We were lucky to catch up with Lia Epps recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.

The first client I ever had was a student who had just graduated from high school. I was using Thumbtack to generate leads because I wasn’t sure how else to find them and she reached out to me. On the day of her shoot she was late and because it was the summer in FL, we got caught in the rain. She wanted to shoot at her house which wasn’t my preference but as photographers we make the most of what we have! I took full advantage of the greenery and anything else I could find that was textured and provided depth. To this day one of my favorite photos came from that shoot and to think it came from my first paid shoot is incredible. I’ve grown so much since then, but learning to pivot on the fly was something that I’m glad I learned early.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into photography because I didn’t see many folks who looked like me in the industry. I’d like to think I’ve always been a creative, I just didn’t know how to channel my creativity. I was working a part time job and my boss asked me to take some photos for an upcoming banquet that we were hosting at the school. It was because of this that I learned many college campuses will let you rent cameras. I took some photos and I showed them to a friend who was a photographer. I asked her for honest feedback and she told me that I might have something going for myself. I continued to rent a camera and practice to get better and to ensure this was something I wanted to pursue. Photography is not a cheap hobby or craft! I primarily shoot portraits and event photography. I believe my gift is in finding unique shots and making folks feel comfortable. I hate being photographed myself so I often try to think of what would make folks as comfortable as possible. It’s a dream of mine to get booked as a concert photographer for Fantasia or Jazmine Sullivan and get to travel or to be Issa Rae’s personal photographer. She’s a huge inspiration of mine!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think a lot of times people don’t understand why photographers charge the prices they do. “You just click buttons.” Folks don’t realize how expensive the cameras, lenses, computers, editing software, marketing costs and everything else that comes with being a business owner. Like with any other skill or craft, you are paying for that person’s expertise. In photography, you are also paying for that photographer’s style. There’s a reason you chose one photographer over another, maybe you like warmer tones over light and airy. Maybe you saw a photo that just moved you and you wanted to feel that same emotion with your photos. It’s important to understand how much work goes into a shoot, not to mention the editing. Editing can take several hours or days depending on the nature of the shoot. Time is money!

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

When I first started doing photography, I had no idea how to find clients. I had used Thumbtack from the customer side and I loved the experience so I thought, why not use it from the pro side. It was huge risk to take because I was so early on and I didn’t have a lot of money to spend but I took a bet on myself! One day, someone from the company Booksy reached out to me. I had never heard of Booksy but it seemed like a dope opportunity. I was so excited because I was still a beginner and. I didn’t think my work was that good. For the next 2-3 years I traveled all across Central FL taking pictures for their clients. I met so many people and go so many referrals. Many of my pictures are still up on their site. Sometimes you’re unaware of your own potential and talent and others see it before you do. This was a defining moment for me because it meant the work I was creating was meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: liaeppsphotography.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/liaeppsphotography?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Image Credits
Lia Epps Photography