We recently connected with Gabi Previtera and have shared our conversation below.

Gabi, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I were to start over today – I would have a different name for my company for sure. I couldn’t think of a name, I was asking my brother and my mom when I was putting it all together back in 2017. My mom actually came up with the name! It was fine for the time and for what I was doing (which was a lot of mini sessions and children’s portraits) but now I’ve really curated a style for my portraits and I feel the name isn’t something that reflects my work – if that makes sense. I also would have done more model calls to get my work to where it is now – I would have experimented a lot more in the art of photography as opposed to just taking pictures. Anyone can take a photo but I think it takes an artist to create and take a portrait.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got my first camera for my 21st birthday. I originally went to school to be a graphic designer and had to take a photography course. I absolutely loved it! I couldn’t afford a professional camera at the time and my parents surprised me with a beginner level camera – a Canon Rebel T3. From there, I continued college and worked at Picture People for a while, did the Disney College Program – worked on Main Street USA for a few months – then came back home to NJ to start a graphic design career all while trying to get my own business going. I worked in North East Philadelphia for almost 2 years as a production designer for a packaging company then work in NJ at a screen printing company as a graphic designer for a bit. I was doing photo sessions in my parents dining room and it was clear that I couldn’t keep doing that for multiple reasons. I started renting a small room in Pitman for my sessions then 6 month later I moved to a bigger spot in Pitman on Broadway. Then after a bit there – I decided to take it full time. I ended up staying in Pitman for about 3 years then moved to Haddonfield to an even bigger space in August of 2020. I recently moved out of there and am now located in Deptford at my largest space yet and I love it so far! I think it’s very easy to get burnt out in any field so I’m always trying and building new things to try to keep my sessions and work different. I’m currently making a fake hallway on wheels I made myself with 2×4’s and all. I’m a better photographer than I am a carpenter but it looks great so far! I think what I want anyone to know is that all photographers are different. Whether it’s our personalities, how we run our businesses, the style of our work etc. If you find someone you love to work with, continue to work with them and support them! I love seeing my repeat clients year after year and watching their families grow. I’m one of the first people their baby will meet and I have the privilege to have mom and dads trust to not only capture beautiful images of their baby but their trust to hold and work with their new little one.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Before I started my business, I was going to college full time, working two part time jobs and shooting weddings on the weekend as a second shooter. Once I graduated and got a full time job, I was able to photograph more weddings so I was almost always working. I wouldn’t have a lot fo time to myself or to spend with anyone else. I would come home during the week and it would be 6-6:30pm then I would eat dinner, hang out with my boyfriends and be in bed before 11am to get up the next day at 6am to get to Philly by 7:30am. It really was a huge grind to save up the money but was well worth it.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the main reasons I opened my own business was because of a car accident I was in in 2016. I was t-boned at a 4 way stop and sustained a multitude of injuries. I had a concussion which I never dealt with before and it was absolute hell. I couldn’t look at a tv, computer or any kind of screen for weeks without needing to throw up, I could barely walk due to the nerve and disc damage in my spine. What can you do when you can’t watch anything or move? You sleep and listen to audiobooks lol. When I was able to go back to work, I couldn’t sit for long periods of time anymore, my eyes got bloodshot constantly, I was always getting migraines.. The list goes on and on. All in all – I have brain damage, multiple damaged discs in my lower back and neck and nerve damage through out my whole body. I couldn’t do the things I loved to do anymore and that included shooting weddings. I couldn’t be on my feet for that long or have my bag of gear on my back. So, I had to change everything. I had to do something where I wasn’t witting down for 8 hours in front of a computer screen. Granted, I now sit in front of a screen but I can take my time and take as many breaks as I need. I have a sit-stand desk too which helps a lot. I’m also sitting in weird positions on the floor when working with newborns but I’m in a comfy chair for most of it. Even though I’m in front of a computer still, it’s not nearly as often as it would be if I were still a graphic designer. Now, I get to wear comfy pants to work and snuggle babies.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.EndlessSmilesPhotographySJ.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/endlesssmilesphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/endlesssmilesphotographysj
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in.gabrielle-previtera-057858133

Image Credits
Endless Smiles Photography LLC