We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rylee Hollingshead a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rylee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

As I get older, I notice that the definition of what success means to me has slowly changed over time. What used to be a measurement of money, a job, education, and how well-known I was to others, has slowly transitioned over time, to simple questions that I can say yes to. Some examples of these questions would be; Am I happy? Do I have a support system? Is my home life in check? Am I there for those around me when I am needed? Do I make others happy? Am I pleased with my accomplishments, and do I have goals and dreams that can be reached with hard work?? Am I growing and learning?

Now, to answer the question “What do I think it takes to be successful.”
As mentioned above, success is different for everyone and can be measured differently in topics such as family life, business life, educational life, and so on. As a business owner, I have experienced the struggle to become successful and have had to push through and get uncomfortable. I have found that when I am uncomfortable, I tend to grow the most. When we grow and experience new things, we can reach personal success. Not only do we need a set plan to succeed, but we also need self-perseverance, drive, and the desire to go above and beyond. If we have a CAN DO attitude, the sky is the limit.

Rylee, 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 Rylee Hollingshead and I own a photography business called; Rylee Jo Photography LLC. I have always loved taking photos and capturing fun and special moments. What started out as a hobby throughout high school and early college years, began to slowly shift over to an actual business and earning income. I love to take photos of small families, couples, portraits, and weddings! I also will do photos of other events as well. While capturing these moments and memories in a photo session, I always like to take out the stress of getting photos done. I like to watch for the little things that can change a photo such as messy hair, rolled clothes, hand placement, etc. I want my clients to get their photos back and be pleased all around with their photos. It truly is the little things that make a difference. I also like to let the parents know that it is my job to get their child’s attention, not theirs. Their job is to come camera ready and bring their best smiles!

I am very pleased to say that I am happy with the direction my business is heading. Although there is lots of growth to be made, I am progressing towards my end goals, daily! I am appreciative of my clients including current and future clients. My small business could not make the strives that it has, without their continuing help and support. I want my future clients to know that my goal is to create their dream photos. I want to capture the images that you have envisioned and I want to work together to do just that.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Building a clientele can be very difficult when you’re just starting out. I have found that word of mouth is huge. friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, friends of a friend! Getting the word out there is the first thing to do! One way to spread the news is using social media! Social media is WILD! Technology is such a big thing in our day in age and by using its tools correctly it can make a huge impact on a business! The best way for me to grow my clientele is through Instagram and Facebook! Learning their algorithms and posting my work helps get my business name out there for others to see! People want to see your work and want to know what to expect. Having social media pages and a website will do just that!

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Having a way to communicate effectively with clients is huge! Simple and easy will really help support your future clients. People want easy, they don’t want difficult! I have found that communication through social media at first, and then quickly switching over to my workflow space that will then allow for all further contact has made it clear and easy for me and my clients. We can email, send invoices, and contracts, and communicate efficiently all in one space. I want to be known for responding and contacting others in a mannerly time. Using a workspace like this allows for that to happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ryleejophotography.com
• Instagram: @Ryleejophotography
• Facebook: Rylee Jo photography

Image Credits
Credit: Rylee Jo Photography LLC