We were lucky to catch up with Shanna Blackburn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shanna, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I think that success looks different for everyone, and it is also very fluid depending on what season of life you are in currently. For example, when I was fresh out of college in 2012 I had huge dreams and aspirations in the field I was in, success looked like making connections, continuing my education, and always reaching for the next big “level” in my field.

That was wonderful for that season, because I was driven and hungry for success and I learned so much from all the experiences I had that would eventually push me to achieve many things in that career.

However, things change as life changes and right now, as a new mom and a business owner, success looks very different and it can even shift day to day. As a photographer, I think it is important to define success for yourself- which aligns your own personal values, photographic style, and desires for your photography business.

I think what it takes to be successful is strong work ethic, plenty of goal setting and reflection, a very firm foundation of knowledge and skills related to your current work, the willingness to learn from your mistakes, and genuine care for the people you serve and kind of experience you want to give them in your business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Shanna Blackburn and I am a wedding and family photographer based in Canton, Georgia! I live in Canton with my husband, 1 year old son, and an Australian Shepherd named Kenai. As a family we enjoy the outdoors more than just about anything- and will always choose a trip to the mountains over any other activity if given the choice.

My husband gifted me my first DSLR for our wedding present in 2018. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to be a photographer so I was thrilled with this gift! I immediately started learning and practicing as much as I could and the rest is history. I was hooked, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to make this into something I could do as a career. Ever since I began taking clients in 2019, I have continued to grow, find my personal style, and learn how to give my clients as excellent experience from start to finish as I serve them as their photographer.

One thing I really strive for is making the photography experience enjoyable and easy for my clients. I know that the process of getting pictures done can feel stressful for some people, especially if they are worried their kids won’t “behave.” I assure my clients that in my 12 years of working with children in my former field, there is nothing they can do that I can’t work with. At the end of the day, it’s their personality that the family wants to remember anyway- so let them run and play!

I pride myself on my ability to build rapport and work with just about anyone. I love making people feel at ease, feel comfortable, and giving them clear direction to help them along the way. Clients have praised my outgoing personality and ability to make people laugh and smile.

I am very proud of where my editing style has landed as I have refined it over these last few years. I pride myself in being a natural, bright, colorful, joyful and authentic photographer who aims to have the images I capture be timeless. I want my clients to be able to look at these photos for generations to come and be able to remember the moment exactly as it was.

For my past and future clients, the thing that I hope to leave them with is a sense of joy. I want to walk with them through their wedding day as a trusted friend, who was able to capture the big moments, the small moments, and everything in between. I want to capture the hugs, tears, and smiles of friends and family members who were there to celebrate their loved ones. My passion for photography runs very deep, and it is my utmost joy to share that with the people that step in front of my camera.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I love this question so much! Many of my family photography clients are return clients who I have worked with since the very beginning of my business. Some of them, I offered free or nearly free sessions to gain experience. Since they know me, know my style, and know what it is like working with me, they have booked me for their family pictures every year.

One way I keep in touch with them is sending texts when I am thinking about them- such as when I post a picture on my IG feed that I may have taken a few years or months ago. I also send past clients a bi-annual email to offer my family session time slots to them first, before I begin taking on new clients. I believe this is a way to let them know I want to take care of them first and that I value their loyalty and business. I let them know many times throughout the year and while working with them how much I appreciate their love and support of my small business.

I also think that keeping true to my style is a way to foster loyalty- because clients know exactly how their pictures will turn out as far as editing style goes, and they won’t be surprised with a new and unexpected style every year.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I have been involved in the fine arts my whole life. I have a degree in music, I am a writer, I love to draw, and now photography is a huge part of my career. The arts have impacted my life in ways I will never be able to express.

The most rewarding part about my current role as a photographer is knowing that I play a small role in preserving people’s memories forever. I recently lost my mom, who was my best friend, biggest fan, and greatest support in my life. The loss has been devastating, and the only tangible things I have left of her are photographs. There are photographs from my wedding of her helping me get into my wedding dress that truly are priceless. I recently photographed a family that included two sisters, their mom, and their grandmother. I fought back tears, knowing how much these will mean to them in the future. To play a role in a family’s legacy is the most rewarding thing I could ask for.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shannacarolphotography.com
• Instagram: @shannablackburn
• Facebook: Shanna Blackburn Photography