We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley BabiBabi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
I Got my first client from outdoor freelancing, I would be out taking photos with family/friends who are my biggest supporters. People were attracted to my work ethic as well as the art of the camera it’s like a magnet, you may catch me in a tree or standing on top of benches at the park to get my shot. I would get approached in question for my contact information. My first invoiced client was for a Black History month event, I captured photos of different vendors, art, people attending the event also created a 60 second video of the whole exhibition. That event also Gained me the opportunity to reach more people who have events or wanted personal shoots. We call that networking. I wrapped up the event with plenty of footage, it’s always Good to over shoot than not have enough product for the client. I was nervous due to the fact that this wasn’t my usual family or friend who I would allow to critique my photos on site of the shoot. I remember finishing everything up and sending over the final product, the person that hired me loved what I had captured, she called to tell me how full she felt watching her Growing event from another point of view. She mentioned being in the mix of the event with hosting, greetings guest, making sure everything is going as planned she didn’t have time to capture anything at her prior events, also that she was glad we met, loved the finishing product, cried almost, gave me a nice tip and wanted me to capture more of her upcoming events. I was so happy, reactions like that don’t compare to the money, the money is indeed nice yet customer satisfaction wholeheartedly does it for me. I made my first dollar and contracted with an event planner simply outside doing what I love with my camera. It’s such a wonderful feeling.
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.
My name is A.B.B. short for Ashley BabiBabi owner of Kangaroo Pocketz Production. My business is in creative and photography. I specialize in photography short film, we will also be adding merch to our brand in the coming dates. A visual at heart and this is my art expression. I got into photography in high school, I spent most of my time in school taken photos of my friends, the passion stuck with me as I got older i was able to exchange my art for services. The biggest disciplinary in my career for myself is time, my turn around time is always 7 days or sooner, I dedicate quality time on the edit side meaning on my not so busy days I’m honed in on editing for my clients to assure that I return good quality photos in a timely fashion. When it comes to customer service satisfaction I allow my clients to look at the raw image on the camera in between outfit changes or battery swaps, it helps the client have an idea of what their images look like as they’re shooting, which prompts more creative ideas & confidence during the shoot, my edits are the cherry on top. I want my clients to feel comfortable during our shoot as well as retouching any images they would like me to after post production, I have no problem with that because what the client sees is very important to me. What sets me apart from others is that I am passionate behind my clients, I take whatever they say their vision is and allow my vision to coexist with theirs, I don’t overlook their vision I’m not always right, in this industry you have to be mindful of whom you’re working with which is a client who CHOSE to work with you. I am very proud of the people I have met as well as the art that I have put out, sometimes I amaze myself after post production and my clients always verify the passion I put in with their responses to the art we created. I want future clients to know how passionate visuals are to me and I do my best with every client and or potential client, I breathe customer creative satisfaction guaranteed in all my endeavors.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A pivot in my career or life would have to be moving to a new state during the time I was being recognized as a photographer in my hometown. It’s wild because my clients during my last days in Indy would’ve never guessed I was depressed and lost. I had lost a close family member Ramon who is a vital part of my business name Kangaroo Pocketz Productions originated from him, he did music and wanted that name to be our production as a family. He passed away and took a huge piece of me with him. For a year in a half after he passed I continued doing my shoots, working with clients to the best of my ability, it came a time where the space I was in mentally didn’t match the passion of my art I was putting out so I paused my career. I was asked did I want to move out of state, I immediately answered Yes with no hesitation, I’m talking about negative thoughts so dark the sun could be shining so bright throughout the day all I could see was darkness. I will always appreciate being asked that question to move out of state because Ramon and I always talked about leaving our hometown simply for a fresh start, making the actual move alone was nonexistent, I needed that hand in togetherness to leave my city so that’s what I did. I packed up my things which wasn’t much and hit the road to Texas. My experience in Texas from the day I got here til now has all been new and true to me. The mental growth, peace, passion, understanding, learning, breathing, I have done here over the past 5 years has amped me up on levels I could never even imagine before, that feeling of goodness mixed with the passion I have to create was absolutely what I needed to be where I am today spiritually and creatively. The interesting part about it is that there will be more pivots, obstacles, things out of my control that will continue to happen, knowing how to mentally maneuver amongst self is key here. My ultimate experience as well as my ability to keep going is at an all time high. Today my business is growing, im more positive and Lord willing I won’t have to be so low in my darkness if that were to happen again, I’m in a space where I can allow sunshine to exist in my dark days. That’s what makes the art that much more special. Art is forever gotta keep up with her!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients is word of mouth, passing out cards and social media.
I am a good people person when it comes to networking, I like to attend events or have random conversations with strangers about zodiac signs and what people do for a living. You’d be surprised how far that type of conversation can go! I pass out cards with my email and social media on it at random places or hand to hand. My favorite form is word of mouth, previous clients can also get your name into rooms you’re not in because they will tell a friend who will tell another friend next thing you know you have another potential client contacting you about a shoot, even if the shoot doesn’t happen right then and there, they know you & your work now so when the time comes when a photographer is needed they think of me, walah magic!
Social Media is good for the business as well, popular hashtags and consistency in posting work, also can bring clients, fans to your business following.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kangaroopocketz
- Other: email: [email protected]
Image Credits
KangarooPocketz ShotByABB