We recently connected with Anne Billings and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Anne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
My first career was a kindergarten teacher. I knew when I named my business I wanted the name to be geared towards children since I have always had a calling to work with kids. Since my initials are AB, Annie Bee was a perfect balance of a child-like name & practicality!

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
What am I most proud of? Well, the best compliment I get is when a client tells me after their photo session how much fun they had. I think nerves are inevitable initially but throughout the process I assist with outfit selections and bring my bag of tricks to your session to get the “real” smiles. In turn, many clients have hired me over and over again for their families since I have created a relationship with their kids.

How did my business begin? Photography found me! My children were my little muses that I was posting on social media and before I knew it moms were reaching out asking me to capture their families!

What has left me speechless in my business? When I was first beginning my business I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself. Suddenly every other photographer looked so much better than what I was producing. Then over my first Christmas as a photographer, my brother and husband surprised me with a Mac computer unexpectedly! Those have a pretty price tag! Because they believed in me, I took the leap and made a conscious decision to be all in. I enrolled in photography classes, took my camera everywhere and stayed up late watching “how to” videos. It was the push I needed!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to find my personal photography style over the years. I was an editor for another photographer that uses traditional techniques, such as heavy flash and a ton of editing. I love natural light, soft lines and dreamy sunsets. I had to make a decision to leave editing and focus on what fills my cup everyday which is my style and own business. It is easy to say yes to things we don’t love because it may help pay the bills. However, I decided to look at my own business and think, how can I make my own business more profitable so I won’t have to spend so much time on other photographers’ businesses.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
My business has been word of mouth for years but I also love meeting fellow photographers where I can refer out to them & they can refer out to me. It is the best of both worlds. My love is not weddings so I have one photographer I send weddings to, while she doesn’t love photographing families so she sends me all her family leads. I am forever grateful!

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniebeephotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABeephotography/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/annie-bee-photography-flagstaff-2

Image Credits
My Self portrait: Kristin Marielle Photography Other Images: Annie Bee Photography