We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Ann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.
My way of donating is a bit different than just handing someone some money and walking away. I want to be able to give back by giving an experience that will be memorable for everyone involved in the donation including myself. I don’t make it obvious that I’m donating.. I normally hear about someones story and take it upon myself to personally reach out offering a free photoshoot. For example, about 2-3 years ago a story was going around my tiny town that a young child had cancer. This child had a mother so driven to do anything it took for her Childs health that the family + friends set up so many different organizations & funds in place to help raise awareness. I caught wind of this specific individual and I wanted to be apart of making a difference. I reached out sharing my WHY I wanted to help. WHY did this story mean more to me than others? Well, I was once 14 years old critically sick and knew exactly what I would have wanted during that time of darkness.. just to feel beautiful. So my mission became to make this little girl feel like a princess in the middle of her battles. I ended up gifting (donating) this mother and daughter a mommy and me photoshoot. During the editing process I caught myself shedding a few tears because this one hit close to home for me. At that time, we didn’t know what was to come of the little girls illness. So I knew that these moments would be meaningful for a lifetime. That feeling of knowing I helped someone else feel beautiful was worth it. It was worth my free time and hours of editing to see the reactions it gave to the family + the beautiful princess herself.
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
I had toy cameras for as long as I can remember as a child. My parents bought me a REAL camera in 2015 for Christmas and thats where my “hobby” started.. I was always very interested in photos, details, and editing long before I became an actual photographer. I moved from California to Texas at the age of 19 and needed to make some more money. The minimum wage wasn’t going to cut it for me. I met a friend in Texas that saw that I had a camera + real interest in photography. She told me to join her for a wedding she had coming up so I decided heck why not? From that wedding experience I knew exactly where I belonged.. so long story short thats how it started for me. I drove to learn as much as I could from her knowledge and also reached out to a few other professionals in the Austin area. I became absolutely obsessed with all things photography and didn’t want to stop learning! I never went to school but I did join a few workshops that helped me learn some tips + tricks! 10/10 recommend joining a workshop if you want to jumpstart your photography passion!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
My cheat sheet for meeting new clients might surprise some of you…. I follow at least 20+ new instagram accounts during the week reaching out offering “model calls” to people at low cost (less than $100 to be exact). Some respond and some don’t but the ones that do get a photoshoot at a unmatchable cost. In doing this it expands my clientele to strangers and to their followers. So, when they post from there experience with me the album I normally receive about 4-6 new clients that I charge my regular prices to. It’s important to create lasting memories and relationships with new/regular clients so that they want to return.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
I keep in touch and stay active in “liking or commenting” on their social media at times. I also will send a text time to time just to check up on them. I don’t even bring up photoshoots unless they say “oh we need more photos by the way”. Staying involved and really active in making sure you appreciate them as a client.
Contact Info:
- Website: wildloversphotography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: @wildloversphotography
- Facebook: @wildloversphotography
- Other: personal page is @brittannob_
Image Credits
Wild Lovers Photography The Good Babes Cave (indoor studio photos)