We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jenna Irizarry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, thanks for joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I feel like I started my business at the perfect time in my life. While I want to initially say that I wish I started sooner, I am happy my journey began when it did.

I have always been someone who carried my camera with me everywhere I went, but I didn’t start taking my photography business seriously until my first daughter was born. I was working in education, and the thought of spending all that time away from my new baby was eating me up inside. That’s when I decided to take a leap, and see if I could try photography as a career instead of just a hobby.

Another reason it was a great time for me to start my business when I did, is my connections with the people around me. I grew up in a small town, and was in my late twenties when I started Freya Bear Photography. Most of the people I grew up with were also getting married and starting families. This made it pretty easy for me to grow my business and capture all the special things happening in the lives of people I’ve known for twenty plus years.

I love photography, and while I wish I had been doing this my whole life, I truly believe I started exactly when I was supposed to.

Jenna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Outside of being a photographer, I am a passionate wife and mother to two beautiful red headed girls. I am a lover of the outdoors and a sucker for mountains and waterfalls. You can always find me with a coffee and my camera, ready for any and all adventures.

I truly embrace these other parts of my life when it comes to my photography. I am all about the connection between you and your loved ones, and allowing that to come through in photos, you can hold on to for a life time.

When working with me for a photoshoot, my main goal is for you to walk away saying that you had a great time! I know that having your pictures taken can be stressful, and intimate, but I want you to know that I will be there for you through the entire process. From selecting outfits and locations, to posing you at your session, to helping you decide what to do with you photos.

These are memories that you are investing in, and I feel so incredibly honored to be the person you trust to capture them for you.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Most of my clients come from word of mouth, which is really the best compliment I could ever receive. I love to ensure that my clients are having a great time at their session, and I always hope they share that experience with the people their closest to.

Growing up in a small town where almost everyone knows each other, has been a great way to spread the word about my business too.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I love to check in with my clients on social media when they have big things happening in their lives. Congratulating them when they get engaged, or announce a pregnancy allows me to share my excitement for them as well as remind them I am here when their ready to capture this exciting event in their lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.freyabear.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/freyabearphotography
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/freyabearphoto