We recently connected with Tess Kania and have shared our conversation below.

Tess, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

This is such an interesting question, and the answer depends on a few factors. If I consider my first paid sessions the moment that this business started, the answer is no. I was in high school when the families of a few of my friends saw me carrying a camera around everywhere. They asked me to take family photos and senior photos. So, in a way, that’s when I started.

But I wasn’t ready to be a business owner then, and I was terrified of losing my love of photography to a career. That same summer, as I was deciding where to go to college, my mom gave me permission to explore photography as a career. I shot the idea down so fast, even though I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I decided that whatever I was called to would become my focus in college and that I would take photography courses along the way to advance my skills. What I didn’t know was how hard it would be to manage the photography lab schedules with the teacher practicum placements that I had. The only class I ended up taking in college for photography was when I studied abroad, and it was a review of everything I had learned in my high school photography courses. It wasn’t until years later that I really committed to learning the advanced skills that were necessary to become a successful photographer. Without that, my business would have struggled for many years.

I kept having a few sessions here and there for 10 years before really committing to this business. And that is something I wish I had done sooner. I’m a full-time teacher, and I always plan on that being the case, but photography brings me so much joy and helps balance my life in ways I never could have imagined. It’s a lot of work, and it is just as rewarding as my teaching career. If I had begun to advertise, developed a brand, and committed to advancing my skills, I would have had that balance a lot sooner.

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’m a photographer based out of the Twin Cities Metro that travels around the Midwest and beyond, capturing weddings, elopements, adventure sessions, couples, family photos, and senior photos. I’ve traveled as far as Alaska to capture sessions with my clients. My favorite place to be is outside, which is evident in my work. I prioritize sustainability in every session and am a certified Leave No Trace Aware Photographer to ensure that we can keep using our favorite places year after year.
From the moment that potential clients reach out, I aim to be helpful and transparent. It isn’t every day that you’re booking a photographer, and each photographer approaches their process a little bit differently. I believe that clear communication from the moment we make our first connection helps put people at ease in front of the camera. And that is a huge part of being a photographer! It is so common to hear that people are anxious or uncomfortable about a session. I build connections with my clients to make them feel comfortable in front of the camera and allow them to be themselves. My goal is to capture authentic interactions, and sometimes, I have to create little moments that draw that out, but the results are often heartwarming and joyful.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

New clients have come in through a variety of ways over the years. That is reflected in the investments I’ve made in advertising and online presence. Having a presence on Google has been wonderful and helpful. Instagram brings in a new batch of family session clients every year. I’ve utilized Zola from time to time for weddings. It has definitely paid off to have a variety of ways to pull in new clients.

After all of these years, I’m finally entering a season where the majority of my wedding clients are through word of mouth and client referrals. It’s such a comforting feeling to know that I’m creating work that clients are happy about year after year and that they’re so happy, they’re excited to share it with their friends and family.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love helping clients find joy in their daily lives. With each wedding, I encourage couples to focus on their passions and interests. At family sessions, I help them relax and have fun and then capture what comes from that. With senior sessions, I spend time learning about them to highlight their natural personalities. When these are the focus of each session, you can’t help but find joy in each gallery.

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits

Laura Banken Photography

Tess Ender Photography