Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Whitney Renee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Whitney, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
I wish I had known the things I knew now! It took quite a bit of trial and error for me to figure out what it takes to make a successful business and I can say I am still learning! It’s probably something I’ll always be working on improving. I will say that my business didn’t become a full time career for me until I started treating it as one. My biggest mistake for years was placing my focus in too many different areas. I had other jobs, I was trying to sell paintings and I had my eye on every area of photography at once. You know the saying “If you chase two rabbits you catch none?” I have come to firmly believe in this saying. Now if you have a passive side income this may work. If you are trying to succeed in something find your niche and put all your focus into that and give yourself no choice but to make it happen. I considered myself the photographer that did it all for a quite a few years. I did Newborn, boudoir, weddings, I did everything! That sounds perfect! Now think of it this way. When you want something done or fixed for instance, would you prefer a specialist or someone that just does everything? When I have knee or hip problems, I go to an orthopedic specialist not my regular primary doctor. I am not saying a primary doctor couldn’t help me in some way but if you want the best care you probably want a specialist in that area and you’d invest in the best care! I bring my vehicle to a GMC mechanic when my GMC needs work done, They know my car best. I am not saying you shouldn’t take a family session here and there, But if you love Boudior best and it works best for you, make that your main niche. Avoid doing things you don’t enjoy as much, you will do better when you are passionate about the genre.
Another thing I feel is important is making it clear what your main niche is. When someone goes to your social media page or your website are they seeing a mix of Newborn, Weddings and Boudior on your main page? For me I wanted to get more weddings but I didn’t present myself well as “Professional Wedding Photographer” so I didn’t get much for inquiries in that genre. Until I came across an article that really made sense to me. I needed to put myself out there for my “Ideal Clients.” My ideal clients were interested engagements and weddings. I started with my website making it obvious I was a skilled and experienced wedding photographer/videographer. I started posting nothing but Engagements & Weddings on my personal Facebook and my business fb page…almost Daily! This is something I do to make sure people have me fresh in mind as a local Wedding Photographer. If someone mentions at lunch that day they need a wedding photographer and “Natalie” happened to see your posts that day being FB, IG. Which the majority of us look at everyday! “Natalie” Suddenly remembers your post she saw an hour ago and pulls it up to show her friend. All of a sudden everyone knows you as the wedding photographer/videographer and you’re the one to be recommended by friends and strangers who happen to see your posts every day. When couples visit my page they see exactly what they are looking for right away, no searching through all the different types of photography trying to figure out if I’m a good candidate for their wedding. Not only does having what they are looking for right away on the main page a good idea but make it easy for them to inquire, see reviews from previous clients. keep it simple, clean and easy to find your pricing/info.
Yes this is your passion but you will be working 24/7 most of the time. If someone messages me on a Saturday late at night and I’m tired and don’t feel like responding someone else will respond. It is important to keep a healthy family/work balance but if you don’t respond someone else will and you may have to choose family over responding right away sometimes but as a business owner timely response is important. If you give someone a return time of 2 weeks you have to deliver what you promised. This is no longer a hobby but your job that needs to be managed well or it will remain a hobby.
I myself and I know others when they start out think buying a camera, a lens and a Lightroom subscription is all you need! I’ll just offer some cheap sessions and people will like my work and keep coming back. right? Sounds like the easiest funnest job ever! Don’t get me wrong, It is fun! I love what I do but I had a hard time taking on work that was intimidating…. Cough cough “weddings”, They were scary at first I had no clue how to create a good timeline, I didn’t know how to use my flash well… Wait what is ISO? Aperture? oh boy… I had the brides mom hovering over my shoulder all day. “Ok, I’m never doing this again” I said! After my first try. That wasn’t enjoyable at all. So I tried newborn photography. Working with babies sounds fun. I show up to her home with my props excited and ready! Let’s just say the baby cried the entire time, I was scared and unsure, mom was upset… again I said “Nope I won’t ever do that again! So I stuck to the easy stuff, I was intimidated. I did not grow, I didn’t push myself past my comfort zone. We must be willing to suck in order to become good. If tried to skate board right now I’d fall over and over. Not giving up is what creates success. Know that its going to hurt at first, you won’t be amazing starting out. That is ok! Be honest with your clients. “Hey I am new to this” ” I am learning.”
I’ve done free work, I have done very cheap work until I knew I could provide quality to my own clients. You don’t make a living right away, Great things don’t always come easy and when they do come easy it isn’t as rewarding. A great way to gain skills and learn is shadowing others who do what you aim to do. Be an assistant, or go volunteer to help. It’s like free schooling and often you can use some images for your portfolio.
