We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Diandra Brooks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Diandra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Back in 2020, I opened my business, Photos by Diandra LLC. My first clients were my graduates! When the pandemic hit high school and college graduations were no longer an option, unfortunately. With this in mind, I started marketing sessions called “Cap + Gown” shoots for locals in the Northern Colorado area being impacted by this. From there I started to hear from a few people in the community who wanted to take portraits with me to celebrate their huge accomplishments. It was really exciting! A lot of my first clients were from word-of-mouth referrals which meant so much! However, I would not have been able to take on my first clients without thanking and acknowledging my family and friends that truly believed in me and supported me from day one. Their support was monumental for me and the growth of Photos by Diandra.”

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

For as long as I can remember I have always had a great passion for photography. I dreamed of working with National Geographic someday and would admire the creative, colorful, and breathtaking work they published in each issue. When I was a kid I got my first point and shoot camera and I soon became obsessed with taking nature and landscape photography. Growing up I would enter my photography into the local Weld County Fair each summer. I loved seeing all the other amazing photographers and hearing the critiques from the judges- it was always a highlight of each summer. After many photoshoots for fun with friends and family, my passion of mine turned into a dream job- wedding photographer.
Currently, I am a Northern Colorado based wedding and portrait photographer. I absolutely love capturing weddings, couples, engagements, and even senior portrait photography! I love capturing life’s sweetest moments with my amazing clients. This job is truly a gift and I am so beyond grateful to all those that support this business of mine.

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

The best source of new clients for me has always been client referrals! Word of mouth referrals from past clients are truly the best and help to bring in new clients for me all the time. When my past clients refer me to their friends and family and tell them about their experience they had with me really does help spread the word about my small business. I am always so grateful when my clients refer me to their loved ones.

Another great source of new clients can also be in person networking events and utilizing social media. Something I try to do each year is attend entrepreneurial networking events for fellow women in business. Some of my favorite experiential networking events are hosted by a local Northern Colorado women run group called Gather & Collab. Attending their events has led me to meet fellow amazing entrepreneurs in the community and a whole new side of clientele. Networking is truly such a wonderful tool!

Utilizing social media is great way too to source in new clients. Currently, reels and local hashtags are a significant way to reach your target audience.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Over the years, I have put in a lot of work when it comes to my business social media pages. I have built an audience through Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and now newly TikTok for my business. When I first began, I started an Instagram page for my business and then shortly after a Facebook. How I have built my audience would be through my consistency and authenticity. I try to post my current work at least one to two times a week on my Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest pages. This consistency has helped to attract and maintain my current audience. On top of that, I also try to be my truest and most authentic self on my socials. I do this by trying to share my real life through my social media stories whether that be what my day to day looks like, behind the scenes from my sessions, or even how I am planning my own wedding. Connection is key and posting on stories is a great way to do that. I always try to relate to my followers and I truly think showing your true self is the best way. My advice for those trying to build an audience would be to start being consistent on social media. Start posting one to three times a week and share your work that identifies with your target audience. Short form media is the hype right now, so I would suggest in creating Reels on Instagram and videos on TikTok! My last tip would be to share your face on your social media pages all the time. The best way to build brand trust is by showing your clientele who you are as the owner!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.photosbydiandra.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosbydiandra/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosbydiandra
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/photosbydiandra/

Image Credits
Leah Van Note Photography