We recently connected with Rachel Stelter and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

Yes! Even if it’s not a trip somewhere, vacations (time off work) is essential to avoiding burnout. Whether it’s taking a few days off when family is in town, or taking a week or two off for summer or holiday travel, I do prioritize time off to spend with my family. The flexibility to make my own schedule is one of the things I love most about running my own business. I don’t feel bad about taking vacation time throughout the year because I know I’m working my butt off the rest of the time.

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?

I’m an LA-based wedding and portrait photographer. While I got my start doing almost exclusively weddings, my business has expanded to include newborns, families, brand photography, and other events.

Beyond capturing these life milestones, I also specialize in printed heirlooms and work 1 on 1 with clients to custom design wall art and albums. My biggest fear is that as time goes on, the digital memories will get lost in the abyss; either a hard-drive crashes or the technology on which they are saved becomes obsolete. Print is priceless; it’s a format that doesn’t become outdated. Being able to create albums and wall art for my wedding and family clients is something that completely transcends the experience of these images in digital form.

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

Creating an amazing experience. When clients LOVE working with you, they are so much more likely to refer their family and friends. There are plenty of great photographers out there, but I always try to go above and beyond to make sure my clients have a smooth and stress-free experience.

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

As a wedding and portrait photographer, it’s very rewarding being able to capture these memories for the couples and families I work with. While none of us can actually freeze time, I know when a couple or family hires me, it’s because they want to lock in these memories for ever and ever. Being able to do that for them feels like such a gift.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachelstelterphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelstelterphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelstelterphotography
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rachel-stelter-photography-los-angeles
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/rachelstelterphotography/

Image Credits
Personal photo by Nick Lie Photography. 4 to 8 photos by Rachel Stelter Photography.