We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carrie O’Brien. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carrie below.
Hi Carrie , thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I have been able to earn a full time living as a creative for about 4 years now but it wasn’t always as easy as it sounds especially from the start. I started shooting weddings, life events and portraits about 11 years ago on and off, part time and on the side while either working full time jobs or as a college student with a full time job. Even though I had a lot going on in my life I always made time to practice photography, having friends model, putting my work out there online and watching tutorial videos in my free time.
As time went on and I learned more about photography I gained more confidence which resulted in attracting the right clients for me. I used the side work I was getting to create a portfolio to show future clients how I shoot and what separates me from the rest of the photographers in a saturated market. I think a really important step in the process of growth in a creative and competitive field like photography is, know your self worth and be confident in that. The best way to help potential clients believe in you and your work is to start with yourself and have the confidence to show that to others. I don’t think it’s worth cutting corners in order to speed up the process because you might miss a small but important step along the way. It’s like a wedding day for me, if you move too fast you’ll miss all the best parts.
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.
My name is Carrie and I am a wedding and portraiture photographer living in Columbus, Ohio with over 10 years of experience in the field of wielding a camera everywhere I go. I essentially grew up with a camera in my hand which helped me realize that I could stop time and preserve it forever with a single click. So naturally in the late 90’s and early 2000’s I had a lot of disposable cameras to capture every important moment and person in my life. Learning how important a photo can be for someone from a young age really helped shape my style of photography which I would describe as photojournalistic, authentic and nostalgic.
I love helping guide couples and clients into a comfortable, positive and confident headspace and atmosphere before snapping away. I find that helping the subject in front of the lens relax, have fun and just be themselves (all the while ignoring the camera’s presence) helps me ensure a candid way of shooting. I think it’s easy for photographers to get in their head a little too often and slip into a very staged way of posing your clients so I try my best to veer in the opposite direction by setting the tone that we are just here to have fun and document it.
Another way I set myself apart from the crowd is the fact that I pour my heart and soul into each person I work with. I want to understand their experience with being photographed, what side of their face do they prefer and how they want to be documented. I want to capture everyone not only how we see them but as they see themselves which fundamentally helps most people overcome their anxiety about being photographed.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative in the field of photography is having the power to help someone change their whole outlook on themselves. Giving someone the ability to see themselves the way we see them with the love and admiration others have for them really helps build self confidence. Nothing makes me happier than hearing “I didn’t know I could look this good” or “I didn’t know I was that pretty” it’s music to my ears.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I think a major resource that sometimes is either overlooked or undervalued for photographers is the power of community. I know that when I started, I was living in a new city and didn’t really know anyone let alone photographers like myself so I really had no one to ask a question to. The power of getting out there and finding your community of creatives is, in my opinion, vital. Some of the creatives I have known for only a few years are bigger and better supporters of myself and my photography journey than people I have known my whole life. Invest some real time and energy into finding those like minded individuals because chances are you will find some really cool people who may even turn into life long friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carolinerosephotography.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinerosephotography/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolineRoseOBrienphotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-o-brien-71660363/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW6o1ONNiLjsL1YcUx6QUyQ
Image Credits
Headshot by Alex Rogers, All by Caroline Rose Photography aka myself