We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bethany Brandys a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bethany , thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I started photography when I was 18 years old. I found an old DSLR camera at a pawn shop for $25 and bought it. At first, I just did photography as a hobby and picked up the camera here and there. About 5 years later I was working a restaurant job and scheduling photography sessions every chance I had when not working at the restaurant. Finally, I was sitting there one day editing a gallery for a client and it hit me at once why I am still not doing this full-time. I drafted a two-week notice for my job and turned it in the next day. It was the biggest risk I could have made by walking away from that job to give 100 percent to my photography. Taking that risk has led me to grow my photography business and also allowed me to explore other areas of photography, like editorial and concert photography. I have been able to accomplish things in my career that I never truly thought were possible. I would not have been able to do any of those things if I had never decided to risk it all and walk away from that job to give myself to photography all the way. There has not been a day that has gone by where I have not been thrilled that I took that leap and dove head-first into my photography career.

Bethany , 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?

I am Bethany and I am a photographer located in North Carolina. I got started in photography when I was a senior in high school and all my friends were doing the 365, photo-a-day challenge. I started one with them and completed the challenge. From that, I found a love for photography. I launched myself into a photography career in my mid-twenties when I walked away from a full-time restaurant job and decided to make photography my full-time job. With doing that I was able to grow myself and even explore different areas of photography. I found editorial and concert photography during that time to go along with the lifestyle photography I was already doing. Finding these different avenues I have been able to expand my services and give more of a range of options for my clients. Being able to offer different areas of photography has allowed me to grow in my art and connect with a wide range of clients. Every time I send out a gallery to a client I am always proud of the pictures I have created for that person/people. I love creating special moments through pictures that they will be able to keep for a lifetime and always look back on them to remember those moments.

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

Honesty has been the thing that has helped me build my reputation. Being honest with clients about the services I can and cannot provide them gains a lot of respect from people. If a client wanted a certain editing style for a picture but that is not a style that I have worked in then being honest with them, even if it means losing out on a client. It goes a long way because even though I may not have that client that person will talk about my honesty with others and it can always lead to other people booking with me because they know I will always be honest with them.

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

The most rewarding thing for me is seeing people fall in love with the pictures I provide them, There is nothing more amazing than getting that “I absolutely love these pictures” text or email from a client. I love seeing a person fall in love with themselves by seeing them the way I get to see them through my lens.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://moonlightphotography.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_moon.light_photography_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/picturesbymoonlightphotography

Image Credits

Pictures by Bethany Brandys