We were lucky to catch up with Deanna Port recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Deanna, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

From where my business started which was honestly just a highschool dream to where I am today is completely euphoric! I think that because of the world we live in today we feel so desperate for the likes, the comments and the followers. If we don’t get those increasing numbers, if we don’t go viral, we feel like we aren’t good enough. (Don’t get me wrong those number are great but they aren’t everything.) I felt that so much in the beginning of my career! I have had so many up and downs, feeling like I don’t know what I’m doing, feeling like a complete failure. There have been so many times when I felt like throwing in the towel because I wasn’t where I wanted to be. Here’s the thing we all glow up, if we don’t give up!

I started photography in highschool and I completely fell in love with in but I didn’t know what I was doing. I have always loved the arts and being creative, so the moment I picked up that camera I decided that I could do anything. However, due to how I grew up I became a very hard person, I was very defensive and those walls were up so high, I did everything myself. I had this arrogance and I didn’t need help I knew everything. I thought I was the BEST! I got into college and I got the shock of a lifetime when I realized I knew NOTHING. I didn’t know how to use my camera, I didn’t know what ISO, aperture, or shutter truly did. I didn’t know a crop-sensor from a full-frame. I was booking gigs but I kept my camera on Program mode (one step above Auto) I felt like a fraud.

I became a part of a group of local photographers, we’d put on events and shoot together. I was pretty closed off and I kinda would keep to myself, I didn’t want to “share” my ideas, locations or anything. I was a snob.
I went to shoot a wedding, I invited a friend from that group with me and they could use the images for their portfolio. When we shared our galleries with each other my heart broke. I looked at the other photographers work and I was taken aback because my work just wasn’t there and it’s because I shut myself out I did it to myself. I thought about truly quitting at that moment. The client wanted that gallery over my own and I could see why. After that session I did something for the first time, I humbled myself and I asked for help. I started reaching out and asking questions, I watched youtube videos and I read books! It wasn’t that I didn’t have a talent for it, it was that I wasn’t open minded in learning more.

The moment I became community over competition I grew. Not just as a person but also within my passion! I was all about teaching, sharing and helping others. When I started making these changes, honestly my whole life changed! We moved a year later and went from a college town to this big city! I thought again, I’d have to start over, should I even bother? Should I just quit? NO! Do what you love! I made for a big push of meeting vendors, setting up events, chatting with other photographers, sharing and working to grow my business. I still am not viral, I still don’t have those numbers and here’s what I’ve learned. You don’t need them to have a successful business! This is my full time job, it pays for everything we need and I still get to do what I love.

Deanna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After dipping my toes in photography throughout high school, I experimented with sessions and styles, and the romantic side of me found my passion in couples and weddings, so for the past seven years that is what I have devoted my business too! Though I do love a good portrait session and I am always up for trying just about anything.

I’m not naturally an extrovert but the moment I am in the zone, I am your best friend, your hype woman and the person who will (kindly) herd your family and friends for photos. Making your day as smooth and exciting as possible is one of my biggest goals, you only get to do this once and I want you to truly enjoy it. I strive to give everyone the best experience possible, with 10 years of experience, the ultimate wedding guide, the emergency everything kit and so much more!

I am the type of person that truly wants to give each couple images that are the epitome of their relationship, totally, 100% YOU. I am creative, nerdy and all about putting your passions into what’s captured.

I have been featured on Green Wedding Shoes (x2), Utah Valley Bride and in The Post Tribune, Ever + After Magazine (the cover!), Top 20 in the Shoot and Share Contest, The Best of Show at the Tennessee Valley Fair, and a few other smaller magazines.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love every aspect of my job! From seeing two people completely in love to each wedding gown I get to photograph. Every day is something new and exciting. I am working with another amazing couple with a totally different vibe, vision and crowd! I get to be creative with new locations, bridal parties, decor and everything in between. Even if I’ve done a venue before I treat each wedding as its own! You can shoot something a million times but how you shoot it will always be different. I can do the same pose but the shot on a different day will never look exactly the same. I get to create and I get to give! That is literally the best part! What I do means SO MUCH to two very special people and they get to share it with everyone, forever!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Words of mouth for sure! When people are impressed with my work and then share that with their friends and family it’s the BEST. People will say you did such an amazing job at “Jane + Johns” wedding you have to be apart of ours! There is just something about people seeing and knowing that you can be trusted to capture one of the biggest events in people’s lives!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deannapaigephoto.com
• Instagram: @deannapaigephoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/deannapaigephoto
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCJMdYXiBX6y3DCFVj8awIiA/
• Other: TikTok: @deannapaigephoto