We recently connected with Denise Wilson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Denise thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

I was coming up on 15 years of owning and operating my own home daycare. I had chosen that career as a way to be with my children, while still working and providing an income for our family. I enjoyed being my own boss and took pride in building something all on my own, but it was becoming apparent that I was ready for a change. I knew the entrepreneurial spirit was strong within me, and I would still want to remain in the arena of self-employment.

I was inspired by a fellow mom at my
kids’ school who was a Family Photographer. I loved looking at her work and was so inspired by the beauty and artistry, as well as the feelings evoked by the love and joy she was capturing for families. The idea of being able to create that magic as a job lit me up and once the idea took root, there was no turning back.

I set a deadline for myself to close my daycare in one year, and work on launching my new Family Photography business.

I started researching everything from gear to posing to lighting. I had a “nice” camera but it was a crop sensor. I decided I needed to get a full frame camera. After lots of research, and with help from my super tech-savvy husband, I decided on the Canon 6D Mii with a 24-70 2.8 lens. I loved working with this set-up! My best friend and I took an in-person course on DSLR cameras and learned so much about the technical parts of the camera. That class was invaluable. YouTube was my other best friend! I totally immersed myself in hundreds of videos about everything from lighting to posing to editing, and beyond. I’ve since upgraded to a mirrorless Canon R6 Mii, but still love my old camera.

The only way to really learn family photography is to photograph families, so I offered free photo sessions to families I knew. The practice I got early-on truly laid the foundation for my business. Those first photos were obviously beginner level, but the passion I felt when I captured a family connecting with each other, laughing, touching, and just being themselves, was unmatched. I knew that creating an atmosphere where I could capture families authentically was what my business would be all about.

With technical and artistic aspects underway, I then got to work with creating a website, a brand, marketing, and getting the backend parts of the business in place. Slowly, I put together contracts, pricing, workflows, and everything else that makes a photography business run.

A year later I was so excited to close my daycare and move forward with my family photography business full time!

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.

I am a lifestyle family photographer whose passion is to capture real life families in beautiful settings. I photograph all stages of family life from maternity to newborn to high school graduates, and beyond! My focus is on creating a relaxed environment where families feel comfortable, and capturing their authentic joy, love and connection, and finally, delivering a heartwarming gallery of images for them to treasure for years come.

Once a client books, I provide guidance on how to make the most of their photography session with tips and tricks and what to expect at their session. I also guide my clients on what to wear with a unique online styling tool.

I have several locations that I have scouted and selected for their beauty and lighting. I make sure that all of my location choices will provide a gorgeous backdrop for every family.

During the session I guide them into natural poses full of love and laughter.

I pride myself on my ability to make people feel at ease, resulting in images that showcase their authentic smiles and family connection. I always want my clients to see the beauty in their unique story when they view their gallery.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

A couple of years into my journey, I started using a CRM. This was a game-changer that I wish I had started using from day one! The seamless experience it provides for the client makes such a difference in professionalism. I know that they are receiving all of the touch points that I intend for them to receive, without fail, since I can customize and automate them. It frees up time for me, and ensures that the entire process is smooth and consistent.

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

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is creating a gallery of photographs that touches a persons heart. A gallery that makes them see the beauty in their family or themselves that they knew was there, but that they hadn’t quite been able to capture before. Being able to achieve this and earning an income doing it is quite literally a dream come true.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.denisewilsonphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisewilsonphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisewilsonphotos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-wilson-3a7740291
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/denise-wilson-photography-concord