We recently connected with Holly Russell and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Holly, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

It is so important to stay in your lane, and focus on your own personal business objectives. Comparison can easily throw you off track and confuse your direction. You should be competing only with yourself, and challenge yourself to constantly be growing in your business/craft. For me personally, I was so nervous about starting a photography business because of how saturated the market already was. There are many who also struggle with this, but it doesn’t necessarily hinder your success. That is a choice. To distinguish yourself in the market, you simply just need to be yourself, and market the traits that can act as connection points for your clients. Building trust is essential for this. Put your clients first, offer an amazing experience, and put your heart into your craft, and know your mission. When you focus on these areas of your business, success will surely follow. It may not be immediate, but it is truly the most rewarding way of offering your services. Another recommendation I have for success is to invest in education, workshops, and other resources that will help you learn from those who are highly respected in the same industry.

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

When I was a freshman in high school, I received my first “big girl” camera, and never put it down. I started taking photos with friends, and was even paid to take senior photos for some of my peers. The more I shot, the more I fell in love with photography, and could easily see it becoming a career. As time went on and I approached college, I knew I wanted to pursue starting my own business, and specializing in wedding and senior portraits was my end goal. Shortly after college in 2020, I officially started my business, and have been shooting many types of portraiture for different kinds of clients. I have taken headshots, senior photos, maternity pictures, newborn photos, family portraits, engagements, and have recently started shooting weddings. I’m starting to shift my focus more towards weddings, but also still love shooting senior portraits and families. My goal is to help celebrate my client’s most exciting moments in an authentic and joyful way. I would describe my photography style as bright and colorful, and want my client experience to match that same energy. I am a firm believer in the effectiveness of under-promising and over-delivering to ensure an absolutely incredible experience for everyone I work with. Ultimately, I want my clients to feel loved and served well. I’m most proud of the way I put people at ease, and effectively communicate throughout the booking, shooting, and gallery delivery process.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The heart of my business is to love and serve people well. Getting the chance to capture people’s most exciting and important life events is something I never take lightly. Whether a senior is graduating from high school or a couple is getting married, I see these as opportunities to serve and celebrate with my clients. I want all my clients to walk away from their time with me feeling encouraged and absolutely on top of the world. I not only want to create gorgeous images, but also a stellar client experience. People will always remember how you make them feel. You could be objectively very talented and have the most impressive work to share, but if you fail to connect with your clients or make them feel uncomfortable, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. Clients always come first. Utilizing strong communication, giving clear posing prompts, and ultimately making my clients feel special has been essential for me. This will always be what drives all other areas of my business.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Having free-reign to create in anyway you feel led. It can be both daunting and exciting when there are no rules on how you create your work, but for me it is usually the most invigorating feeling. I love being able to capture images based on the inspiration around me, and also continue growing as my experience increases. Looking back at how I have improved from an artistic and technological standpoint has been very encouraging to see. Whenever I feel stumped or uninspired, I try to prompt myself to reflect on my growth as a creative. It’s a never ending process that will only continue evolving overtime. There’s a lot less pressure when you realize there’s never a moment that you “make it” in a creative field. You should challenge yourself regularly and be wary of complacency.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hollyjeanphoto.com
• Facebook: Holly Jean Photography (https://www.facebook.com/hollyjeanphotography)