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

Alright, Jillian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

For years, photography has been “sit, smile, pose”. Yet when we look back at photographs from decades or even centuries ago, or when we look back at photographs from our own lives, I would argue the ones that mean the most and carry the most emotion are the ones where no one was sitting, smiling, posing and, instead, just living. Most of my clients long for photos that embody who they are and the season of life they are in, but that doesn’t mean giving up smiling and posing for them comes naturally. I gently guide the session with prompts that produce movement, genuine emotion, etc, but I try to stay minimally involved and let clients simply just be. The photos where they are innately themselves mean so much more than any pretty posed photo I could dream up.

Jillian, 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?

I am a motherhood and family lifestyle photographer based in the Austin area and serve most of central Texas and the Hill Country. I have a lifestyle studio in Salado that many clients choose to use {especially during Texas summers!}, and I provide a full client closet for Mama so she doesn’t have to worry about spending extra money on an outfit for photos. It’s one of the things my clients love most. I also provide comprehensive styling assistance for my sessions so my clients never feel unsure about what to wear, and often they end up using items they already own.

I found photography in possibly the toughest, darkest season of my life. It happened by accident really, no rhyme or reason. I began my business with really no intention of it every being anything more than a very part-time side hustle, and I certainly didn’t consider myself a business owner at the time. This fall will mark two years in business, and I’ve learned most of the big lessons the way you would expect- by failing and trying again. Regardless, I’ve been blessed with a very profitable business, clients that I absolutely adore, and a creative outlet that provides me immeasurable joy.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Social media has led how new clients have found me. Instagram has been key, however, so has interacting on pages and in groups on Facebook where my ideal clients are.

A very, very close second has been word of mouth. I have many clients refer me to friends and family and often gain new clients this way, as well. Never underestimate the power of an exceptional client experience.

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

I’m not sure I can answer this as an artist or creative generically, but I’ll answer as a photographer. There is truly nothing more rewarding about what I do than providing these precious moments in time, frozen. That beautiful baby bump will disappear just as quickly as the sleepless newborn nights, and I promise you you’ll long to remember these moments long after they’ve faded. I get to capture the way your baby girl’s hand clings to yours, the way your little boy’s nose scrunches up when he laughs really hard, the exhaustion only outweighed by the love you felt when you met your babe for the first time. There’s nothing more beautiful or special than being trusted with these moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ouradventuringsoulsphotography.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ouradventuringsoulsphotography