We recently connected with Bernice Cierra and have shared our conversation below.

Bernice, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

How I got my very first client? a time that any new business owner will never forget! It was in 2015 and I was working a corporate desk job that I absolutely hated. I knew I couldn’t just quit because I had responsibilities, so I prepared myself over the course of three months to change my life. I needed to build my portfolio outside of friends and family so naturally I posted an ad to the legendary Craigslist! I didn’t just post one ad, I posted several basically saying “local Atlanta photographer seeking to build portfolio for the low.” My first client booked me via my Craiglist ad for $150. I was so ecstatic, but equally anxious because it was a total stranger from the internet! I asked my best friend to accompany me to the shoot under the guise of my “assistant” in case this person wasn’t legit and for my safety. It was for a new business owner of an Italian shoe brand, and I had no clue what I was doing. All I knew was act to act professional and with confidence. I was still shooting on auto with a Canon Rebel T3! Listen, you do not need the latest gear to start accepting clients and earning money. Use what you have and as your business grows you grow and upgrade with it. So many budding photographers get wrapped up in what gear they have when it’s more about skill, customer service and hustle. At the end of that photoshoot I knew this was the path for me. Those shots were posted as an ad to The Shaderoom a year later, and even though the audience had no idea who shot them, I sure did! I was absolutely elated to see how many people were viewing my work without even realizing it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always been into photography and cameras since I was in middle school. I didn’t take it seriously until I had the worst corporate experience ever which really pushed me to take photography serious. I just knew that I would do almost anything to leave that job, but I had expenses. The position just took up to much of my time so I needed to figure out a way to make a full time income, with half the time so I could go out and shoot to build my portfolio. I got a part time serving gig which I would work after my full time job on the weekends. My schedule would be Monday through Friday 8-5pm, then 6-10pm work at the restaurant Thursday through Sunday. Once I saw how much money I was making at the restaurant, I knew I would be able to quit my full time job and sustain myself with just my restaurant gig. So I took a leap of faith.

I provide my clients with fun, creative photoshoot sessions for their businesses and personal brands. I bring their visions to life or they give me the creative freedom to create on my own as long as I stay within their brand message. I soothe my client’s nerves when it comes to camera shyness, as not everyone I work with is a professional model. I love making my sets a comfortable safe space for everyone involved. I provide full session packages by the hour as well as what I call Content Sessions. Content sessions fulfill my client’s needs to keep up with their social media content without having to book a full session shoot. This is a great option for those who still want to work with me on a smaller budget.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

In order to fund my business, I worked. I worked a lot. I worked a full time job plus a part time gig for 9 months. I bought my first camera, a Canon Rebel T3 on Easy Pay from QVC.com. Back then, Easy Pay was the equivalent to Afterpay now. This allowed me to afford my camera without pulling a credit report. Life hack, QVC still offers this option and they have an assortment of cameras and equipment still available. This got me started. As I took on more photoshoots, I earned money that allowed me to upgrade my equipment.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

My mentor has been trying to get me into NFT’s as he’s had major success with selling his photographs. But I still do not full understand them yet. Once I do, I’ll make sure I mint my first collection!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bernicecierra.com
• Instagram: @bernice.cierra

Image Credits
Bernice Cierra