We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Bruggeman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
One of my Facebook friends really liked the work I was posting, and decided that she wanted me as their wedding photographer. I had been working for studios and other photographers up until that point, and took on the gig. It was a magical wedding on top of the Tribune Tower. I will forever remember that first wedding day!
Rachel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Rachel Bruggeman, and I am the CEO and admin of Mandelette Photography. I started my business in 2017, after photographing weddings for around 5 years. I wanted to eventually have a luxury boutique studio, and crafted my business from the ground up with the end in mind. Flash forward 5 more years, and we have a team of 20 talented photographers and videographers. I am immensely proud of our team, and what I have built! I think of my great grandfather, who invented the Mandelette camera back in the 1920’s, and imagine how proud he, my grandpa, and my father are from heaven.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2020, I think that every person involved in the wedding industry had to pivot. I saw a need for family photography during this time, and decided to open the family branch of our business, Mandelette Families. That year, we were more profitable than all of the years prior. I don’t want to say that I am proud of this pivot; I simply saw a market where there was a need, and adapted. I am immensely grateful for our clients’ trust in that period, where we created beautiful family portraits.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
I worked a career in sales for 2 years before going full time as a wedding photographer. During this span, I was also a nanny part-time while I built our team and studio. I decided to go full-time in photography when I realized that I could work for myself and make my own hours with a larger paycheck than if I were generating that revenue for someone else. I am immensely grateful to have learned the skills of sales during that time, and for the family that allowed me to take meetings while working as a nanny.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mandelettephoto.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mandelette
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mandelettephoto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTG0FEgc27k7pjfRMUA9VFA
Image Credits
Mandelette Photography