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

Brittany, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I absolutely LOVE being a business owner and the life I have been able to create being one. But, I’d be lying if I didn’t think having a “regular” job would be easier. The ideas of leaving work on a Friday and not bringing work home with you, being taken seriously as a “real” working woman, and being able to actual get work done, sounds so appealing. But after much consideration I know that I’m far happier as a business owner than if I worked at a “regular” job.

Hey y’all, I’m Brittany from Brittany Hunkin Photography based out of San Antonio, TX. I have been a photographer for close to a decade now. And throughout that decade, there has been a lot of trial and error. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 12 years and we have a beautiful and spunky 5 year old daughter together. I always knew what my why in life would be. I always knew that I wanted to find something I loved to do as a career while having the flexibility to still be a very active mom and wife.

I often think of a 9-5 and the possibility that maybe it would be physically and mentally easier. I also think that others might respect me more if I had a “regular” job. I’m sure many people think, that working from home is nice. They think I get to make my own schedule and just do whatever I want to do. And I’m sure many think that there is no way, I’m actually making money working for myself. Little do others know, that for me, running a business is exactly what I was called to do and have no idea the real reason behind why I do what I do.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love working from home, I do get to make my own schedule, and I actually do make very good money. It is though, hard staring at the pile of laundry waiting to be done, getting up to do said laundry, then tackling the dishes because those need to be done too, then realizing, you didn’t get anything done on your to do list for the day in regards to work. It’s also hard having to make a schedule on your own, coming up with your own willpower to get things done, and actually being able to execute the things you need to do. Especially when you have a destructive snack eating monster begging for another snack every 5 minutes and making messes around every corner. Even though running a business is hard, missing out on my why…would be much harder.

And THAT is the biggest reason why I LOVE being a business owner. Being able to have a passion that doubles as a money making career, all while having the flexibility to be an active mom and wife is exactly why being a business owner is far greater than having a “regular” job. At least for me. I spend far more time with my family than if I worked a 9-5. I get to be very flexible in a chaotic and fast paced world. I have a career I am passionate about. I make great money. And get to live a life that I’m so proud of.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hey y’all! Brittany here of Brittany Hunkin Photography. I am a self taught, natural light photographer, based out of San Antonio, TX. I have been a business owner, trial and erroring it now for almost a decade. I have spent a lot of time just figuring out what works and what doesn’t. My business is ever evolving and I am always searching for ways to improve my business and it’s client experience.

I thrive in women empowerment, couples, and family sessions. My clients love my sun drenched and candid work. They love the fun and easy environment I provide throughout the whole process. And they love the warmth I bring to each and every moment I have with them. My clients always tell me that I offer such a fun and energetic experience while creating amazing and beautiful artwork. I truly value each and every one of my clients, which is why I strive to create the absolute best experience for them.

My business is all about creating artwork that can be cherished for years to come, helping women see just how powerful and beautiful they are, and sharing these wonderful experiences with each and every person I come across. I have a passion for what I do that translates to my art. I love capturing love. Love for yourself, love for your partner, and love for your family. And that is what you will see throughout my artwork.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Definitely word of mouth! I remember hearing a saying years ago that went something like, “a happy customer won’t necessarily tell everyone about your great business, but an unhappy customer will be sure to tell everyone about your bad business.” An unhappy customer, on average, will tell 10 other people about how they didn’t like your business. But, how do you get people to talk about how great your business is? For me, it’s always been about going above and beyond. Talking on the phone, being open, honest, and confident. Taking the time to nurture those client relationships. It is so important to creating a happy and beautiful client experience. Then, after you’ve gone above and beyond, ask them to tell their friends. Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews. Don’t be afraid to encourage your clients to share your artwork and tag you in their post. And definitely don’t be afraid to incentivize your clients for bringing you new clients. Word of mouth has ALWAYS been the most effective strategy in growing my clientele.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Sure! I think it took a few years to really get down to the nitty gritty of my goal as a photographer. The first few years were just winging it, taking what I thought was pretty pictures and giving them to my clients. Now, my goal is so much more deep rooted. As I became more of a seasoned photographer, I realized that many people were so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Going and going and going some more. Thinking hard about how people perceived them, and trying to show off only the perfect moments of their life. After spending some time taking in the way I viewed the world around me, I started to use my artwork as a tool to show people the things I thought deserved to be in the spotlight. I want my art to show people that the not so perfect moments and the so called “flaws” we think we have are really things to be celebrated. I want my art to show people that just simply existing, is beautiful and is enough. I want my art to show people that the simple and daily things in life, are the things that are photo worthy. I want people to see my art and be encouraged to live a beautiful life the way they want to live it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brittanyhunkinphotography.com/
• Instagram: @brittanyhunkinphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittanyhunkinphotography

Image Credits
The first headshot of me laughing was photographed by Brandi Morgan Photography, but I edited it. The rest are my images.