Meet Dylan Todd

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dylan Todd. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dylan below.

Dylan, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is real. It’s really real in photography. There are so many talented, creative and just astounding people out there creating work that I could only dream of producing. That doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around lighting, posing or editing. It’s intimidating and overwhelming and when comparing myself (or anyone to others) I often get this imposter syndrome feeling.
I feel lucky though, I had a mentor whose favorite quote is “Don’t be nervous, lead with service,” and that ideology has transformed my thought process on how I work with clients. My goal as a photographer is to be a facilitator, to give space and allow all the feelings and emotions to show during a session. I want to be my client’s biggest cheerleader and I strive to create work that mixes their vision and mine to create something that it truly special. So yeah, there may be ‘better’ photographers, but I serve deeper, I care more, and I work with my clients to make it an experience worth cherishing.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’ve found a lot of joy in showcasing people professionally with headshots and branding photography. I love taking the idea, the factors that make a person special and a business unique and capturing that. If you’re a strong force to be reckoned with, or if you’re the kindest most timid person – and you want your photos to speak to those personalities, that’s what I want to do. There are so many small nuances in portraiture that can help communicate who you and your brand are, from lighting, clothing, makeup, locations, facial expressions, posing – all of this comes into play in headshot and branding photography and each little detail tells a story. I love it!
They say a photo is worth 1,000 words – I want to help write your story.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three is such a small number, but lets dive into the three things that I think can make or break a photography business, or any business for that matter:
1) Have a Client First mentality – care, nurture, and serve your clients to the best of your ability.
2) Be impeccable with your word – if you have deadlines, keep them. Do the things you say you’re going to.
3) Be ok with someone saying “No.” There are so many photographers and there is a lot of competition in the field, just like many other industries. Sometimes we are not the right fit for a client, we might be out of budget or any number of other things. Be gracious and kind and thank them for inquiring. That’s all you can do.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I must admit, I have very high anxiety. It’s like a constant state of panic about everything. If you met me in person, you’d probably find me to be a little quiet and calm as a cucumber. I have a few tricks that help me handle anxiety and overwhelmed.
I do my best to time-block my schedule. I prefer sessions on certain days, I allow ample time (and ample travel time) for appointments. By pre-building your schedule, you can plan for tasks that week and have a clear understanding of where clients can fit in. So a clear understanding of my schedule.
In the moment, when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I take 10 seconds. I’ll excuse myself from the situation, grab a drink of water, use the restroom, something that physically removes me from the stressor. When I’m in a ‘safe space’ I count to 10. I focus on something not related to what’s stressing me, typically something I can see – the trees out of a window, artwork on a wall, something other.
With those two tips, I feel mostly in control and not overwhelmed.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Dylan Todd Photography

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