Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christine Dammann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Christine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

As a family photographer, mentor, and business owner my #1 goal is to provide an excellent client experience. It’s really easy as a business owner to put a heavy focus on the money side of running our business. I like to geek out on the numbers too. However, nothing makes me feel more fulfilled than a client giving me a glowing review and telling friends and family about their experience working with me.

A little story for you- while planning my wedding I hired a DJ a friend told me about. He charged more than we had originally budgeted for the service. After meeting him in person and hearing about the service he provides we were impressed by his organization and expertise- so we hired him. On our wedding day I was blown away with the service he provided us. He went above and beyond our expectations. Besides just playing music and announcing our introductions he noticed problems and proactively found creative solutions so we wouldn’t have to be bothered, and could enjoy our day. He was amazing and our wedding day was beautiful. 16 years later I am still so impressed when I think back to the customer service he provided us.

I want my clients to be blown away when they think about working with me. I strive to anticipate their needs before they arise. Little things make a big difference and can make their session with me easier and less stressful.

Christine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! I’m Christine. I help fun and adorable families create and savor memories. I am a lifestyle family photographer in sunny San Diego for families who live here or are visiting on vacation. I pride myself on providing a relaxed and enjoyable experience- and we capture images that feel loving and energetic.

I have loved photography since I was 7 years old. Throughout my high school and college years I always had a camera with me. [Can you believe my camera case was a sock? So weird, I know]. However, it wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I decided to start pursuing photography as a career.

I was newly married, working a 9-5 office job pushing paper. I reached out to my wedding photographer, Brant Bender, told him about my love for photography and asked for advice on DSLRs and lenses. Brant invited me out on engagement shoots to learn from him and was a kind and encouraging mentor. I learned so much from Brant and he was the person who encouraged me to start my own business.

I worked a second job on nights and weekends in order to save up for camera equipment. I spent my free time editing photos and building my own website. I dreamed of photography being my full time job.

In 2012 after 5 years of having a photography side hustle, and two babies later my husband and I made the decision that I would leave my 9-5 job and be a stay at home mom. My husband told me that when the kids started elementary school I should go back to work. The idea of returning to an office, doing a job I didn’t find fulfilling, and not having a flexible schedule sounded miserable. I decided that I would use the next few years to build up my photography business so when the kids started school I wouldn’t have to go back to a 9-5 job because my business would be making me the same amount of money or more. – AND THATS WHAT I DID!

I am proud of that accomplishment. It’s not been easy. I have invested a lot of time and money learning how to run a successful business. If you would have asked 20 year old me if I wanted to be an entrepreneur, I would have said “no thanks”. I always had the impression that owning your own business was difficult and stressful. But now that I’ve worked in the corporate world, and been a small business owner- I’d take being an entrepreneur any day of the week.

I love what I do now. I work harder and longer hours at this career, and running this business than any other job I’ve had. It’s also more fun than any job I’ve ever had. I’m fulfilled and passionate about this work. I love taking photos, but even more – I love connecting with people, taking the stress out of family photo day, leading a fun shoot where parents get to play with their kids, and a gallery of images that show a family’s love.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

In-person education. I was invited to go to a weekend retreat in 2016 but the cost turned me off. The next year I invested in the same retreat and it changed my business in all the best ways. I found community, confidence, and coaching. It is hands down the fastest way to up level your business and I wish I had invested in this type of education years sooner.

I have since attended multiple large conferences, small retreats, and masterminds. Having community and coaching is invaluable. Last year I launched my own mentoring program where I help other creatives meet their business goals. I enjoy helping people gain confidence and succeed.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The Google! I love working on my website and SEO and it’s paid off with ranking high on google. It also helps that happy clients leave 5 star reviews and potential clients can read what others have said about their experience with me. I always appreciate referrals as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.christinedammann.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinedammannphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinedammannphotography
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/christinekdammann

Image Credits
The behind the scenes shot of me photographing a family on the beach was taken by Cheyenne Morris. All other images are mine.