We recently connected with Savanna Velthoven and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Savanna, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I have always been a creative person. I’ve always loved art and writing – anything where I was creating something. I always felt the need to create, which I believe is a God-given desire.
In high school and college I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world. I did this by majoring in journalism and writing for our school newspapers. I loved interviewing people, connecting with people and getting to know people, and then sharing their stories with others to help connect people. It was in college that I also took a photography class and began using a camera for the first time.
I received my first DSLR camera for Christmas during my senior yer of college. It was a gift from my mother, which I didn’t even ask for and was so excited to receive. Two days later, she unexpectedly passed away, and I quickly took to photography to capture every moment I could because you just never know when what you see in front of you may no longer be there.
As I have gotten older and grown my photography business, I have taken my desire to create and my love for connecting with people and have found purpose and joy in documenting people’s lives. From their wedding day to the birth of their children, they will be able to look back and remember these moments that went by so quickly.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The heart of my business comes down to loving people and making sure all moments are documented. I am the owner and lead photographer of Savvy Shoots Photography. I currently specialize in wedding photography and maternity/newborn lifestyle photography. I absolutely love connecting with people and authentically covering these special moments in their lives.
While growing my business, I found a lack of reliable photographers and vendors. I even got ghosted by my original wedding photographer! This has made me hyper-focused on providing the best experience for my clients. I promise to always be transparent and to keep in clear communication. Especially when photographing a wedding! I always respond to messages as soon as possible, and I make sure to check in with clients, host Zoom meetings and maintain a relationship with them. I am always honest and open because I want us to trust each other to get the best and most genuine photos possible during the wedding day.
At the end of the day, we are all people connecting. You’re never just a customer to me.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have allowed my business to grow are these:
– Client Experience: I always look at my clients as people, not a business transaction. I love getting to know my clients and becoming friends with them. There’s nothing better than watching a family grow while photographing them over the years!
– Courage: I used to be timid and afraid to put myself out there. Once I got over the fear of failure and what people may think of me, I was able to really grow my business and bloom.
– Leveraging others: As a small business owner, you have a lot on your plate! When I started hiring others to help with my website, blog writing and even with photographing, I was able to focus more on my clients. Don’t be afraid to get help!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Over the last year, I have had a lot of difficult decisions to make. A year ago today, I was a full-time high school teacher trying to juggle my growing business. In this time, I invested in a mentorship program, hired business coaches and learned how to manage my time to juggle many different tasks. As I learned how to acquire new customers and manage my finances better, I chose to leave my full-time job halfway through the school year and focus on photography full time. This has allowed me to really focus on who I am as a business. I have really been able to refocus on who I am and what my business represents, which in turn is helping me grow my business with ideal clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.savvyshootsphotos.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/savvyshootsphotos
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/savvyshootsphotos
Image Credits
Images by Savvy Shoots Photography
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