We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Schaelynne DeHaan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Schaelynne below.

Schaelynne, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

I think my photography journey started at the perfect time. When I was 20 I decided to move to Australia for a year where my love for traveling started. When I came home, I googled jobs that allowed me to travel and of course one of the first things that popped up was a flight attendant. That same day I applied to three different airlines, within a month I had my first interview. I was 22 when I became a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines. I had SO much fun, I was always on the go. One week I would be in Hawaii, the next I could be covered in layers in Alaska. When I became a mom, my priorities obvviously shifted, as much as I loved my time sipping mai tais on the beach in Hawaii, I longed to find a career that meant I could be home more. Thats when the idea of starting up my photography business started again, and I really feel that the passion I felt to pursue yet another dream career came at a perfect time in my life. I truly feel blessed two have lived out two amazing careers. I still work as a flight attendant but rarely fly anymore. My dream for a couple years from now when my kids are out of their toddler years, is to combine my love for travel and photography. I would love to market myself solely as a destination photographer.

Schaelynne, 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?

I first fell in love with photography at a young age. My parents were constantly dropping off disposable cameras to get developed for me. I think I was 8 when they bought me first nice point and shoot camera. I loved capturing love, laughter, and some of the best moments of my life and then taping them ALL to my walls (I mean literally, I had like 500+ photos covering my walls, it drove my parents crazy). When I was in highschool I joined Yearbook and for the next few years photographed the sports teams, plays, any school activities, and putting together fun shoot ideas for the senior suprilatives. It was the first time I had access to a DSLR camera and different lenses, my teacher would let me take them home and thats when I started to get paid for my work. My teachers would pay me $100 to take their family photos, or I would charge $50 to take others senior pictures. I photographed my first wedding at 18 for a whole $300. Over the next few years I would take some paying jobs but I became a flight attendant in my early 20’s and that took over for a while. It wasnt until I was a mom with my second kid that I decided to take start it back up. My husband was getting out of the military and it felt like a good time to be able to invest in myself again. I remember asking my husband if we could take the plunge into buying a new camera and lens. I was so nervous I was going to be wasting our money. I want to teach my kids to chase after their dreams, and I used that as my driving force to start my business. I photographed anyone who would say yes. For six months I stayed up late creating my website, editing, reading anything and everything that would help me as a photographer, and I did SO many free shoots. I had hoped my business would be able to bring in a couple hundred dollars a month to help the transition as he processed out of the military. Within 18 months my business had started earning 6 figures for our family. When I was in the thick of starting my business and wondering if I was good enough, or if it would be worth it, I am so thankful I didnt give up. Not only am I able to do something I am passionate about, but it also has provided for my family for the last few years.

How did you build your audience on social media?

This is actually something I am very passionate about sharing with new photographers. There are a LOT of San Diego wedding photographers. I knew I was going to have to be strategic when marketing myself amongst everyone else. I reached out to all my coupled up friends and their friends who were around 26-30, and asked if I could do a photoshoot of them in exchange for the images. The only thing I asked is that they 1. leave me a review and 2. if they post the photos to tag me in them. I’m 99% sure that every free shoot that I did, helped me book a paid job. Instagram is great for photographers in that I get to sit on someones page for free! When a friend of theirs just got engaged and needed a photographer, they could scroll to the images I took, find me tagged, and reach out! Although doing so many free sessions in the beginning was exhausting, I truly believe thats what helped kick start my business.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think from a young age I was drawn to the emotion and memories that photos hold. I think I taped all the photos to my walls because it brought back some of my favorite memories to life. I love that I get to do that for other people. My favorite images are those organic in between moments that dont need direction. Its the brides mom tearing up as she helps zip her daughters dress up, or grandma kissing the grooms hand during family photos, or celebrating with your bridal party right after ceremony. Getting to be there and capture those connections for my couples, its overwhelming how much joy it brings. I would say second to that is simply the fact that I get to be apart of one best days of peoples lives. Ive shot well over 100 weddings, and theres not a wedding that goes by that I still dont cry at. Every single couple is so unique, and theres always one or multiple parts of their day that fills my cup. Whether it be hearing their vows to each other, parent dances (being a mom of three, this is usually what gets me), listening to speeches, or just getting to be a part of the dance party at the end of the night.

Contact Info:

• Website: dehaanphoto.com
• Instagram: dehaanphoto

Image Credits
all the images are mine except for the one of my family was taken by @laurieashleyphotography (on instagram)