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

Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I’m currently making a full time living from my creative work. I’m a wedding and family photographer, and absolutely love what I do. I used to be an ESL teacher and when my son was born I decided to stay home with him. After the first few months I knew I needed to do something to make a little bit of money and having always been interested in photography, I decided to jump in. I knew I needed to make a little bit of money to help out with bills, but I had no idea I could make a full time living through photography. After taking a leap of faith and jumping in wholeheartedly, the whole reason I am where I am now is because I invested in education. First education in my craft (shooting, lighting, posing, editing) and then business education (branding, sales, marketing). I also invested time in watching others behind the scenes and in free shoots. I fully believe in the power of free shoots not only to keep up with your craft and practice in a low stakes environment, but also to grow your portfolio. One of the number one pieces of advice that I would give myself looking back is to not be afraid to invest (money and time) into yourself and your business.

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?

I’m a wedding and family photographer in Louisville, KY. I love to serve clients with genuine, timeless, joyful photographs that they can look back on for years to come. I got into this business after my son was born and haven’t looked back. I love making connections with people who are in the same phase of life (newlyweds, families with littles…) and documenting their biggest moments is so rewarding. One of the things that sets me apart from others is that I love to put client experience first. I know that beautiful photographs are a huge priority for my clients (and they are for me as well) but I truly believe that if a client feels comfortable and confident in front of the camera, the beautiful images are sure to follow. My passion is in documenting the little details and candid moments that help tell your story. Of course I pose my clients as well (and trust me, you want me to. This helps give you direction and helps you feel comfortable in front of the camera when you know what you should be doing!) However, I love to catch those in-between moments. The smiles or the tears, the little looks you give to each other. A mom or a dad hugging their child on their wedding day. These are the moments I believe you won’t want to forget, and these photographs really help tell your story on these big days. A lot of my clients want the day to be all about their love for each other, and I really strive to make it as easy a process as possible so that they really can just enjoy this time together.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

As a photographer, one of the main resources that has impacted my business and my mindset has been Nathan Chanski. I’ve listened to his podcast (Passion with a Purpose) for quite awhile now and invested in his program, The Business Blueprint, at the beginning of this year. One of the first things he tells us to do in this course is to read the book Psycho-Cybernetics by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. This book has heavily influenced the way that I see myself and my business. It talks about the power of the mind and its impact on our success and happiness, and how you can train your mind to improve your self image and achieve your personal goals. I highly recommend it to any business owner!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been client experience and word of mouth. There are key clients who I have had along my journey who are consistently returning clients and refer their friends and family my way. They are the pillars of my business and I cannot thank them enough. I truly believe that a good client experience outweighs any other form of marketing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michellebordenkircherphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellebordenkircherphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093063236867

Image Credits

Michelle Bordenkircher Photography