Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Scotti Dunn . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Scotti, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new firm – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?
I got my first client by happenstance actually. I went to Walmart to print out some photos of mine and I had some issues with one of the photos so I needed help. Tyrina Grey was working that day and came to my rescue!. She was helping me and we got to talking about how she liked my photos. I told her I was a photographer and gave her my card. Tyrina called a couple months later to take photos of her daughter Mia who I believe was about 3 or 4 years old at the time. It was one of the most fun photo shoots I’ve done actually. It was so stressful but so much fun!
Scotti, 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?
So I have loved photography since I was a child really! My parents got me a little camera when I was about 4 or 5 and I fell in love! Now I have my own business, RedSky Images. I had a business in 2005/2006 but I had to close down my business to raise my children. Now that my son has moved out and my daughter is almost 18, I decided to start again. I came to this decision because I feel empty when I’m not doing photography. I take landscapes, children, families, pets, births and elopements. The type of photos I love taking are candid ones! I do a few posed pictures but I love it when the clients are carefree and having fun! It makes the most beautiful photos. Memories in a click as I say! I’m most proud of……myself really. I have a lot of health problems that I push through to make sure my clients get everything that they want and deserve. I never let my clients see the pain I’m working through. I work hard for my clients and honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The source of new clients for me a down to 3 things….. 1-I have a huge decal on my back window of my car that says RedSky Images Photography and my phone number. Below that I have my Instagram decal. My Instagram decal has brought in some clients as well. 2-My fiancé and I do DoorDash sometimes and I put my card on their bags of food lol. It sounds silly but it works! 3-I will go up to people in public and introduce myself, tell them my business and hand them a card! That has brought in more business than anything. We all know word of mouth is the best advertising though!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had to pivot back in 2006 with the birth of my daughter, Skyler. I really wanted to give my two children my full attention and at the time I was building up my business Candid Memories. I realized early on I wasn’t going to be able to do both. My husband at the time and I were very young and struggling financially. I was trying to build up the business and give my children my undivided attention when I realized I couldn’t do both. It was hard because I love love LOVE doing photography. It is my passion and brings me peace and happiness, but my children gave me more happiness, so I realized I had to stop growing the business. I felt horrible about it honestly, but the joy of my children seeing me everyday when they came home to give me the biggest hugs was worth it to me. So in 2021 I met my soon to be husband and he helped me realize that it was time to start again. Without his love and support i wouldn’t be where I am now. He sees how much I struggle with my health and how much pain I’m in everyday, but I keep on trekking! No matter how much pain I’m in, when I get behind the camera lens, it all disappears! The only thing I feel is joy!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.redskyphotos.com
- Instagram: Redskyimages
- Facebook: RedSky Images