We recently connected with Caitlin Register and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlin, appreciate you joining us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

Without my clients, I wouldn’t be where I am today! As a photographer. It is a dog eat dog world out there, so when, choosing a photographer, you really do need to connect with the person. The number one thing I wanna do for my client to go above and beyond is always to get the perfect shot, even if it means staying a little later pass the time that we’re supposed to be At a shoot!

And to name one time I had a client make me feel like the most amazing photographer in the world was when I did a photo shoot at an airport for an engagement session, I stayed a good hour past the time I was supposed to be there, but I didn’t expect any more payment, I knew the images we’re going to be outstanding! The next day, I opened up my Venmo, and saw that my client gave me double the amount of money that she owes me, and I instantly started crying and realized how special that moment was gonna mean to me. I just instantly felt like I knew that this is exactly where I was supposed to be in life.

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?

Hey there! The name is Caitlin. I am a walking rainbow, talk your ear off, loud and over the top type of girl! When you meet me you will either love me or I’m going to be a lot to handle and I’m completely OK with that!

The thing that got me into photography was my love of motocross, action sports! Originally I wanted to work for speed channel. I love dark and Gritty photography. That’s what got me into the industry. Nowadays, though I specialize in pretty much every type of editing style, you could imagine.

The thing I’m most proud of in this past year of rebuilding my photography business is me going outside of my comfort zone and doing things that I didn’t believe I could do a couple years ago. I’m a newly single mom and coming from being a stay at home mother and now into a full-time professional photographer, It has been life-changing for me and my son! I have an amazing support system that has got me through it as well.

I wake up every morning and I can’t believe this is the life I get to live never been so thankful!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A few years ago I had no job just a stay at home mom which I loved but I was really searching for something more. I was a newly single mom and I did not know how I was going to make money to make ends meet. I didn’t have the Drive or the support system that I needed to really push my photography business until this past year. It’s awesome how changing your environment can completely change your life!

Within a few months of restarting, my photography business, I came across a girl named Marcie, I met her at Dorothea Dix doing an engagement session and she let me use her backdrop that she had already set up and I just thought it was going to be a quick interaction and go about my day. Almost a year and a half later me and her are very close and I have become one of her main photographers for her amazing picnic business. She really did change my life for the better! She also opened up many doors for me to get even more clientele.

The other huge support that I’ve had in this past year and my photography business is my boyfriend, Jason Martin, he opened up my world to wedding videography, which I had never filmed anything in my life until I met him, and he pushed me to learn, and I have soared! I’ve done about 10 weddings with him, and my confidence with a camera grew each time I worked with him. He’s too beautiful souls are the reason why my business is flourishing today.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I’ve had to on learn in this business is not everyone’s going to like you or your work. As a recovering people pleaser, that was very difficult for me. I’ve had photo shoots that I thought I crushed it and then the client not super thrilled about it but I’ve learned from my mistakes and learn from constructive criticism that it’s OK to fail sometimes just get back up 10 times better.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/caitlinregisterphoto
• Facebook: Facebook.com/caitlinregisterphoto

Image Credits
Caitlin Register photo and veritas digital photography