Getting your first client is an exhilarating experience, but it’s also an experience that far too many aspiring entrepreneurs never experience. Sometimes, the difference between an idea dying in the idea stage or going on to change the world is getting that first customer – the first tiny win that creates the momentum to make an idea real. So, we connected with some of the smartest folks we could and asked them to tell us the stories of how they got their initial clients.

Jeannine Kennedy

I worked my first wedding for free when a friend’s daughter got married. I genuinely wanted to observe the process as much as possible from start to finish. Otherwise, I would have just been imagining what the process was like. I learned so much from that first wedding, which built my confidence and equipped me for the next one. I asked for copies of contracts, to sit in on vendor meetings, etc. and I read everything I could get my hands on about weddings. I still enjoy learning more about my field and have carried that craving for learning over into floral design and our farm. Read more>>

Tom Miner

The year was 2012. I was 16, almost 17, and completely immersed in the world of social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – I was on all of them, constantly sharing what I was most passionate about: news, weather, and traffic. I was an aspiring broadcaster and would post daily video updates on current events and regional conditions, just for fun. My goal was simple: keep people informed and sharpen my skills. Read more>>

Vanessa Katzen

I got my first client somewhat unexpectedly—when I sold my first apartment, the buyers loved the design so much they asked to purchase it fully furnished. Shortly after, the real estate broker who handled the sale approached me to help design her own space. From there, everything took off. One project led to another, and what started as a personal passion quickly evolved into a full-fledged design career. It was such an organic beginning, and I’m incredibly grateful for how naturally the business has grown from those early opportunities. Read more>>

Crystal Chambers

The idea of proposal planning and photography wasn’t something I set out to do—it found me. I was on a hike in Sedona with my camera when a stranger struck up a conversation. He mentioned he had tried to hire a photographer for a proposal at the top of Cathedral Rock, but since it was January and icy, no one wanted to make the trek. I realized then that there was a gap—and that I wasn’t afraid to go the extra mile (or vertical climb) for something meaningful. Read more>>

Annie LaGesse

Summer 2024 I matched with Elijah Speller, the drummer for local band Wasted Time on a dating app. After a few weeks of chatting I expressed how much I’d been wanting to get into taking concert photos, and that if he ever wanted I could take pictures of him and the band sometime. August rolled around and I was invited to their comeback show at a house venue. There I met the band and took photos of them during their set. I delivered the photos to them about a week later and impressed the lead singer Joey Scigliano. But what really set them in stone as a client for me was a show they played in November 2024. Which ended up being some of my best work ever. Now I regularly attend their shows and am their go to photographer. Read more>>

Denitresse Ferrell

My first client came through a mix of transparency, vulnerability, and strategic outreach. I started sharing honestly on LinkedIn about the leap from corporate, the uncertainty, the fear, and the possibilities. But visibility alone wasn’t enough. I reached out to my network. I shared what I was building, asked for support, and tapped people to trust me with early opportunities. Read more>>