We recently connected with Savannah & Greg Herr and have shared our conversation below.
Savannah & Greg, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?
Our journey definitely didn’t happen overnight. When we first started, it was just the two of us, figuring things out as we went along—learning about photography, client management, and the business side of things all at once. The truth is, the early years were full of trial and error, long days (and nights), and plenty of moments where we questioned if we were on the right path. But looking back, those tough phases were where we laid the foundation for everything that followed.
One of the key moments that helped us scale up was when we realized that our success wasn’t just about taking great photos—it was about creating a complete experience for our clients. Early on, we made a shift from simply showing up to shoot an elopement, to becoming more involved in helping plan the day. We started guiding couples through location scouting, crafting timelines, and co-creating a day that aligned with their vision. That shift made a huge difference because it took a lot of stress off our clients and gave us more control over the timing and environment, which, of course, led to better photos. This also helped us stand out from other photographers, as we were now providing a full-service, personalized experience.
Scaling up also meant diving headfirst into marketing and SEO. We learned quickly that we needed a strong online presence to reach our ideal clients. We started blogging regularly, focusing on keywords that couples were searching for when planning their elopements. It wasn’t glamorous work—lots of late-night research on SEO, figuring out how to get our website ranking higher, and writing content that was both helpful and engaging. But those efforts paid off. Over time, our website traffic increased, inquiries started coming in more steadily, and we were able to raise our prices and book the kind of elopements we truly loved.
Mistakes were also part of the learning curve. We said yes to too many projects early on, not knowing how to price ourselves correctly, and overextending our time. But every mistake helped us learn to set boundaries, refine our offerings, and focus on the work we were truly passionate about.
Scaling up wasn’t a straight path—it was full of twists and turns. But with each challenge came an opportunity to learn, adjust, and grow. By focusing on what made us unique, building strong client relationships, and investing in marketing, we were able to turn our passion into a thriving business. It wasn’t overnight, but the journey made it all the more rewarding.
Savannah & Greg, 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?
We’re a husband-and-wife team who specialize in elopement photography, but our journey into this industry wasn’t a straight path. Like a lot of people, we started with a love for photography, capturing moments in our personal lives, and slowly realized that we wanted to turn that passion into something more. What drew us into elopements, specifically, was the intimacy and authenticity that these experiences offer. There’s something incredibly special about helping couples break away from the traditional wedding model to create a day that’s uniquely theirs, focused on love, adventure, and meaningful moments.
As elopement photographers, we offer more than just photography—we help couples plan their entire day. Our services go beyond taking beautiful pictures; we work with couples to find the perfect location, craft a timeline that allows them to fully enjoy their day, and guide them on everything from lighting to logistics. We pride ourselves on creating a seamless experience that lets couples focus on enjoying their day while we take care of the details that ensure their photos (and the entire experience) are stunning and stress-free. Whether it’s hiking to a secluded mountaintop, exchanging vows in the desert, or finding hidden spots that reflect their personalities, we work hand-in-hand with our couples to co-create something truly personal and unforgettable.
One of the main problems we solve is helping couples navigate the sometimes-overwhelming world of elopement planning. Many couples come to us not knowing where to start or what’s even possible. They want an adventurous, intimate wedding but are unsure how to make it happen. That’s where we come in. We’re like a mix of photographer, guide, and planner, helping to simplify the process while making sure the day reflects everything they want. Our goal is to ensure they’re not just getting great photos, but a full experience that they’ll remember forever.
What sets us apart is our focus on connection and storytelling. We don’t just show up and snap pictures; we build relationships with our clients and take the time to understand what makes their love story unique. That connection allows us to capture their elopement in a way that feels authentic to them, and it’s something that resonates in every image we deliver.
We’re also proud of the way we’ve expanded to help other photographers through marketing and SEO. We’ve learned so much about building a business from the ground up, and now we offer services that help fellow creatives grow their own businesses. From content strategies to SEO consultations, we’re helping other photographers get found by their ideal clients and book more of the work they love.
If there’s one thing we want people to know about us, it’s that we’re deeply passionate about what we do. Our work isn’t just about taking photos—it’s about creating experiences, building connections, and telling love stories in a way that feels real and timeless. Whether we’re working with a couple or helping a fellow photographer, we pour our hearts into every aspect of what we do, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing our clientele has definitely been a strong focus on content marketing with an SEO-first approach. When we first started, we realized that having a visually appealing portfolio wasn’t enough to consistently reach our ideal clients—people needed to be able to find us online. That’s when we dove into SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and content creation, especially on our website and social media.
We began by writing blogs, guides, and location-based content that we knew couples would be searching for when planning their elopements. By targeting specific keywords, such as “best places to elope in the US” we were able to improve our website’s visibility on Google. We made sure that our website wasn’t just about pretty photos but also served as a helpful resource for couples—whether they were looking for inspiration, planning advice, or elopement tips. This strategy of blending valuable content with SEO techniques helped our site rank higher in search results, bringing more organic traffic and inquiries our way.
On social media, we used a similar approach by sharing not just our work but also helpful, informative content that resonates with engaged couples planning their wedding or elopement. This combination of educational content and stunning visuals helped us grow a loyal following and build trust with potential clients.
The results have been incredible—this strategy has brought in over 300+ leads per year from organic Google searches alone, and hundreds more from social media and other channels. By positioning ourselves as both photographers and experts in elopement planning, we’re able to attract clients who are specifically looking for a photographer with local expertise, someone who can guide them through the whole process.
Seeing how effective this strategy was for us, we now help other photographers implement content marketing and SEO in their own businesses. It’s something we’re passionate about because we know how overwhelming it can be to stand out in such a competitive field. By helping fellow photographers develop strong SEO and content plans, they can attract their ideal clients and grow their business in a sustainable way, just like we did.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building our audience on social media was definitely a journey, and it didn’t happen overnight. When we first started, we focused on showcasing our best work—beautiful elopement photos, breathtaking landscapes, and the emotional moments that define what we do. But over time, we realized that it wasn’t just about sharing pretty pictures; it was about creating meaningful content that resonated with people and built trust with our audience.
One of the most important things we did was to start telling stories. We didn’t just post an image with a short caption—we gave context to the photo, sharing the story behind the elopement, what made the day special for the couple, and the adventure that led to that particular moment. This helped us connect with our audience on a deeper level and allowed potential clients to envision their own day with us.
We also started focusing on value-driven content. Along with our photography, we shared tips on elopement planning, advice for couples, and behind-the-scenes insights into what it’s like to elope in the mountains. By offering something helpful, we positioned ourselves as not only photographers but also experts in elopement planning. This helped us grow our following with people who were genuinely interested in what we had to say, not just in the visuals.
Consistency was another key factor in building our social media presence. We made it a point to post regularly and engage with our audience—responding to comments, answering questions, and connecting with other vendors and professionals in the industry. Over time, this helped us create a community around our work rather than just a one-way feed of photos.
One piece of advice for anyone just starting to build their social media presence is to focus on authenticity and engagement. Don’t worry about having the most followers right away—focus on connecting with the right people. Be consistent, share your story, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. It’s not just about the work you do; it’s about how you connect with the people who could one day be your clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://authenticcollective.blog
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticcollectivephoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authenticcollective.blog/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elopementphotographers
