We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taj Pledger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Taj, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

I started off doing my own photoshoots then went on to work with family. I’d get a lot of compliments on my photos & people would ask if I worked with clients. At the time, I was so nervous working with anyone other than family but one day I got the courage & just decided to post a photoshoot ad on Craigslist back in 2015 & within days I started receiving inquiries. My first photo shoot was with a lady and her adult children. I was beyond nervous but the photos turned out beautiful. After that, I started to build more confidence behind the camera.

Taj, 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 always loved being behind and in front of the camera even as a child. To this day, I still can’t believe I turned my love for photography into a successful business. I like to consider Perfect Captures as a low-cost high quality, local photographer for AZ. I started taking pictures of my friends and family, and every time I saved up enough money I would buy more camera equipment to enhance my skills. I also started networking with other photographers to allow them to educate and mentor me on the ends and outs. I started taking pictures strictly outdoors (since I did not have my own studio yet) then eventually moved to my mom’s living room and that evolved to me having a room in the back of my boyfriend’s office. Now, I have had my own private studio for the past 3 years.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Not only are my services affordable, the quality is also there. On top of that, my clients always have a good time during their photo session with me. I create a friendly environment that makes each client want to return and/or refer others to my company.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Most of my clientele is by referral or word of mouth which is a big deal in business. I have also gained clientele by marketing as well. If you want your business to grow, marketing is key. We are living in a day where everyones attention spans are getting shorter and shorter so you have to keep your name out there or people will forget about you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.perfectcapturephotos.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/perfectcapture_az
• Facebook: Facebook.com/perfectcaptureaz

Image Credits
All images were captured by Perfect Capture Photography.