We recently connected with Riley Rutland and have shared our conversation below.

Riley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

I appreciate every single one of my customers. I truly believe that

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

Heyyyy I’m Riley!! I have been photographing special moments for people for over six years now. I use my passion to capture weddings, engagements, newborns, seniors, families, etc! Each photo I take is curated by love and I work hard to capture the true story behind it. My values include quality time, serving the people around me, and love for others. I believe that each session is unique because each person is different in their own way. I am most proud to say that I love my clients wholeheartedly and that I continue to grow and learn about myself through each season.

Clients impact me in more ways than they know. Some days are longer than others, but my clients support me wholeheartedly through each season of their life. It’s funny when people say that photographers support and capture the most special times in your life, but honestly being a part of my clients’ lives makes me into the person I am today.

Additionally, my faith is a huge part of my business and I pray for each and every one of my clients and future clients as well. I strive to make my clients feel loved and cared for, not just when I am capturing moments for them. This business is based on three words: authenticity, passion and devotion. My goal is to make my clients feel comfortable and I want their photos to be shown to their kids, grandkids, and so on. These one of a kind photos will tell a story.

Lastly, my brand truly reflects my clients and their story. My edits reflect the feeling of the day we took the photos. I try to not change much so that the client doesn’t feel like themselves. Each album is uniquely created to reflect the client in this moment and to be able to share for years to come.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

In the beginning of my business, it was hard to get potential clients to trust me because of my age. I started Riley Rutland Photography when I was 16 when I started taking pictures and 20 when I shot my first solo wedding. Therefore, I had to build a strong reputation in order for my business to grow. I found that it was easier to not force clients to do specific poses that made them feel uncomfortable and rather meet them in the middle. I would always get to know the client before I even picked up my camera. I quickly learned that clients respond very well to when I would be kind to them especially when it’s been a long day. I answer every question that they have without holding anything back, I show them photos when they feel awkward, I encourage them to try poses they may not have thought of, etc. Starting this business at such a young age made me mature and be able to talk to anyone and everyone that I meet. Ultimately I learned that in this market you have to be open, honest, and loving. I hope that when someone thinks of my business that I reflect these things.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is a HUGE part of a photography business because it showcases our work in a unique way. We have full control over what is posted and how we use our voice. In my small corner of highlighted work on social media, I have learned a lot. I used to make sure every post looked similar to the last, every caption was perfect, and then I would check back every five minutes to make sure the post was getting great responses. Needless to say, I have changed my thought process on social media. I believe that everyone should develop a strong social media for their business, but it does not need to be absolutely perfect. I took a course and learned that when someone looks at your instagram, the twelve images on your page should reflect your brand, business, and voice. I always believed that everything should match, but that is just not how photography works. Each image should be different, the colors should not be the exact same from every single part of a wedding day, etc. So yes, social media should be a part of your business and marketing strategies, but do not focus solely on how perfect one image should match in your feed.      

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rileyrutlandphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rileyrutlandphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rileyrutland.photography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-rutland-561742203/

Image Credits
Riley Rutland Photography LLC.