering as loud as possible for me.

Ainsley, 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?

I am a 20 year old college student from Omaha, Nebraska. While doing photography on the side, I also have a full-time job, as well as coach volleyball and attend college. My biggest aspiration in life is making a difference when it comes to suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
I was always curious about photography and all that it takes to become successful in the field. While I am certainly still new and have so much learning to do, I have been able to recognize that the end goal is always to make the client feel seen, comfortable and confident. In my journey, I have found that I enjoy photographing seniors, graduates, branding, and volleyball most.
When working with a client, the goal is always to make them feel comfortable. I never want someone to leave unhappy or feel like they did look their best, or feel their best. I think what sets me apart from a lot of those in this field is my speed. i know that sounds dumb, but it’ll make sense. So many photographers set you in front of a camera and give you a few poses and then let you go. I try my best to make the experience as natural and inviting as possible. I also try to cater to my client’s vision as much as possible. That may mean taking extra shots, trying new poses, etc… I never rush my clients just to “get them out the door”.
As my business grows, I will constantly stay proud of myself for continuing this journey. even when it has gotten rough. Clientele isn’t always high, and that can get really discouraging, along with the art of comparison — but remembering that you cannot be anyone else, and they surely cannot be you.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I have found that I have grown my business most through social media. Specifically finding trends and looking for ways to make them an opportunity for growth. I saw a trend a few months ago on TikTok, that people are trying to use to help each other gain followers. I saw this as a business opportunity, and made a video using my photography instagram account. Within a week, I had gained almost 100 new followers, and I already had 5 potential clients reaching out.

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

Like I have stated previously, social media truly does God’s work. And of course, word of my mouth is always going to be helpful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ainsleybuchholtzphotography.com
• Instagram: ainsbuchholtzphoto

Image Credits

my personal image photo credit is to Gabby English