We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Greer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Courtney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
I used to teach elementary school children. I started my career working with special needs students. I really miss working with special needs kids so I named a package after my first student ever, Sully. It gives parents the gift of time. No extra charges for extra time, they can take all the time they need. Having a child with special needs means it may take longer for them to warm up and feel comfortable, or there might be meltdowns that happen and I don’t want parents to feel stressed and rushed. I also give away a free family session to a special needs family once or twice a season. I have already met some really amazing people this way!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and that’s exactly what I did with my life. I worked in Special Education, and I loved every single second of it. I then became a Kindergarten teacher for three years. I adored the kids and families I worked with, so the decision to step away after having my son was an extremely difficult one for me. After meeting him, I knew my time would be more valuable at home with him, but it certainly was an adjustment. I one million percent do not regret staying home with my kids when they were babies. It was the right decision and led me to where I am today. I knew I wanted to do something where I could work with people, cultivate relationships, and still have time for my little family. I was currently tutoring part time, but that was just to make ends meet. I asked our family photographer about her job, and that one conversation convinced me this was something I needed to try. I took Jessica Rockowitz’s introduction to photography course, and that was the first step in my life changing for the better. I cannot believe how quickly my brand grew. I went from doing free sessions last October, to making more money than I ever did teaching, and I’m only working part time. I get to work when I feel like scheduling, and edit when the kids are asleep. I am a perfectionist, so the work/life balance is something I’m still navigating. I’m able to help out more financially with my family, and that gives me much pride. Taking a little off my husband’s plate has been so fulfilling for me.
I really think what sets me apart from other photographers is the fact that I LOVE creating relationships. My clients aren’t just a session, they are families that I get to know, I follow their lives, I capture their moments, and I make them FEEL comfortable and happy when they are in my sessions. They become friends. That’s how I was as a teacher, and it’s just part of who I am. I’m also very transparent about what I can and cannot do. I think that goes a long way with people. When/if I’m new at something, I let the client know ahead of time so they can either give me a chance, or choose someone more seasoned for the job. The importance of honesty is something my Dad has always drilled into my head, and I suppose that just stuck with me over the years.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Angel Coe, Director of Administration at FKH Partners, reached out to me asking me to photograph their firm in some candid shots and a few headshots of the new employees. I immediately told her that I have never done headshots before, but I would be willing to try it out if she was okay with that. She liked my work and said we could test it out together. Round I, I walk into this prestigious law firm, take some headshots and action shots, thinking I can totally match the background of their wall to the background of their current website’s headshots through Lightroom. I go home, quickly realize this is something I am not able to do. I email Angel and tell her I need to redo the photos because the backgrounds won’t match. She was so easy going and rounded up her troops for Round II. In the meantime, I had to purchase a GIANT roll of photography paper, speed order it to arrive on time, and the only size they had for the color I needed was TWICE the size of me. I don’t specialize in headshots so I wasn’t about to purchase a holder for the paper. I decided photography tape would do the job. So here I am again, walking into this law firm barely able to hold the door open while I hold this enormous roll of paper, feeling like a bit of an amateur. I’m also very aware that I just spent the amount of money I’m charging for this shoot on this roll of paper and tape. I’m lucky enough to know that every situation I’m in, good or bad, is a learning experience. I walk in with a positive attitude, tape that paper up on the wall of one of their conference rooms. I step back to “admire” my effort and realize it looks like a Kindergartener just cut this paper and pasted it to a wall. Feeling embarrassed and ready to get out of there, I know I still have a job to do, so I assure them, “I know this looks terrible, but trust me, we won’t get any of this in the photos, just your face, the background.” Everyone at their firm couldn’t have been kinder to me. They could have been annoyed that this was the second time I’m taking time from their busy schedules, but they weren’t. When offering suggestions, it was just that. Kind suggestions were welcomed and I never felt belittled when I knew this wasn’t my forte. The staff welcomed me and included me in their conversations as if I were part of the team. I felt at ease even though in the back of my head I felt inadequate. Just as I was about to leave, Angel, their Director of Administration popped her head into the conference room. “Hey Courtney, I have a little side business that I need photos for. Are you available tonight?” Stunned, I said yes, and the rest is history. Angel and I have had two shoots together since and we both support one another’s businesses. Something I’ve learned in life, before I started photography, if you treat people kindly and give it your all, you’re always going to come out on top. You never know what one relationship may bring to your life, so always be humble and kind.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
This is the short version. When I quit teaching, I got pregnant with my son. My husband and I were both healthy, we weren’t planning on baby number two for awhile, so we opted for some cheaper insurance because we were naive. Fast forward to a year and a half later, I was surprised but also elated that we were pregnant again. At my first doctor visit, my OBGYN says, “We have some good news, and we have some bad news. The good news is baby is looking healthy. The bad news is we found a baseball size tumor on your ovary.” My jaw dropped. Anxiety and panic set in. It turned out that it was a rare ovarian cancer. I was so blessed to find out when I did. They removed it while I was 16 weeks pregnant and I’m currently three years cancer free! Fast forward to a year after my daughter was born, and my husband went in for a random check up. After telling the doctor about some dull pain he had been having, he convinced the doctor to do an ultrasound. Later that day we get a call to come in for a CT scan because they found a spot suspicious of renal cell carcinoma, kidney cancer. My life, again, a huge ball of stress and worry. It turned out he also had cancer, had it removed, and blessed to say he’s coming up on two years of being cancer free! So, here we are and yes, we are blessed, so incredibly lucky, and I cannot thank God enough for what he has given us, but I also know that our deductible is high, and we are both getting scans and check ups, and a lot of what used to be “extra money” or money that we could save was going to Texas Oncology. I saw the burden that landed on my husband as he took the brunt of the medical bills. I could barely make enough to just make bills and groceries each month while tutoring part time. I knew I wanted to help more, but there are only so many hours in the day that you can tutor kids because they’re in school, plus the whole reason I stayed home was to BE with the kids. I was stuck. That’s when I had that conversation with Jessica Rockowitz about her job, income, and time spent with her family. I knew this was something I could be good at and make money doing it. I NEVER expected to completely fall in love with photography. I originally thought this could be a way for me to help my family and take some of the burden off my amazing husband who NEVER complains. Instead, I created a career that he now helps me with, we get to spend time together while making money and memories. I’m meeting so many wonderful people, and I can feel that I’m in flow when I’m shooting and editing. I love everything about photography and I’m so grateful God sent me in this direction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://l.instagram.com/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcourtneygreerphotography.mypixieset.com%2F&e=ATMSIMz-Dm_J9YKCB3tWAWFMIVfKCq4Cpt_3LlEdmsOWHyjF7lAp1ZL3t2rIlAGQuq3itlFHoXxh82jU7GamCK4BRBWsJfiPazAQvFc&s=1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com
Image Credits
The photos of my family, and the one of me holding the camera, are by Samantha J. Photography. All of the other photos are from me.