Meet Cori Wade

We were lucky to catch up with Cori Wade recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cori, 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?
Photography is always something that I was interested in, and something that I knew I always wanted to do, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it. When I was a kid I would just take photos of flowers, my dog, sometimes I would do photoshoots with my friends in our backyards. I took a break from photography when I went to college, but then decided to take a photography class, and then ended up working a job where I was able to take photos of my college sports teams. I thought my purpose was going to be to take photos of sports, I looked into jobs working for football teams, basketball teams, etc. But when covid hit, I started to change my path to shoot different things. I got the opportunity to photograph a family friends wedding in there backyard and I loved it, so then I started to brand out and market myself in weddings and couples photoshoots and found what I think to be my purpose in life. Capturing peoples special moments and love stories. I love my job, and it brings me so much joy to capture these moments for people, and I am so happy that I was able to find a job to bring me such purpose and happiness.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I do a whole range of things with my business. I am not only the photographer but I am the social media manager, the editor, the customer service representative, the accountant, the marketer, the planner, the financial manager, the location scouter, the website creator, I am all of the above. So many people only see what I do on a small scale from what I post on instagram or just seeing me show up to shoot their wedding/session. There is so much more that goes on behind the scenes of being a photographer and planning to capture these memories for someone.

I don’t even know where to start with the love and joy that owning this business brings to me. I work ALL the time and never get burnt out because I love what I do so much. I always find myself thinking about editing and shooting whenever I try and take day off because it just brings me so much joy to capture people in all their love whether that be weddings, couples, families, etc.

The things I get most excited about is getting to try new locations/things with a client or clients who are totally down for anything. I always want to go to to different locations for peoples sessions to truly express who they are as a couple. I want the photo I take of them to scream this is us, and this is what we love to do together. For example, I have done engagement photos in a plant shop, movie theater, bar, ice cream parlor, a record store, in different states like NYC, Utah and Colorado. And I have done wedding photos in places that are similar – record shops, bars, pizza shops, coffee shops, etc. I want to go where I can bring out the happiest sides of my couples, and where they can fully just relax, be confident, and excited to get these photos done. This is one of things that I think helps me stand out in the industry, I will never just make my clients choose between the same old parks that everyone else goes to – now don’t get me wrong if that is something they would want to do we’ll do it. But I think a lot of my clients come to me for my uniqueness, and to be able to have the opportunity to fully express themselves and do something different.

I have recently started adding videography to my wedding packages as well. My Fiancé Bobby has been working for years to be able to branch into this business with me, and he just made his debut onto instagram and in the wedding world with me offering these packages to bring people a photo/video duo! I have also recently started to offer associate shooter packages, so if I am already booked on someones wedding day, and they really love my style and want me to shoot there wedding I have a team of girls that work with me to shoot these weddings for me.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important skills that I think you need to have in this industry is your ability to stand out, your client experience, and just being yourself.

Your ability to stand out in this industry is so important because photography is a very saturated market, and there are a lot of photographers out there nowadays. If you have an idea for a photoshoot that you think is weird you just need to do it!!! People will most likely love it and it will bring more traction to your page!

Client experience is everything when owning a small business. You need to be personable, you need to be available to your clients, and you need to give them something to want to write a review about (because we all know as small business owners that reviews mean EVERYTHING!).

Your clients want to see you and who you are personally. They don’t want to see you be like every other photographer that might pop up on their feed. They want to know that you’re a real person, they want to learn about you and connect with you, and they can’t do that if you don’t give them any information to connect to. I know my clients love seeing the things I post about my personal life and getting to interact with me and know me on a more personal level. Especially when they are wedding clients they want to feel like they know you and you are friends because you are one of the only people that will be right next to them all day on one of the most important days of their life.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The person who has been the most helpful throughout my whole business journey is my Fiancé Bobby, He has pushed me through all the moments that I felt like I wanted to quit, and despite working two other jobs helps me whenever he can. Any time he is free he is at my photoshoot or wedding with me assisting, taking photos himself, and now branching into video to be able to further expand this business. It is slowly growing into something that is no longer just mine, but also his. And he deserves just as much to be apart of it as I am. I truly don’t think I would be where I am today with this business if it weren’t for him. He stepped back and provided all things I needed to grow and flourish this business into what it is. His not only physical support, but emotional support created a space where I knew I could do whatever I needed to do to make this business grow.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Cori Wade Photography

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Developing Discipline: Stories & Insights

Many of the most impressive entrepreneurs and creatives in our community exhibit a high degree

Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Developing the Power of Connection by Communicating Effectively

Effective communication is at the heart of so many successful projects, relationships, and endeavors. Given