We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meghan Kujawa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meghan below.
Meghan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Before I became a wedding photographer, many of my friends in LGBT+ relationships communicated that it was challenging for them to find a photographer they knew would be open to working with them. Photographers don’t often clearly state if they are inclusive, so reaching out to each vendor felt like a roll of the dice. When I first started my photography business, I knew wanted to make it as clear as possible that I am here to celebrate your love. Inclusivity is the foundation of my business. I want everyone to feel seen and loved for who they are.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I first picked up a camera in 2013, just as a fun, creative outlet. In 2019, a few of my friends were getting married and asked if I would photograph their weddings for them. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, but I have always loved weddings and thought it would be a fun challenge. I was hooked after my first one! I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, and getting to photograph people’s love stories is such an honor.
My work is specifically candid and photojournalistic as much as possible. I want to tell your story authentically, and not manufacture moments. It also allows the couples I work with, and myself, to be fully present in the moment and soak up all the joy of their wedding or elopement day. No one wants to be stressed and posing all day, and being photographed all day can feel super uncomfortable! I pride myself in creating a laidback, stress-free environment where people can truly be themselves. You should be able to look back at your wedding photos and be immediately transported to those moments and relive them over and over again.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
There are so many ways to reach new clients as a photographer these days (e.g, social media, SEO, etc.), but word of mouth is absolutely the most effective. Most of my clients are friends of past couples or referrals from other vendors. The best thing you can do to reach more clients is to fully serve the ones you already have. If someone has a positive experience working with you, they are going to tell other people about it!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The biggest lesson I have had to unlearn in this industry is that not everyone is going to like my work, and that’s okay! Starting out, it feels so hurtful when couples choose to go in a different direction, or just vibe with someone more than they do with you. Over the years I have learned to not take it personally. It’s probably for the best, anyway! The couples who choose to work with me are 100% my kind of people, and continually showing up as my authentic self is what brought them to me. I think that is a really important lesson for creatives to learn: you don’t need (or even want) everyone to like you and your work. There are people out there who are going to love you and be thrilled to work with you, and those are the people you want to work with!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foxandloon.com
- Instagram: @foxandloonphoto