Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gretchen Dunn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gretchen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
While I have always leaned into risks and taking chances, my career was an area of my life that I held back for years. I have always loved photography- I earned my BA in Cinema & Photography from Southern Illinois University. I moved to California to pursue my field. I was making the moves. But was struck with insecurity for years about making the big leap to do it full time in such a large and fast market. I waited tables and bartended for 10 years in San Diego. It was safe. But it was hard, sometimes dispiriting. It was when I had my baby daughter that I decided I wanted to be a better example for her of pursuing my dreams, believing in myself and being my own boss. I vowed to no longer work to make someone else’s dreams come true. So with the support of my family, I jumped in fully. I threw my “bartending shoes” in the trash, and went full time just at a few weeks postpartum. I was committed to never working for anyone else again. Best risk ever.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My passion is whatever your passion is. My clients hire me to capture the big things, their most important moments, their most prized areas of their lives. It’s an absolute honor to be entrusted by my clients. I’m here to document their life’s highlights- the love, weddings, babies, families, career wins and hustles.
I have been passionate about photography since I was 14 years old. As a kid, I had a darkroom in my basement and made everything into a pinhole camera. I went to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where I earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Photography. I immediately moved to San Diego, where I worked under several other photographers, before I went full-time and opened my own business in 2017. I am a certified workaholic, and wildly passionate about my work. I always see room for improvement and I am never done learning, growing and improving.
I try to stay authentic to my own style, and not get sucked into popular trends. I strive to capture real life, but slightly more dramatic. I want my clients to look back and remember how that moment felt, not just a technically accurate photograph, but the emotion behind it. I love candid shots, and genuine laughs. I meticulously edit my work sharp and moody, full of detail, and honest.
I believe what sets me apart from the rest is the experience I give to my clients. I’m often told I am their “Hype Woman,” and my passion and enthusiasm comes through so strongly during photography sessions. My clients can tell this is my dream job and I love it.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I did not sign up to be a social media presence, but it comes with the territory. I have found it’s best to not over-think and just post. I am guilty of being very critical of both my work and myself when posting on social media, but authenticity is key. My most viral posts have been reels made on the fly, showing my face and not overly planned.
I recommend following other accounts that inspire you, as well as educational accounts, specifically giving tips for driving up your audience.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I can post on social media all day, but my best marketing is word of mouth. Nearly all my clients are in some way connected to a previous client. They hear my name from a happy past client, then are excited to work with me after seeing my social media and portfolio. There’s no shortcut, just hard work, to build your reputation. So whatever you choose to do, make sure you’re truly passionate about it. People can tell if you’re just doing your job, or if you’re really living your dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gretadphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greta_d_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gretadphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretadphotography/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/greta-d-photography
Image Credits
All photographs by Greta D Photography