We recently connected with Faith Clark and have shared our conversation below.
Faith, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?
My hero is my mom. Cheesy, i know. But it is true. Its always been her and I my whole life. She is a single mom and has worked so hard for everything she has. She had me young, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing a college education and moving to an entire new city just to get away from a toxic small town. During that time she did everything one could in order to keep a roof over my head, food in my belly, and clothes on my back. Working late nights and bringing me to school with her when needed, nothing stopped her.
Whether she realizes or not, she has provided me the greatest role model. She has set me up for success by showing me what it means to not let anything stop me from working towards the things that mean the most to me. At the same time, she has reminded me to not lose sight of the things that keep me motivated to work so hard.
She truly is my best friend. Never once has she given up on me or told me to slow down. My biggest support and cheerleader when it comes to my photos. The first person to share my work and give it to the world to see. I would not be where I am without her.
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.
Hi! I’m Faith! I am from a small town east of Eau Claire, WI but have spent most of my life here in the Chippewa Valley. I have two cats, Maizey and Odin, who are two of the sweetest fur friends around. I have a wonderful boyfriend who I have been with for over five years now and absolutely adore.
I fell in love with photography at a very young age but only started taking it seriously the last four years. Warm and inviting pictures are my favorite, so if you love those I’m your girl! I also have a sweet spot for some grainy black and white to give photos that vintage feel.
My biggest thing when I am behind the lens is making the client feel comfortable. Getting your picture taken always feels awkward. Especially when you have to force a smile or worry about whether or not your good side is getting captured. I am here to get those candid photos so you never have to feel uptight or nervous.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Everyone sees through a camera lens differently. I used to compare my work to everyone else. Wonder why my pictures never looked like theirs. I would beat myself up and try to recreate work but it never turned out. I ended up joining a photography group where people would share their photos and ended up realizing that they all had their own style. And they are all beautiful. My work will never be like theirs because I will always see things differently and have a different editing preference. And that is okay.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Share, share, share! There’s no shame in posting so much on social media. Your work can travel far, fast. Also interaction with possible clientele is a must. Whether that’s asking a question on your post or doing a giveaway once in a while.
What I noticed that gets the most attention is being transparent, real, and relatable. We are all human and sometimes need a reminder about that. There is nothing wrong with sharing difficulties or milestones in your life!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/faithannphoto
- Facebook: Facebook.com/faithannphoto