We recently connected with Stephanie Taylor and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

In a photography business, it is common to use your name. I didn’t want to use my own name as it wouldn’t stand out and be catchy enough to grab the attention of some clients. So I was on a mission to find a great name.

I wanted a name that is unique, elegant, beautiful, graceful, catchy, and would really stand out. My grandmother kept coming to mind. She was always my biggest fan. So I grabbed her fist name “Marilyn” and my daughters middle name “Ray” (Who is named after my grandmother and my grandfather) and put them together. I love the name and I get a ton of compliments on it. I feel it fits me. I do get called “Marilyn” often but I don’t mind it at all.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I love being a wedding photographer and I love the outdoors. So I have tried really hard to mesh the two. Blending Love and Landscapes.

I have traveled for wedding photography to many places and states. I love all things outdoors and nature. I am a big hiker, and kayaker. I love the water and breathtaking views. I have hiked some pretty amazing places and am an avid outdoor adventurer. I have kayaked 18 miles of the Colorado river, seen many sunrises on peaks, repelled cliffs, and fell in love with waterfalls. I feel the most alive while being outdoors in nature. It is so extraordinary what nature can do for the soul.

I am also passionate about photography and weddings. I will be the photographer who gets in a creek bed or who will hike to the top of a peak to get the shot of you in a wedding dress with no questions asked. I feel like my personality and the love of the outdoors thrive while at an outdoor wedding. Rather it be at an outdoor venue, on a mountain, or in front of a waterfall, I am all in.

On the wedding day, I am your cheerleader, your best friend, and your pep talk. We will get through the day .. whichever way you choose, together!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to eventually only have what I call “adventure weddings” booked. I love to be outdoors so much and am most creative when I am in that element. My goal is to show others how beautiful nature is as a backdrop for your wedding pictures. Rather the couple are experienced hikers or first timers, the joy they experience is my favorite thing to watch and catch on camera. So making the shift full time into that industry is the goal.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Honestly, I believe word of mouth has been the most effective for me. I have used several different advertising resources and spent a lot of money but it always seems to come back to that crazy saying “word of mouth”. I will get booked for a wedding and when I ask “how did you find me?” They usually come back and say I photographed a wedding for someone they knew or someone referred me to them. I have started to reward my referrals now. I want to show how thankful I am to them for sending their loved one, friend, co-worker, etc. to my business. I am truly humbled and thankful for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marilynrayphoto.com
• Instagram: @marilynrayphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/marilynrayphoto

Image Credits
Marilyn Ray Photography