We recently connected with Violet Foulk of Violet Cristina Photography and have shared our conversation below.

Violet, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

Back in my early twenties, after graduating with a music business degree, I lived in NYC and did publicity at a record label. Music was my whole life. I started bringing my film camera to shows just for fun, and I was enjoying taking photos of musicians onstage so much that when I ended up leaving that job, I pursued photography, although it was strictly live music for at least a year before I started taking photos of my family and friends. I completely fell in love with portraiture and capturing the big moments in life for people, all while putting my own creative twist on their images to make art when it came to aspects like composition and editing style. The journey finding my niche has been a little longer than most other wedding photographers, but I feel like you can really see in my work the creative eye that that journey helped me form. So to answer the question, as much as I’d have loved to be where I am years ago rather than just now in my late twenties, I wouldn’t change my journey for anything.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

These days, I’m based in the Twin Cities and my photography work is focused mostly on weddings, as well as various kinds of creative portraits – from seniors to casual couples to just-for-fun portrait sessions. Of course, there’s the occasional live music thrown into the mix too! I love to collaborate with models in the area on different creative projects, as well. Whatever falls into my lap that feels like the right fit, I’m happy to work on. For me good vibes are super important – I always set up a call with potential weddings clients especially before starting the booking process, because I find it so important to make sure we have a similar vision and to make sure we click in general. Aside from each other, you and your partner are going to spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than anyone else! It’s super important to have a good experience on such an important day, and my client experience is something I value a lot!

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Like I said, client experience is huge. I really want my clients to feel like I’m someone they can talk to and are comfortable around. Firstly, most people find me through social media, so I make sure to show my face and post relatable content and captions whenever I can. When it comes down to it, I am my business – so I don’t want potential clients to only see my work and not the person they’ll be working WITH! Once potential clients get in touch to book a session or get more information, I try to keep my email correspondence super personal and friendly. There’s nothing wrong with automated responses, but I like to chat with potential clients about their specific vision, why we would be a good fit to work together, and how I can best execute their project. Throughout the booking process and the time leading up to their session, I make myself available for questions and collaborative planning with tools like Pinterest boards, etc. And after the session, I always thank them for their time, let them know I had a blast shooting with them, and keep them updated on my workflow and when to expect their deliverables. My contract outlines a minimum number of images that will be delivered within a certain time frame, but I usually exceed the minimum with extra photos and have a faster turnaround time than promised, which makes clients extra happy, as well! Finally, I love to stay in touch – past clients follow me on Instagram and I follow them right back. Many have been back in touch with me to book me again for another session!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I have moved a lot since I started doing this. So much business for me comes from people I know, referrals, and social media presence in the city I reside in. In the last five years, I’ve lived in New York, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and now Minnesota. I’ve rebranded to fit my setting several times, and with each change comes a completely fresh start – which is hard! I could probably be practicing full time right now if my circumstances were different, but each move has been a bit of a setback in that regard (while also completely exciting and a fun challenge!) It can be discouraging some days, but it’s definitely worth it to pursue what you love. There are so many amazing creatives out there and while there can be a lot of struggles to overcome, I’m proud of all of us for whatever point we’re at with our craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.violetcristinaphoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/violetcristinaphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/violetcristinaphoto