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

Rose, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I started my business in March of 2023, which sounds recent, but it was in the works for years. I met my husband back in 2013 who was a videographer for a non-profit organization, and we got married in 2015. I’ve always been in love with the idea of working in the wedding industry, but was too intimidated to start my own business. I let perfection get in the way of me taking the leap. Besides, my parent’s wanted me to get a college education, and I did too… so I got my bachelor’s degree in biology in 2018 with the idea of becoming a high school biology teacher (a huge passion of mine- I still love it and I do substitute teach every once in a while to scratch that itch). Meanwhile, my husband’s camera gear was sitting around the house (he got a job in a different field), and it was always in the back of my mind to learn how to use it, but I never had the time. At the end of 2019, I had my son, and then covid hit. It was the combination of wanting to capture the moments that were so quickly fleeting and having nothing else to do… I figured I’d start crossing things off my list of to-dos- and learning how to use a camera was on it. During the lockdown, I forced my husband to teach me how to use a camera. A year or so later, my husband gifted me with a 35mm film camera and I fell in LOVE with it… specifically the intentionality behind every shot and the fact that every moment captured is a memory. Ever since then, I’ve been wanting to capture other people’s fleeting moments. The ones that you want to remember for a lifetime. That’s why I love what I do. Transitioning from motherhood to becoming a dedicated photographer and wedding photographer, I discovered a passion for preserving candid, authentic moments. The heart of my style is preserving timeless moments and authentic connections. With every click of the shutter, my goal is to provide clients with photos that stand the test of time. I guess in hindsight, I started at the perfect time for me, but I know I would have been a lot further along if I started earlier.

Rose, 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 capture people’s timeless, authentic moments… the laughs, hugs, kisses, in the way that we see them… true to life. I love taking photos that represent real colors and real moments. My goal is to deliver a product that will stand the test of time. As a fourth-generation Californian, I’ve grown up immersed in the natural beauty of the Bay Area and it’s been an honor to use the beautiful backgrounds that California has to offer in my work! I also offer film photography and super 8 film video, which is very unique. I love the authentic, true to life feel that both of those mediums have. There is something about them that can’t be duplicated in the digital realm. I think with the rise of AI, people value authenticity (I know I do!), and that’s what I aim to provide to my clients.

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

To fund my business for the first year, I worked two jobs while being a full time stay at home mom… it was NOT easy. I worked as an executive administrator, and then took on a job as a school portrait photographer to get some extra time behind the lens. One job funded my living, and one job funded my business. I can honestly say that it was by the grace of God that I was able to do that… there’s no other logical explanation as to how that worked out for me!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I followed social media specialists and even bought a course on it and followed their advice! Show up every day and be consistent. I know that social media can be draining, I have to take breaks a lot. My mental health is more important than my social media, but here’s some advice I heard that I usually go by: “find what you can do weekly, and do one more post than your limit.” The goal is to always stretch and push myself. At the end of the day, as a business owner, nobody else is going to do it for you!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://freedmanphotoco.com
• Instagram: freedmanphotoco
• Linkedin: linkedin/rosefreedman
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@freedmanphotoco
• Yelp: Freedman Photo Co.

Image Credits

Personal Photo: Janet Sanchez at Janet Sanchez Photography
All other photos: Rose Freedman at Freedman Photo Co.