We recently connected with Anslei Foster and have shared our conversation below.

Anslei, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I think the key to success lies in how resilient and determined you are to meet your goals. There will be road blocks, there will be so many no’s along the way, but the key success is to continue to be persistent and work pass what discourages and hinders you.

If you start a company or pursue a dream that you are passionate about it is not out competing your competition. You are your own competition. It’s not about being the better than everyone else it’s about producing work you are proud of as a photographer and bringing satisfaction and joy to your clients. If you are going to start something, finish it.

When I started Iconic Visual Studios I didn’t know where I wanted to go with my company. I just knew I was hungry for a way to express my creativity and in the beginning it was difficult navigating the photography world. There were many times I found myself asking for help and facing judgement and rejection. I wanted to give up, but I choose hope and faith in myself over doubt. It took time to find my style and connect with the right people that have been so instrumental in my development as a photographer. One of the keys to success is accepting that you will fail but that failure is the stepping stone to leveling up. If you never failed how would you know the joy of victory.

Anslei, 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?

My name is Anslei Foster, I am 35 years old and I am from Durham, North Carolina. I am the owner of Iconic Visual Studios based in Greensboro, North Carolina. I have been doing professional photography for about 5 years part-time! My niche is portrait and wedding photography. I was introduced to the world of visual arts through Instagram. I observed up and coming influencers/actors in Los Angeles doing videography and photography work and I became completely enamored with visual art. It was from there that I bought my first camera in 2017 and the rest is history. I offer portrait and wedding photography packages for my clients that include engagement sessions, smash cake birthdays and my favorite portraits: holiday mini sessions! Those are just a few types of sessions I cover. I have also recently branched out into boudoir photography and I must say it has quicky grown on me. There is something about beauty of the human body that is sensual and magical to capture.

I believe in truly connecting with my clients, I surprise my wedding clients with thank you packages including Mrs. and Mr. mugs, luggage tags, etc. I think this helps set me apart from other photography services. I believe a personal touch is required when trying to maintain and retain repeat clients. I also want my clients to know that they are special to me. I keep in contact with them throughout the journey to their wedding day. I make sure to organize the timeline, coordinate wedding colors with their flat lay shots, and make sure they are supported every step of the way.

When I started Iconic Visual Studios it was an uphill journey, I didn’t know what I wanted to call my company, I had no formal training, just my camera and a dream. I started off calling my company Foster Film Productions because I had a love for video editing but I quickly found that my love for photography grew from my need to step from behind my computer desk and capture the magical moments I was editing. I am most proud that I took a leap of faith with my business. I am completely self taught and I often found it hard to find people who were willing to teach me the ropes of the business. I often felt like I made a mistake investing so much money and time into my business and many times over the last five years I thought about selling my equipment and closing down. But, when I talked with other vendor friends, I was encouraged to keep trying and so, I did. I am so happy and glad to say that patience and persistence pays off. If you ever have a dream, don’t wait for the right time. The right time is now. All you need is one YES from GOD and belief in yourself. You will find the right people that will help you grow your business.

I have had roadblocks that many photographers face such as figuring out how to create a brand that will provide your clients with unique experience. I would like potential clients and fans to know and they more than clients to me. They are my inspiration. Iconic Visual Studios is more than a brand and a company, it lives. It lives because of all the people that believe in it and support it.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I believe the most rewarding part of being a creative is the love and joy you bring to yourself and others. I love nothing more that when my clients tell me how much they love there pictures. It makes me proud that I was able to tell their story just the way they imagined it. Storytelling is one of the most rewarding parts of taking photographs. They take you on a journey and you are along for the ride. I want to create a legacy with the pictures I take.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Although there are many ways to build a brand/reputation I think I was able to build a strong business reputation from being a business owner that keeps her promises. I try to make sure that when I schedule a timeline for gallery deliveries I stick to that timeline and deliver everything I promise in make packages to my clients. I also understand that businesses should value their customers. Doing more than expected is another way I have been able to get positive feedback and referrals from customers. I now send every wedding client a thank you package specially made for them with mugs, luggage tags, etc. I also make sure I delivering a consistent product to my clients. In all of the areas and platforms where my company interacts with clients, I am consistent and myself. I represent my company with the joy and passion I have for photography in a way that is reasonable and approachable to every client.

One of the best ways to build I have chosen to build my company’s reputation is by displaying customer testimonials on your website and social media channels. Testimonials provide social proof for my company and builds confidence in potential clients to do business with me. It is also helpful to post to my questions on my story on Instagram so my followers can engage with me and I can get a good feel of what kind of, for example, mini shoots I should offer that would get them to book with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theiconicvisualstudios.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/iconicvisualstudios
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/iconcivisualstudios
• Other: https://iconicvisualstudios.pixieset.com/

Image Credits
Faith Constantine