We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gaëlle Till. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gaëlle below.

Hi Gaëlle , thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I woke up one day soon after the new year 2024 and asked myself, what can you do to go back to work and earn a living with 4 kids and the last one still at home with you. I trained horses most of my life but couldn’t do it at the moment. So I had to find another way to work and do something I love at the same time. And then something came to my mind, I love taking pictures, always have and seemed to be good at it. So I said why not making it my new job, even though I was older to start, it seemed accessible for me. I looked into it and came across an IAP career college online course for professional photography. So I took it, started studying any moment I had, days and nights and passed it easily. This was my first step learning the basics and I then realized there is actually a lot to learn, it’s much more complex if you want to be great at it than most people think. But it didn’t matter, I was passionate. Then I took a few more classes, and quickly learnt a lot more advanced techniques and how to use the tools needed to become a photographer. Slowly but surely I became more confident and believed I could do it. Then when I felt ready enough, I created my LLC and took all the steps to start my own business. which I had to figure out entirely on my own doing research and it was quite a learning curve, because the amount of things to consider and take care of were overwhelming, especially for a mom of 4, as busy as it can be. Then, I obviously had to invest in some gear, I already had a decent camera but I needed lenses which are normally even more expensive than the camera itself. By the time I was ready to launch my business, it was time for us as a family to go to France for our summer trip. I was born and raised there and I still go see my family there every year. But as pleasant as that trip can be, it did delay the start of my business quite a bit. On the other hand, I took advantage of that trip to take beautiful photos to use for advertising and building my website, I also bought traditional French hats to include in my clients’ closet for photoshoots. Back in the US, I advertised for a model call and did my first photoshoot with a real sweet family, and it gave me the confidence to start taking paid clients, I realized then that I had what it took to do it successfully but also that it was not going to be easy considering a very saturated market in my area. Despite all the unknown, I went for it and today, I am working real hard establishing myself as a professional photographer in my area.

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

As a new business owner, I thrive to provide the best photography services for my clients. What matters first in my opinion is their satisfaction and it is something that is the most important to me, because these photos are their most precious memories, not mine. I aim to be different by providing a more customized experience, with carefully tailored sessions according to each of my client’s wishes and needs. I prefer work on outdoor sessions at sunset, which brings the most beautiful colors and a gorgeous golden glow to my photos. I love working with families, children and seniors graduating from high school. I also will work with the horse industry as I know horses behaviors like the back of my hand, being a horse person myself. what sets me apart mostly is my French background, I love bringing that “French Twist” to my clients, collecting as many props and hats imported directly from France that I handpicked myself, which I love because it brings a nice authentic vibe to my business. I am more on the creative side of photography, I prefer capturing more real and genuine moments that tell a story rather than studio photoshoots.

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

Creating your own business means that you start from zero, which also means you have to find your very first client and go from there. Most of the time, a photography business will start by the word of mouth, then comes social media, advertising, building a website and more. And that’s pretty much how it went for me, it’s a slow process but I always believed that if you’re serious, competent doing your job and treat your clients with professionalism and care, you will always succeed no matter what you choose to do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Starting a business later in life isn’t an easy task, especially for a mom of 4 like me. I obviously had moments of doubts and uncertainty, but I tried to avoid thinking too much about it and just kept going and do what I was supposed to do, the best I could, no matter what. I have to adjust around my family life constantly, kids have to be taken to school, picked up, go to doctor’s appointments, sometimes emergency rooms, trips, after school activities, need mommy time and so much more. I have to admit that you have to have nerves to pull through all this while trying to grow a business but I believe it’s all worth it, you just have to hang in there and enjoy the ride!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenchtwistphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560076791629

Image Credits

Photos are all taken by me