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

John, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission as a photographer is to tell other people’s stories and often this means promoting other businesses. I really try to capture the true essence of my subjects, especially those who may feel uncomfortable or insecure in front of the camera. I often encounter clients who express discouraging thoughts about their appearance before a shoot. It’s common to hear, “I hate having my photo taken” or “I never look good in pictures.” My goal is to change that narrative by creating a relaxed and enjoyable environment where everyone can feel comfortable and confident. This really helps them get into their own groove and project themselves as positively as possible for their business.

I do this by using humor and empathy. Over the years I have developed techniques to bring out a natural smile. It’s super rewarding to see someone transform from being camera-shy to genuinely enjoying the photo session. This ability to connect with people and help them feel at ease is what I love most about my work, especially seeing that I am a huge introvert myself.

Another significant aspect of my mission is my longstanding relationship with the University of Rochester Children’s Hospital. For the past ten years, I’ve had the privilege of taking portraits for the hospital’s Miracle Kids program. This work is incredibly meaningful to me. It’s not just about capturing a moment; it’s about telling the powerful stories of resilient children, their families, and the dedicated medical staff who support them.

Each portrait session at the hospital is such a humbling experience. I could only hope to have a fraction of the strength and courage these children and their families exhibit. This work has become a huge part of my mission.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Background: I’m John Schlia, a Rochester-based photographer. My journey into photography began during my childhood when we had a darkroom in our basement, I was always down there playing in the chemicals (which probably explains a lot). In college I studied photography at an art school and I joke that I learned to tell a good story but not take a good photo. After graduation, my career path took a few turns before I settled in to owning my own business. Initially, I worked as a middle school art teacher, but when they closed one of the schools in the district I found myself faced with the path of continuing to work for others or pursue my business full time. I have not once regretted my decision.

Products/Services/Creative Works: I specialize in portraits and events. My goal is to make each client feel comfortable and look their best, whether it’s capturing a charity gala, creating professional headshots, or immortalizing family moments.

What Sets Me Apart: What sets me apart is my ability to read my audience and adapt to their needs. I bring a fun, laid-back vibe to my shoots, which helps even the most camera-shy individuals feel comfortable.

Proudest Achievements: I’m incredibly proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients. Being invited into their lives to capture important moments is an honor I don’t take lightly. I’ve photographed over 200 weddings and countless other events, always aiming to deliver images that my clients will cherish for years. Another fun fact is that I’ve consumed an estimated 1,961,228 Oreos, which might just be my greatest achievement!

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

My career as a photographer initially flourished in the wedding industry. Weddings were my bread and butter for many years. I loved the joy and excitement of capturing such significant moments in my clients’ lives. However, during the pandemic when we were constantly with our families, I realized that wedding photography no longer aligned with how I wanted my life to look. Weddings were fun and my couples were always happy but I found that they wiped out my weekends and left me with little time for anything else. I had missed out on a lot of memory building with my kids.

Now I operate during core business hours (with a few nights and shorter weekends) and I get to take my daughter to ballet practice, hang out with my son, or go on last minute trips with my family. As much as I loved being part of other people’s families, the pandemic reminded me that my family comes first.

Pivoting to focus on portraits was a smart move for my business. I’ve been successful in niching down and my business has grown. It has allowed me to focus on my B2B clients and network more, but remember that I am an introvert.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I would say either my intuition or my customer service.

One of my favorite reviews says “John has an uncanny ability to photograph everything you want, without you even telling him.” And this was early on in my career. I pride myself in just figuring things out, whether it is how something works or what somebody needs. I can assess what the important parts of an event are focus on those and roll with the punches if the timeline ends up in chaos. Now that I am 20 years into my career, I have seen almost everything.

If I had to speak to my customer service, it would echo what I have said before about making people feel at ease. A lot of my B2B work has some overlap and I see the same people in different circles. Here’s an example. My wife is a fundraiser and that has taught me the value of personal connections and stewardship. When I am at a gala and see donors that I know from working with their business, I can talk to them on two levels: about the charity that they value and their business. This really helps my gala client look good.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://johnschlia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnschliaphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnSchliaPhotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnschliaphotography/

Image Credits

all images by me, John Schlia