We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andrea Stephenson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Andrea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Learning photography (or any creative skill) is such a unique challenge. There is so much in the art world that is subjective, but photography involves technology that allows for this field to be a bit more technical. So while you’re learning how to use your camera, editing software, client management platforms, etc., you’re also learning what style of photography you like and don’t like. You’re learning what settings give your photos the look and feel that you want. You’re seeing other photographers work and trying (but also not trying) to emulate that style. There’s just a lot that goes on in the early learning stages.
If I could have done something differently to speed up my learning process, it was definitely to get around more photographers sooner and invest more heavily in education early on. There’s so much you can learn from working WITH people versus just by yourself. There’s also so much of this profession that gets normalized when you talk to other photographers. Whether it’s the struggles and challenges you face, comparing mistakes and successes, or just realizing that you’re not the only one who is still learning!
I think the biggest thing when talking about “learning the craft” is that that part of this industry never ends. I am five years into my photography journey, and I still learn something new at almost EVERY session/wedding. To me, that’s really exciting and motivating to know that I love my work now but am going to learn and grow so much in the next few years so that my clients and I can love my work even more.
Andrea, 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 got into photography in late 2016/early 2017 when I asked my mom to use her old 2008 Nikon DSLR camera to take some pictures of my friends for fun, got a free editing software to play with the photos on my laptop, and the rest is history! It truly was just something I thought was going to be a fun hobby, but ended up becoming a part time (and maybe someday a full time) job.
I am a lifestyle/wedding photographer based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I provide a wide range of photography services, but mainly focus on couples/weddings and senior/graduation sessions. I am really passionate about providing my clients with beautiful, timeless photos that truly capture their personality or relationship. I want these photos to hang in their home for decades and still be just as enjoyable as the day they received them. I love getting to know so many amazing people and am super dedicated to making sure that each session feels comfortable and my clients feel confident in front of the camera.
I am obsessed with creating a fantastic client experience and making sure all my brides/seniors/etc. are completely satisfied with their photos. I’m really proud of the effort and intentionality I’ve put into my business, and I am confident that this shows in the way I conduct myself and the way I treat all my clients/potential clients.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Word of mouth! I seriously underestimated how big of a role this would play when I was just starting out. It absolutely warms my heart when I get an inquiry and they tell me that one of my previous clients recommended me!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being in the wedding photography business, I am literally showing up to capture one of the biggest days of people’s lives. I get to capture love stories, heartwarming speeches, father daughter dances, and so much more. Being able to give people frozen moments in time that they can look back on for their whole life is something I cherish and will never take for granted. Delivering a gallery and having a bride tell me that she cried happy tears while looking through it brings me so much joy. This job is stressful, chaotic, and difficult at times but SO rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.andreastephensonphotography.com
- Instagram: @andreastephensonphoto
- Facebook: Andrea Stephenson Photography