I could go on and on about what has helped me have a more successful business. I could write a book. If you want to make your passion your main income as artist, creator, photographer. It will require all of your focus, late nights, early mornings, responding to people on time, declines, taxes, accounting, investing in expensive gear, learning all the time… even when you think your are amazing at what you do. You will find something new to learn. I am 33 years old and I work harder now than I have ever worked but it is the most rewarding. I believe in you, you need to believe in you! Make it happen and have fun working hard!
Whitney, 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?
My photography/videography journey has been quite a long road. I started taking photos with a simple point-and-shoot camera my father gifted me when I was around 15 years old, I was homeschooled due to an unfortunate horse riding accident and other health issues that came from it, Leading me to a long road of recovery and corrective surgeries and My mom pulled me from school soon after to care for me as I couldn’t walk and dealt with pain daily. During these years of being cooped up full of boredom, I found my love for art, I sketched, I loved creating things and I knew that someday that would be incorporated into my career. My dream was to be an artist. Like many others who buy their first camera in hopes of becoming a professional photographer, we think it’s simply taking photos and learning to edit them, how fun and easy is that? Well, at least that’s what I thought in my early 20s when acquired my first DSLR. I’ll be honest I struggled for years trying to figure out my editing style, and learning how to use my camera properly and I knew nothing about managing a business or my money…I was working multiple jobs to make ends meet which made it quite hard to focus solely on photography.
Around age 24 I came across a stand at the MN state fair where I saw IHeartMedia-KDWB I had brought some of my business cards with me that day and I decided to hand one of the people working the stand my card and had a quick conversation. I walked away sure I wouldn’t hear back but why not try? A few weeks passed and I received an email. “IHeartMedia needs a lead photographer for upcoming events, would you be interested?” for the next two years I covered large events such as Jingle Ball, Fan Jam, and other events they held. Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone! A small town homeschooled girl meeting, well photographing the Backstreet Boys, fifth harmony… Dierks Bentley! These were some of my favorite memories in my journey to becoming a full time photographer.
From these events, I made connections with new people and soon started working for a photography/videography company out of Stillwater MN. A new challenge, I hadn’t done a video before. My first gig I was sent to do on my own. I was terrified but not only did I shoot one wedding that day I did two in separate locations. I had clear directions, I followed them and I got the job done. Despite my anxiety, I did it and I wanted to do more. With every challenge I faced the more I realized what I was capable of. Inspired by these media companies and mentors I had come to know, I saw just how possible this was for me.
I was working my hourly jobs and then photo and video on the weekends but one night my daughter called me while I was working quite late… I answered and she was crying, “Mommy I miss you, when are you coming home?”. I already worked so much and that was the night I decided I could no longer do this kind of work. For the next few years, I managed a gym and I still didn’t know how to make my passion into my full time career without quitting my 9-5 job. As a single mom this was a full-time job with a consistent paycheck and I was able to be there for my daughter in her younger years which was necessary at the time although I barely made enough to pay my bills. Covid came around, the gyms closed and well for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t working at all. What would I do with this time? I pulled out my DSLR camera from its hiding place under my bed.
Was this my chance to focus on just this? Days, months passed and I began taking photos for anyone who needed them once we were able. I spent hours studying, editing, You-tubing, and learning every skill I could to better myself. I did my first wedding video for free and it happened to turn out really well. I also offered wedding photography for very little and I posted my work as often and possible to show people what I was up to. It didn’t take long and people found me through referrals or word of mouth and social media. I would post my work almost daily on social media which seemed to keep me fresh in the minds of those who were following me. Work just started flowing in. I saved enough to upgrade to a mirrorless camera, with a nice lens, and within a few months, I was able to invest in more.
In about a year I was doing 4-6 weddings a month, my second year I was taking on even more and had saved up more than ever. What I found out as I grew and found my way is that what I loved more than anything… I loved the reactions from my clients, the “thank you’s” and hugs, and the friendships I have made along the way. For me, nothing was more rewarding. Today I spend close to every day with both of my beautiful girls, I have a wonderful supportive man who not only supports me but has joined me in the business now. Today I own my own Photography and Videography business “Venture North Media LLC”.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Influence by Robert Caldini
Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Being personable and professional. I strive to give my clients the best service all around. Providing my best work every time and going above and beyond for every customer is my motto. I want to make sure they know I put my heart and soul into everything I do and that their satisfaction is my main priority. I don’t aim to have a bunch of employees and become some big company, I want to give everyone the personal care and attention they deserve. I think that that shows and people know I care.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.venturenorthmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturenorthmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/venturenorthmedia
- Youtube: @Venturenorthmedia
- Other: Add me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/whitneyreneephotovideo
Image Credits
I own all images