We were lucky to catch up with Jordan Ferrer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jordan, appreciate you joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

In 2015, I had some friends who were graduating from USC who had asked me to take their graduation portraits. Photography had always been something I have been passionate about, and I first started learning my craft as a high school yearbook photographer. Taking the graduation portraits for my friends was such a great experience because I was doing something that I was so passionate in. After delivering the final photos, it hit me that I could make a career out of it. From that moment, Jordan Ferrer Photography was born, and I focused my business on weddings, events, and portrait photography.

During the first few years, most of my clients were friends-of-friends. However, once I established a strong portfolio and gained more experience, more clients started coming, and as of today, I currently shoot for about 30 clients per year.

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?

My name is Jordan Ferrer, and I am the CEO of Jordan Ferrer Photography. I specialize in weddings, events, and portrait photography.

Throughout my life, creativity has held a special place in my heart. The ability to perceive the world in unique ways has always been a profound source of inspiration for me. My journey into this passion began at the age of five when I started playing the piano. Music allowed me to express myself, infusing each piece with my emotions and interpretations.

As I grew older, my love for creativity deepened when I became a photographer for my school’s yearbook in 2007. Capturing portraits and documenting various events like sports, theater productions, proms, and graduations became my canvas for storytelling. Each photograph told a compelling tale within the confines of a rectangular frame.

Since then, my dedication and enthusiasm for this art have flourished exponentially. I continually strive to innovate and create something novel and meaningful for every client I work with.

I especially love shooting weddings. Capturing candid moments filled with emotion is truly amazing, and I believe in creating natural-looking photos that tell the unique story of each client’s wedding day. As a wedding photographer, I’m driven by a profound love for capturing the essence of each wedding in a photojournalistic style. Preserving these moments is my mission, ensuring my clients can relive their special day throughout their lives.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

As a photographer, several key factors have contributed to building my reputation within my market:

1. Consistency: Consistently delivering high-quality work is paramount. My clients have come to expect a certain level of quality, and meeting or exceeding those expectations on every project has helped build trust and a positive reputation.

2. Creativity and Style: Developing a unique and recognizable photographic style sets me apart from others in the market. A distinctive style helps clients identify my work and return for more, as they appreciate what makes my photography special.

3. Online Presence: Maintaining a strong online presence is crucial in today’s digital age. An attractive and updated website, active social media profiles, and online portfolios help potential clients find and learn more about my work.

4. Client Relationships: Excellent customer service and strong client relationships are key to building a positive reputation. Happy clients are more likely to recommend my services to others and return for future projects.

5. Continuous Learning: The photography industry is constantly evolving. Staying updated with the latest techniques, equipment, and trends ensures that I can offer the best possible service to my clients.

6. Quality Assurance: Implementing quality control measures to ensure the final product consistently meets high standards has been vital in building and maintaining my reputation.

7. Word of Mouth: Positive word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients can be the most powerful way to build a reputation. Satisfied clients often become brand advocates and recommend my services to their network.

These factors, when combined, have contributed to a strong and positive reputation in the photography market.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn was that successful entrepreneurs did everything on their own. Initially, I believed that self-sufficiency was the key to success. I thought I had to wear multiple hats, from marketing and finance to taking photos and customer service, in order to build a thriving business. However, the lesson I had to unlearn was that trying to do it all was not only unrealistic but also detrimental to my business’s growth.

The backstory to this lesson began when I first started my photography journey. I was passionate about my photography business and had a strong desire to control every aspect of it. I believed that by doing everything myself, I could maintain the highest level of quality and save money in the process. I worked long hours, took on an overwhelming workload, and often neglected self-care. I also was turning down jobs when I was not available because I thought I was the only photographer that could take photos the way I wanted them to look. As a result, I was constantly stressed and missed opportunities to grow my business along the way.

My inability to delegate and trust others was a significant bottleneck. It became clear that to grow, I needed to let go of the control and work with other professionals to help accomplish my business’s goals. This was a difficult shift for me, as it required a change in mindset and a willingness to relinquish control.

The key lesson I unlearned was that successful entrepreneurs don’t do everything on their own. Instead, they build a strong support network and delegate tasks to capable individuals. By embracing this lesson, I not only reduced my stress levels but also enabled my business to grow and thrive. It’s a crucial realization that has positively impacted my entrepreneurial journey and continues to shape my approach to business management.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jferrerphoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jferrerphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jferrerphoto
• Other: Zola Business Listing: www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-photographers/jordan-ferrer-photography

Image Credits
Jordan Ferrer Photography