Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessie Horning. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jessie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I consider myself very lucky to have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t me who believed in this business first, it was everyone around me. For years my friends and family would encourage me to charge for my photography, to increase my pricing and to pour my heart into it. It took 13 years of belief from those around me before I actually accepted it and started asking the right questions.

That was the first step in building out my photography business. Questioning everything. How would I need to show up to succeed? What would I need to sacrifice? What would I gain? Was that trade-off something I was okay with? What tools and resources would I need for myself and for my clients to see it as a legitimate business? How long was I willing to work at it? Would I be able to dig into the discomfort when it felt like I was failing?

Alongside that, I realized I had a hard time charging people money for something that I actually loved doing. I always saw a career as something that was supposed to be boring – something that you clocked in and out of and wanted to escape from. It took a lot of time un-learning those limiting beliefs in order for me to actually see my art and passion as a career option. A quote that helped me allow myself to not only charge for my passion, but charge enough to make a living, is, “The best thing you can do for your clients is stay in business”. I found that when I raised my prices, I took myself more seriously and was able to give more focus and energy to an excellent customer experience.

I know that I could’ve jumped into building this business earlier on, but I don’t regret how it all came together, when it all came together. If I had tried sooner, I wouldn’t have had the right answers and perspective to lay the right foundation for a successful business!

Jessie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Like many photographers that I know, I’m a millennial who fell in love with photography during the days of MySpace, Tumblr and Flickr. I was always a kid that loved to craft and photography was something that came naturally to me in my tweens. As I grew up, I always turned to photography as my outlet. The people in my life encouraged my passion by hiring me for family photos, graduation photos, and ultimately weddings!

The wedding industry actually wasn’t the direction I was planning on focusing on, but over time I found that working with couples was where I felt the most joy. As it turned out it wasn’t just about being on my feet all day and organizing chaos the way people said it would be. Wedding photography, in my experience, was about being a sister and supporter on days that can feel overwhelming and confusing.

I’m proud to say that the clients who find me now are typically looking for a wedding photography experience that honors the intricacies of their relationship without being invasive or controlling of your wedding day experience. Clients who choose to work with us are treated like family because the mission at Nettik Photography is to show up as your sister. To laugh with you, protect your memories and remind you to lean into each moment.

The best part of my brand is that it is a constant reminder of the impact we make on one another’s lives, not just for my clients but for myself.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Funny enough, it was just this year that I needed to pivot in a way you may not expect. After four and a half years of succeeding as a self-employed photographer, everything just… lost meaning. I felt a complete disconnect with the clients I was attracting. I felt a lack of interest in my craft. I just wanted to be done. I stepped back and got a “real job” for eight months. At first, the grass was greener! I was able to shut off my work brain at the end of the day. Income was stable. I didn’t feel emotionally impacted by every small interaction with a client. It was relatively challenging but relatively simple work.

But I quickly realized that I didn’t belong there. Could I make it work? Hell yeah! I could take the road most traveled all day long. And crush it! But it’s not for me. I started to miss the impact I made and all the value MY clients brought to my life. I missed that my primary role was to help capture and celebrate milestones with people. To laugh and connect with them. I missed being in control of my creative choices and energy. Missed my flexible schedule when I could chose to work as hard or as easy as I’d like based on my energy levels.

So I came back.

Let me tell you, taking a step back was not a mistake. My time in a traditional role, with a fantastic team of people taught me countless lessons. For one, it showed me that I need to lean more on our vendor community and stop seeing photography and self-employment as a lonely road. There are so many of us (mostly determined, creative, empowering women) that go through the same ride of busy and slow seasons. It also reminded that how I show up to a project can set the tone for the entire experience.

Most importantly, my time away from my business was reminder of why I chose to build my own business all those years ago. I bring a new sense of gratitude, clarity and focus to my business that I know will take it to the next level. Self-employment is NOT an easy choice, but I choose self-employment because I value my freedom and this path is the gift of freedom.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My work experience prior to launching into my business was actually in digital and social marketing, so I have so much to say on this. I’ll keep it simple: know the trends but make your own choices. Social media changes constantly. It used to be curiosity marketing – keep your product and your pricing secret so people have to ask you questions. It used to be post on social media daily – it didn’t matter what you said as long as you were consistent. It used to be Instagram TV – remember that?!

Anyway, things changed. And frankly, even when things “worked”, it is always important to be mindful of what works but even more mindful of what your ideal client is paying attention to. Maybe your ideal client isn’t on social media. In that case, none of the trends matter.

The year I launched my business, my social media was recognized by a ton of our local community and I was recognized a few times out around town. I wasn’t doing anything special, but I was posting semi-regularly and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I was posting content that I thought was entertaining. Why? I wanted to attract people like me. With my sense of humor and interests and creative vibe. That time not only connected me with the right clients, but to vendors in our community that I genuinely loved working with and that made work feel like play.

So my biggest advice on social media is to be aware of trends but to focus on connectivity and pay attention to what you enjoy consuming. Because that’s what you should create for your ideal audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nettikphotography.com/
• Instagram: nettikphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NettikPhoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-horning-75873643/