We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paige Ivey Evatt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paige below.
Paige, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
People often say that having a business is like having a child. My husband and I discussed “our perfect family” for years, even down to the names. We thought “our perfect family” would include two boys and one girl – and in that order. After having two sons, we decided that “our perfect family” already existed, and we were “two and through”. After the birth of our second son, I stopped working as an attorney. After a few months of being a stay at home mom, my husband recognized my need for a professional and a creative outlet, so he bought my first professional camera. Months later as I was officially starting my business, I found a use for that third name. If we had a daughter, she would have been named Ivey. Instead, that’s the name of my business – Ivey Photo.
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.
My name is Paige Ivey Evatt, and I began Ivey Photo in 2019. I specialize in timeless wedding photography, luxury boudoir, and professional branding photography for women owned businesses. I am often referred to as a “Confidence Queen” and “the Friendly Photographer”, because I firmly believe that the way you make people feel and the experience they have in front of the camera is reflected in the images themselves. Making people feel comfortable having their photo taken is my secret behind great portraits. It’s not something I was ever taught but rather something that I believe comes from having a heart of service. During a wedding day or on set, I am as concerned with my clients’ comfort as I am creating imagery as I believe the two go hand in hand. My clients feel my devotion to them, because it’s genuine. While being a photographer comes with its challenges, they pale in comparison to the work I used to do as a trial attorney. I laugh because I went from helping people get divorced to documenting the beginning of their marriages, but I much prefer being on this side of things. Getting lost in someone else’s love story and getting to make art from their memories is a true dream job. I have also found a new love in the branding photography and boudoir photography that have become as much of my brand as weddings. Being able to help a woman grow in confidence is something that becomes a part of my job no matter what I do – from law to photography. Whether helping her during a boudoir photoshoot or helping her grow her brand with professional branding photography, coming alongside women in their journeys as a support system is something I don’t take lightly and a cornerstone of my brand. Whether it’s women in love, women in the boudoir, or women in the boardroom, I have a special talent for making women feel comfortable, safe, seen, and valued through the art we create together.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Consistency, authenticity, and passion. Consistency is imperative as a photographer. My clients want their photos to be consistent with my portfolio, especially for weddings. There is no do-over or re-shoot for the best day of your life. Not only do my clients know that their photos will be consistent with my portfolio but they also know that I show up as an enthusiastic part of their vendor team and am genuinely happy to be capturing their wedding day.
One of the comments I get from clients and from people I meet in person after they have followed me on social media is how my personality and demeanor is consistent in person with how I show up online. Being the same in every room in which I enter was a goal of mine when I became an entrepreneur, and I am thankful that my community sees that in me.
I feel immense passion every time I pick up my camera. Whether I am capturing a wedding, a boudoir session, or a branding project, I am naturally enthusiastic and LOVE what I do. My clients love when I laugh, squeal, and even occasionally jump with excitement over getting “the perfect shot”. That type of enthusiasm is contagious, and having FUN is mandatory. My clients know my number one rule of a photoshoot is – “If we aren’t having fun, we are doing it wrong.”
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
My past and current clients! My clients are the heartbeat of my business, and they are so good to me as a referral source. I would also encourage other photographers and entrepreneurs to remember that people are ALWAYS watching and you are your own best billboard. I have had many clients notice me at an event or a wedding for the way I interact with people – respectfully and with enthusiasm. There are many talented people who can take quality photos, but the way I interact with my clients and the way I make them feel are why so many of them come back to me as repeat clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: iveyphoto.com
- Instagram: iveyphoto.pie
- Facebook: facebook.com/iveyphoto
- Other: Weddings + Branding at iveyphoto.com Weddings + Branding Instagram @iveyphoto.pie Weddings + Branding Facebook @iveyphoto Boudoir at iveyphotostudio.com Boudoir Instagram @iveyphotostudio Boudoir Facebook facebook.com/groups/iveyphotoboudoir
Image Credits
For Personal Photo Shot by Becca Paschall, Edited by Paige Ivey Evatt (Ivey Photo)