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

Rebecca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so one thing we think people don’t talk about nearly enough is investments – either time or money. What’s one of the best or worst investments you’ve made and what did you learned from the experience?

The best investment I’ve made for my business is subscribing to a CRM – Client Relationship Management System. There are so many options out there, many of them specific to the industry in which you’re working… and there are tons for photographers/creatives. I used spreadsheets for YEARS to organize my sessions, weddings, income, calendar, taxes… it was so much work, but I didn’t fully comprehend how a CRM could tie everything together, streamline my workflow, and keep me organized. Now I can run reports on everything from converted inquiries to income data. If anything were to ever happen to me, I have a workflow progress report for each of my clients that anyone could complete. I have templates for all my most used emails that save me SO MUCH TIME!! It’s the best $45/month I’ve ever spent, and I should have prioritized it from day one!

Rebecca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Capturing people in their best light is my JAM. I thrive on guiding people into flattering poses, lighting, and genuine emotion. I knew I wanted to be a photographer when I was just a kid… asking my parents for a film camera for Christmas when I was ten. That evolved into capturing friends’ senior photos, then photography school, then a position at a high output studio… and about 13 years ago, I started a full-time business in Colorado capturing portraits and weddings. My sister joined in as my second shooter and videographer, and my partner trained to become our drone videographer. The three of us focus on serving kind and adventurous couples and families across Colorado and beyond <3

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

This story is getting old… we’ve all heard it. COVID hit, and so many of us had to pivot in our professional lives. At Sunnybrook Photo, we took on a lot of marketing/website building work to bridge the gap – but, more importantly, we started a deep dive into videography! The world of motion video seems a simple leap from photography, but it is a whole new world!! And we love it. I like to tell clients that “photos make me smile, but video makes me cry” in all the best ways. It’s so incredibly powerful!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Oh man, the story of how I “collected funds” to be a photographer is less than ideal and certainly not a path I’d recommend traveling. For anyone who is just starting out – keep your day job, offer free sessions to build your portfolio, build an incredible online presence, and start charging what you’re worth straight out the gate!!

For me, I started with very low-budget sessions (despite having been doing photography professionally for years) because I was self-conscious and had absolutely no business skills. For over five years I undercharged for my services and it was totally unsustainable. Eventually I worked with a business coach and got myself to a better place… but I probably still undercharge for my experience/skill level.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sunnybrookphoto.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sunnybrookphtoo
• Facebook: facebook.com/sunnybrookphoto
• Youtube: youtube.com/@sunnybrookphoto

Image Credits
All images (c) Rebecca Elliot | Sunnybrook Photo