We were lucky to catch up with Becca Grimm recently and have shared our conversation below.

Becca, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

The story behind taking my photography business full-time goes back pretty far, to my early college days. When I began shooting in my first (and only) photography course during my freshman year of college I immediately knew it was going to become a lifelong passion. However, I loved learning about and researching participants in my psychology curriculum and I was fascinated by the way people develop, think, and interact with others. I pursued my bachelor’s degree and graduated from Penn State but knew I wanted to take my side hobby of photographing seniors and couples to the next level.

I moved to Greenville, SC post-graduation with my then fiancé who was beginning a Ph.D program at Clemson. My first step in the process of going full-time was deciding I needed to be immersed into the community in our new state, so I took two different retail jobs in the area. I worked at Athleta and Apple for some months and the plan was to meet as many people as I could and foster true connections with like-minded souls. I found a local photographer and booked a mentor session that included photographing a model couple at a newly opened wedding venue. I had shot over 10 weddings at this point, but I new I needed to invest in my business if I wanted to grow.

The big turning point was shortly after my own wedding. After many months working in retail and in a state close to 10 hours from my family, I realized I needed something to change. I didn’t see my family for so long, let along my husband who was working while being a full-time grad student. That is one thing most people in the industry do not talk about – it can be really sad transitioning to life after your wedding is over. I quickly realized the most exciting day of my life up until that point was over and my mental health took a turn for the worse. My mentors and online educators had always taught me to save three months income before going full-time with my business so that I would have something to fall back on. Instead, I choose to take a leap of faith, and go full-time to gain freedom and spend more time with my loved ones.

I am not saying that is the way to do it or recommending that others follow in my footsteps, but for me this was a life-changing decision. When I worked my last day of that retail job in October of 2019 I left immediately feeling lighter. I chased this dream of mine with everything I had. A crucial step I took in those months was working with a website designer to relaunch my business and brand with my married last name, thus launching Becca Grimm Photography.

Becca, 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?

My biggest draw to photography has been shooting 35mm film. My late grandfather was a hobbyist photographer but he never did anything without researching all the ins-and-outs of a topic. He read Ansel Adams and took his Nikon FG all over the world with my grandmother.

When he passed in 2017 I decided it was time to take up that same film camera he had given to me and honor him by learning film photography. I shot throughout 2018 with expired film and mostly resorted to YouTube to learn the basics. I searched local thrift shops and built a small collection of film cameras of all kinds, and my husband soon felt in love with the process of collecting old film cameras with me. Our friends and family heard I was shooting film and began donating all their old analog gear to us. With his engineering background, Tyler would take apart, clean, oil, and rebuild the camera’s that had stuck shutters or non-working parts. In 2021, we officially added film to our offerings and love when our couples choose to include film in their packages.

I offer my couples the timeless look of grainy film and imperfect moments, while still shooting a majority of digital images throughout my couples’ days. I use the top mirrorless models canon makes for crystal clear imagery with pixel counts so high you could print my images life-size. My style is warm with earthy tones and I love serving any in-love couple who connects with my work.

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

For me, when a previous bride and/or groom shares a personal story about their experience with me as their wedding photographer, that is the best way they can support my business growth. I have had the large majority of my couples find me through a friend, relative, or a co-worker. In my strong opinion social media is important, but no amount of followers can express the true artistry and skill of a photographer like a personal testimony from someone who a photographer has served in the past. I think that your wedding day is just too important to be documented by someone who you are not fully confident in. I love knowing that my couples have complete trust in me and can enjoy their day to the fullest!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is when my client tells me their vision and let me take full lead on the execution of their session or wedding day photos. Some people have more detailed illustrations and I always love when someone takes the time to answer my questionnaires and have a sit-down or video chat with me about what they want out of their session or wedding package, but there is nothing more encouraging as an artist than when I hear the words, “I trust you!” or “I love your style, whatever you think is best!” when choosing locations, composition, posing and editing options. I want my couples to be fully present in their emotions because we are always celebrating something, wether that be an engagement, a wedding, a new job, home, or just another year spent together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beccagrimmphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beccagrimmphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beccagrimmphotography/
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beccagrimmphotography/

Image Credits
Headshot by Sophie Lindler