We were lucky to catch up with Darcy Graf recently and have shared our conversation below.

Darcy, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Absolutely hands down I think the best investment one can make in terms of their business is to allocate both time and funds each year aimed solely at personal development. At the end of the day, your business is only as good as YOU-especially if you are a small business owner. Each year, I prioritize workshops, classes, seminars and retreats that help me grow as a person, entrepreneur and artist. Growth is so critical and with technologies, consumer behaviors and trends changing constantly, it is so important to be able to not only adapt to change, but to anticipate it and get in front of it. I find that every single time I carve the time out of my schedule to attend a workshop or event, even if I leave with just one take-away, I have grown and it’s something I will always continue to do.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The sun on your face, quiet moments, windswept embraces, and moments that bring you to tears. All the JOY, all the LOVE, all the THINGS.

That’s what I want you to FEEL when you look back on the moments we captured together.

I’m Darcy, your storyteller. I am an emotive lifestyle family and couples photographer.

As a wife and mother, I have come to learn that THE LITTLE THINGS, THE LITTLE MOMENTS, THEY AREN’T LITTLE. They are the VERY fabric of life.

And now a bit about my journey! No path in life is linear and photography was somewhat of a curving road for me. I first picked up a film camera (my dad’s old Nikon) in high school during a photography class and I was instantly obsessed. It was so beautiful to me to be able to see things in such a different way and tell a story with nothing but an image. I also enjoyed the time I spent processing my film-anxiously awaiting the negatives and then making further adjustments based on my results.

I began offering professional photography services soon after my son was born. To me, it was the most beautiful gift to be able to freeze a moment and feel all the things you felt at that time. I absolutely LOVE working with people of all ages so I knew I was meant to photograph lifestyle portraiture.

My goal is to offer so much more than just pretty pictures. I seek to offer my clients a tremendous experience from start to finish with the end goal being photographs that make you FEEL.
As much as I enjoy the photos I’ve taken of my children, I know that one day, they will be more than memories-they will be our LEGACY. To be able to give that gift to others has brought me so much joy. Every single time I leave a photoshoot, my heart is so full of joy-for the people I am lucky enough to work with, the stories I’m able to tell. I’m beyond grateful to do work that brings me so much happiness. It truly feels like a dream.

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

Just hearing the word “pivot” brings up memories of 2020 and the beginning of Covid. Obviously, it was such a tremendously challenging time for everyone but as a small business owner, it was totally insane. The way you have done business for years is now out the door and somehow, you have to find a way to serve your clients in a meaningful way. Clearly, all event photography suffered greatly during this time but what I found was that social distancing actually required my services in different ways. Since people were not celebrating at birthday parties, it was even more important than ever to have birthday portraits done. Since travel was out of the question, maternity and newborn photos were now critical to share with family and friends. It was almost like people needed proof of life during those tough times so I saw that the need for my services was there but manifested in a different way. This is just one example of a time that pivoting was necessary but I know it won’t be the last. This is why it’s so important to me to always focus on personal growth-so that I can anticipate change and flex when it’s necessary.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I feel strongly that the backbone of a good business should be an excellent customer experience. From the moment a potential client reaches out to me, I focus on serving them in the most amazing way at every touchpoint. I ask them tons of questions to get to know them and what their needs are so that I can make sure a not only meet but exceed them. We’ve all had an experience in our life that was so amazing we had to tell all our friends about it. My goal is to provide such a great experience that my clients will become raving fans. In this way, I believe that my clientele has grown in an organic way and has brought the most amazing people my way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darcygrafphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darcygrafphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darcygrafphotography/

Image Credits
Darcy Graf Photography