We were lucky to catch up with Heather Mcbride recently and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have been self-employed full-time since 2020 and I wouldn’t change it for the world. While it was incredibly stressful making the decision to quit my other jobs in January of 2020 and the world shut down in March, it taught me a lot about what I am capable of and how to pivot while running a business. It also taught me that I love micro weddings and elopements and I was able to focus on that, becoming an expert on planning an elopement in Philadelphia.

I’ve been photographing weddings since 2017 so it took a few years to build up my business to go full-time, but every year it steadily increased. I’m sure there are other ways to work full-time as a photographer, but I do believe that weddings are one of the best ways because you can plan out your year and know how much income you are going to make much further out than with portrait sessions.

One of the things that set me up for success early on was diversifying my marketing. I was blogging regularly, have good SEO on my website, and was consistent with posting on social media.

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

I’ve always valued experiences and connections over things. Most times I’d rather go to dinner with someone than receive a gift. That’s why I fell in love with photography. I get to turn people’s deepest connections into art. The spontaneous hugs and unpredictable laughs always felt more meaningful to me than hundreds of posed portraits. Those are the images that look the way you remember your wedding. As a wedding and elopement photographer, I’m honored to give people the gift of their day through photos.

Forget the horror stories about feeling pulled in a million directions. My combination of candid and documentary photography gives my clients the space to breathe and be present in this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

I put my client’s comfort first because they should feel free to connect with all the people who have gathered to celebrate. The tearful laughs at private vows and knowing smiles exchanged during speeches will be the moments you want to remember most. I’ll give you space to have those moments and photograph them so you can relive them.

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

Specifically being a wedding photographer is such an intimate relationship with my clients. I am there during one of the most joy filled days of their lives and trusted to capture these big and small moments. Often times I am taking the last photograph of a loved one and I don’t take that responsibility lightly. The best part of the job is when my clients tell me how much they love the photos and how there were so many moments they didn’t even realize happened that night that they were able to see through my photography.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I heard someone say once that when you work for yourself, you are your own boss, so be the best boss you’ve ever had. So I really try to work as little as possible and enjoy the life I have created for myself. As creative entrepreneurs, we do not need to be working strict 9-5 hours so I try to work when I am feeling like it, and stop when I don’t, and I find that listening to my body creates some of my best work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heathermcbridephotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathermcbridephotography/

Image Credits

Heather McBride Photography