Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brittney Welch. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brittney, 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 something we all face. As creatives, our main outlet for marketing our work is oftentimes Instagram or other social media platforms. Scrolling through countless talented photographers’ feeds can certainly exacerbate the desire to compare ourselves to our peers. I’ve found that the healthiest way for me to be active on social media is to pay close attention to my internal dialogue while online. If I notice a shift from connection and inspiration to comparison and self-doubt, I take that as a sign to put down my phone and take a break from social media. Often I find that when I am feeling the wave of imposter syndrome wash over me, turning my attention toward a purely creative project can be incredibly helpful and reinvigorating. To other creatives who may feel this way, I urge you to remind yourself that our clients choose us for a reason. Trust yourself as much as your clients trust you. Someone else’s illuminating and beautiful work does not diminish the light of your own.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a wedding photographer, I am with couples on the most important day of their lives. Something I never take for granted is the inherent vulnerability that comes along with allowing a near stranger to be alongside you, capturing every moment of your wedding day. I treat that trust and openness as it is – a gift. It is truly a gift to do what I do. From moms, buttoning daughters into their dresses, to little ones running around muddying their flower girl dresses, to stolen kisses on a packed dance floor – I see each little moment as future stories whispered over Thanksgiving dinners. My goal is to have as many photos attached to those little moments as possible.
When approaching a wedding day, I make it a priority to ensure the couple is at ease knowing I will document their day as authentically and beautifully as possible. I always like to tell my couples that the photos should never be a hindrance to their day. The goal is always to facilitate a natural ebb and flow, inject creativity when the moment is right, and capture the overall essence of the day.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities or skills that I believe were essential in my journey to becoming a full-time photographer were openness, creativity, and communication.
Openness in the creative space is key to continued success because the wedding world is continuously changing, and you must be willing to change along with it. That’s not to say the core of your art and artistic integrity has to change, but it’s important to be open to new ideas and trends. Additionally, it’s important to be pliable for each individual couple. One couple may lean towards a purely documentary style with little to no guidance, while others may feel comfortable in a more structured day and posing assistance. Being open to your couple’s needs, and what the day calls for, is pivotal in influencing the environment of a wedding day. Small things will inevitably go wrong, and timelines will be off, but if you’re willing to be flexible and open and keep your couple’s comfort at the forefront, you can tackle anything that comes your way.
Creativity may seem like an obvious skill for wedding photographers, but it’s important to prioritize creative expression for more reasons than just a gorgeous and unique wedding gallery. Making time for purely creative work, I’ve found, is essential for proactively fighting mental burnout. Planning things that are experimental helps me get outside of the box and learn new things that can then be applied to my clientele.
Lastly, communication is hugely important for wedding photographers. Not only are we artists, but we are business owners. With that responsibility comes the equally important aspect of building a smooth client experience. From the inquiry process to initial calls, to meetings, contracts, timelines, and questionnaires, these seemingly mundane tasks can either add on or take away stress for your clients. The more you can creative a comfortable and easy flow of communication, the more trust you can establish with a client before their big day.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Over the last year, I have found that my biggest area of growth has been in film photography. Over the years, I was hesitant to add it to my wedding packages due to a lack of confidence. This past year I spent a lot of time and focus on getting more comfortable with film, and investing in better equipment and am now incredibly excited to offer film as an add-on to my packages!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brittneywelchphoto.com
- Instagram: @brittneywelchphoto
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/brittneywelchphoto
- Linkedin: N/A
- Twitter: N/A
- Youtube: N/A
- Yelp: N/A
- SoundCloud: N/A
Image Credits
Image credit: Brittney Welch Photography
