We were lucky to catch up with Olivia Feldman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Olivia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. ther times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

I know I have countless failures that I’ve learned from. One of my more recent failures, and honestly, I don’t know if I’d use that word, was deleting my Instagram account. This wasn’t by accident, it was a decision that I had thought about for a long time, but ultimately it has affected my business. Oddly, even though I’m getting less clients, the work that I’m doing now with my photography feels so much more purposeful and genuine.

I’m creating for the right reasons without the worry of will the algorithm like this, and without the worry that my images are going to be used elsewhere. It’s been tough and definitely a transition and how I talk about my business. It sometimes feels like I’m not really a photographer if I don’t post to the number one photo sharing social media platform, but ultimately, I still feel good about this decision even though others probably would see it as a failure to my business.

It’s taught me to share my work so much more intentionally as well through my website or through other platforms. I actually get to write about the work I’m making and get to completely dictate how it’s shared.

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

I know my name says Olivia on the title, but everyone calls me Livvy, and I think we should start there. The way I got into photography was at my best friend’s basement during a sleepover. Her dad had a Canon camera that I couldn’t put down the entire time I was there. Finally, for my 15th birthday, I got a cheap camera as a gift, and I really haven’t stopped taking pictures since.

Portrait photography is the main focus of what I do. From senior photos to professional headshots to branding photos, I just find people to be the most interesting subject. It’s so life-giving when someone sees a photo of themselves and gets genuinely giddy, because that doesn’t happen often. With how many photos are taken nowadays with all the technology available, I’m especially proud when someone loves a professional photo of themselves because it’s priceless. It brings confidence to someone who feels they’ve been represented correctly.

Even though I went to art school to pursue photography, I knew I never wanted it to be the only thing I did. I just have too many interests, so I also have a 9-to-5 job that I love, in addition to taking photos. I think that balance has been great for me because it allows space between shoots to reset my creativity, gather new inspiration, and think of fresh ideas instead of constantly shooting.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

You get to make all the rules for what you create. We face so many restrictions, whether they’re in our heads or in real life, so it feels incredibly freeing to do what you want and put out into the world exactly what you envision. You can create things that no one ever sees, or you can create things that everyone gets to see. Being an artist and a creative really taps into the essence of free will, and I never take that for granted.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Talking to them like I would talk to a good friend. I don’t mean this in an unprofessional way, but I remember when I first started my business nine years ago, I wanted to come off as the most polished, professional version of myself. I made sure I was using the right platforms to talk to clients, and while that’s important, I really got caught up in it.

What truly helped me stay connected with clients and build brand loyalty was reaching out in the easiest way for them. Whether it was a text, a DM, or just a phone call, it didn’t always have to be over email or through a contact form. We’re real people communicating with each other, and treating it like that has made all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oliviafeldmanphotography.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-feldman-439184145/

Image Credits

Kate Robertson for the first B&W photo of myself