We were lucky to catch up with Erin Gabel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Thank you for having me on your platform! If I can address the elephant in the room, his name is AI. This “trend” is one that in here to stay and certainly has the photography industry both mesmerized and terrified. Many photographers wonder if this will edge them out of business because of the ability for almost anyone to manipulate photos in a way once privy to only professionals. However, some are fully embracing this new technology and incorporating it into their editing workflow and business model, getting things done faster and more efficiently. AI technology has the ability to understand your editing style, handle background swapping and removing of distractions and unwanted objects in your images effortlessly. We are still dipping our toes in the water of what this technology can do and how (if photographers choose), to use this responsibly.

Erin , 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?

“3Thirty Photo Arts” is going through exciting changes! The company is a recent re-brand from “State of the Heart Photography.” When I began my photo business in 2014, the type of photography I was focused on was newborns, babies and family. The business has since evolved into corporate headshots, events, and lifestyle photography, which still covers babies and families, but now includes so much more. One of my favorite clients to photograph are high school seniors! Photography truly is creating memories for someone. It’s often said that if you think photos are not important, wait until they are all you have left. These are the precious moments that transcend generations. When I have a family or child in front of my camera, I sometimes think that three generations from now (or more) may one day see these pictures. They are priceless and I always feel honored to do what I do.

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

I am currently in the process of pivoting in my business! It’s an exciting time. As the company grows, we are adding to the team, offering more services and putting a higher emphasis on reaching the ideal client who values photography as much as I do. In the past, most of my clients came from word-of-mouth and I grew a pretty large client base. Now that the business is changing and the economy is putting pressure on my clients, I am putting new strategies in place to reach clients through community involvement and growing 3Thirty Photo Arts’ social media presence and communicating our value to customers.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

When I began my business, I was offering free sessions to friends to build my portfolio. As I learned and grew in my skills, my customer list also grew. I have 5-star ratings on platforms such as Facebook, based on client feedback and I am thankful for this! I work hard to deliver galleries in a timely manner and edited beautifully. Consistency and communication is key and I try to make the booking, session and ordering process easy and transparent for my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.3thirtyphotoarts.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/3Thirty_Photo_Arts
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/3thirtyphotoarts

Image Credits
3Thirty Photo Arts by Erin Gabel