We were lucky to catch up with Sydney Scott recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sydney, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Growing your own business comes with a lot of risks in itself. However, the most significant for myself so far has been making the leap from “whenever I have time to do it,” to full time and making it my priority. I’ve always had a job where I was paid bi-weekly and consistently. Photography can definitely have its waves of income based on the need for the seasons! So, it was honestly a pretty big, scary risk that came with a good bit of change. I had to make sure I woke up every morning with a productive mindset, worked hard on my networking, was expanding my portfolio and jumping at opportunities when they came. As a result, I am 100% confident in my choice to take the risk of making photography my priority. It has been so fulfilling to see my own growth as a photographer and all the cool travel opportunities I’ve been given! If you’re debating on whether or not to take that risk… DO IT!
Sydney, 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?
Growing up, I was a competitive gymnast, a musician, and a worship leader. Photography was never really a desire or something I was drawn to. I used to work at Chick-fil-A and picked up shifts as a server/bartender when I could to pay the bills.
In 2019, I decided to buy a camera off of Facebook Marketplace. It was a Canon 4000D. I joined a friend at a wedding she was photographing and I thought to myself “Wow, I actually really enjoy this.” So, I did a lot of research, offered a lot of free sessions to get practice in, and before I knew it, things took off. I started booking actual jobs and paid sessions, built a website, created a social media and, ever since, have grown into something so amazing.
My photography journey started with weddings, families, and graduation portraits. Now, I am expanding my skills to the fitness world, as I graduated from College of Charleston with my Bachelor’s in Exercise Science. In addition, I have started to grow a passion for branding and social media content creation! That term “The world is your oyster” definitely describes my journey!
What I believe sets me apart from others is my “why” behind my brand. From the very start, I knew I wanted to serve others who may not have the funds for portrait photographers, but still deserve quality images. I always want to do my best when it comes to fitting into client’s budgets!
What I’m most proud of, and what I want my current and potential clients to know about me and my work, is that inclusivity is #1 and anyone and everyone are welcome in front of my camera! As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I find inclusivity a huge priority! Another part of my brand I am super proud of is how I continue to maintain a relationship with my clients even after their sessions. One of my favorite aspects of portrait photography is meeting all types of new clients and forming a great bond through the process. Hearing clients say, “I trust Sydney” elicits a feeling I can’t even describe!
Now, I literally get to travel the world! Traveling to places like Las Vegas, Arizona, Boston, and even the Dominican Republic! Cheers to continued growth and traveling to clients around the world!
How did you build your audience on social media?
Building my social media audience is still a work in progress. Over time, I have learned that consistent posting and networking is really what makes your audience grow! When I first started my photography brand, I would rarely post on social media. Now, I post a couple times a week and I have noticed the engagement growing significantly!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Reputation plays a huge role in a photographer’s journey, and what has helped build mine has definitely been my attitude and responsiveness to everyone! Unfortunately, it’s quite often that I hear about clients turning away photographers solely because of their attitude. Personally, I find it a huge blessing that photography is my full-time job and main source of income. Sure, it can be stressful, but the interaction and attitude I have with my clients is top priority. The feedback I receive the most is “Sydney is just so easy to work with,” or “Sydney made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera.” Comments like that are not only what help build my reputation, but help build my confidence as a photographer as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sydneylynnphotography.com
- Instagram: @hellosydneylynn
- Facebook: sydneylynnphotographyy
Image Credits
Credit to Sydney Lynn Photography