We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Teresa Hammer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Teresa below.

Hi Teresa, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I am self taught. Once I had kids, I really fell in love with taking photographs of them. I joined groups with mentors and opened myself up for critique from my peers to learn how to be better. I had the goal of learning something new each time I would use my camera. Once I mastered what I was learning, I would choose the next thing to learn.

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 have always been interested in photography, even in high school. Like many moms, photography became more than a hobby after my first child was born and in 2011, after baby #3, I started Teresa Hammer Photography. I am blessed by the doors God has opened for me to pursue my love of photography. I love to see God’s vision for all stages of life. I love to capture the connections between parents and children, engaged couples, or the fresh new life a baby brings. I like to have fun at every photo session and get the standard posed shots as well. I like to keep my photography pretty “clean” I don’t do a lot of artsy edits on family and newborn sessions. I like them to be as close to real life as possible. Building my business has been all word of mouth. When you provide a good service and people are happy, they tell people about it. Same goes when they are not happy. I’ve had to learn that I will never make everyone happy. That is a hard lesson for a people pleaser like me. Ultimately though, people that don’t like me or my work won’t use me again and that is ok. I want to grow relationships with my clients and watch their families grow and be there for the next steps of their lives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my photography business is getting to meet and capture memories for all the people and families I come across. These clients become my friends and some are like family to me. I love getting to see families grow and change. Some of the photos I take are some of the last photos family members have of their loved ones. It is such a blessing to be allowed into the most intimate parts of someones life.

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

A quick turn around, honesty, and a true love for people. One main goal for my business is a quick turnaround. I am just as excited to work through a clients session and pick my favorites as they are to see them. I like to return a clients proofs within just a few days to a week. I am always open and honest with my clients, and like for them to be with me also. It makes me better. I love to know who they are so I can capture them as they truly are. Social media definitely helps with learning who people are and makes it a little easier to keep in touch.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thammerphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thammerphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THammerPhotography/