We recently connected with Gillian Becker and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gillian, thanks for joining us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

I have not hired anyone to manage my social media. My social media is something that I like to stay in control of as it is a reflection of me as an artist and moments of my daily life. I try to stay as authentic as possible I have however, found that I am no longer posting for my friends and family members but for clientele that are interested in my business as a photographer. If you want your business to grow and it’s not on a seperate account, you have to really curate yourself. Stick to your niche and don’t be embarrassed to use the algotherm to your advantage. I was actually recently hired to run somebody else’s Instagram and I really try to pay attention to social media trends while keeping the page aesthetically pleasing and engaging so that it continues to grow. Using hashtags and long descriptions in the caption is one way to do that, but also creating reels gets you more traffic to your page.

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.

I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI and recently graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design with a BFA in photography. As a child I always knew I wanted to do something within the creative arts. I had a love for every medium which is why I chose to minor in art history, but having a camera in my hand has always felt more natural than a pencil or paint brush.

Over the years I have gone from focusing on fine art photography to more commercial work. I’ve done a little bit of everything from product shoots for jewelry, headshots for models, to weddings, surprise parties, and now realty photography. So I would say my services are fairly broad. It’s early on in my career, I don’t like to say no and enjoy a challenge, if it’s something I haven’t worked with before I get excited for the new experience.

As a romantic, I enjoy seeing other weddings and what little details people have chosen to go with that I get to capture. I’ve discovered that I am overly sensitive to detail, I’m always searching for something. As much as I love seeing others in love, I’ve occasionally ran into the issue of becoming the planner/ time manager more than the photographer at weddings. If I’m taking on an event as large as a wedding I want my potential clients to know that I am there to float around in the background. To capture of course the people but the little moments, the energy, the day as a whole, not run the show. I think of myself as a lifestyle photographer. I don’t want to put anyone in staged, awkward stiff poses, but to see them vulnerable and comfortable. I have the advantage of having been signed to a modeling agency, so I know what it feels like to be in front of the camera as well as behind. Some people eat it up, some absolutely despise being photographed and that’s okay. I can work with both.

While I still take on different events I’ve found that my career is starting to shift more towards photographing interior spaces. I’ve started working for a realtor out in Muskegon, MI who owns several different vacation rental homes and I’m really enjoying this subject matter. For someone who loves symmetry, color, and decor it’s become relaxing and methodical. Moving at my own pace, being left alone with full creative freedom has become my haven. It’s also a learning experience on how to properly light objects and walls. In my last years at Kendall I spent a lot of time in a studio setting working with strobe lights, so I’m glad to be continuing that knowledge.

I’m excited to see where my career goes, I’m open to change but hoping it follows the path of interior and architectural design photography. Right now I’m working freelance and enjoying the freedom that it gives me with my clients and creativity.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Photography equipment is certainly not cheap but you have to look at it as an investment in yourself. I’ve always worked as a fulltime server throughout college to pay for my education. I’m now bartending part time and working as a freelance photographer and content creator part time. Of course the goal is to become a full time photographer but until I get more clients, having a side job helps pay for new lenses, lighting equipment, software etc. As an artist we all kind of hustle differently and thankfully I actually love my other job and creating drinks is another creative outlet for me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing the reaction of whomever is receiving my work. Of course it’s a confidence boost, but it genuinely fills me with joy knowing that I just made somebody else’s dreams come true for their wedding day, their business, event or product. Sometimes I’m not sure if I fulfilled their vision until I get their feedback and it’s always a pleasant shock when you created something better than you thought.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gg-beckerphotography.squarespace.com
• Instagram: @gillianbecker
• Linkedin: Gillian Becker
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Gillian Becker