We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Courtney, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I’ve always considered myself a “glass half full” type of person, always one to see the silver lining in any situation, and I’ve always thought I was quite the adaptable creature. I like to think I get it from my mother. She was always smiling and she had the most infectious laugh. Whenever I was bullied as a kid, her solution was to “kill ’em with kindness”. She grinned at every stranger and could always see the best in people. Despite having an incredibly challenging life and a rough upbringing, she was consistently optimistic, often using the small joys of life to lift the mood. In 2015 she was diagnosed with colon cancer, and even after multiple grim diagnoses, she was optimistic until she lost the fight in 2020. I like to think she showed me how to be the optimist even in the worst of situations.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a wedding photographer and creative hobbyist, always trying to learn and grow and play. I’ve been practicing the craft of photography for over 10 years and my favorite part about shooting weddings is bearing witness to the happiest, often most intimate moments of people’s lives. Every wedding is different. Every couple and family is unique. It’s never boring. I feel the same way about photography itself. Every camera and film stock and print is unique and exciting, and there is endless information to absorb. As a craft, I’ve never felt photography was lacking.
I am always welcoming inquiries for weddings of course, but also portraits, creative projects, brands and more so if you are interested in working together, I would love to collaborate!
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?
The three qualities that I think were most impactful in my journey would likely be my ambition, curiosity and my outgoing personality. I was always seeking folks to help me learn and grow and was never afraid to put myself out there. I think you’re early in your creative career journey, the best way to improve on those skills would be to ask as many questions as you can when you have opportunities to, try not to be afraid of failure or rejection (I’m still working on that but it is all part of this kinda job), and to make time for networking! Human connection is everything and it will take you a long way.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is one that trusts me when it comes to the creative part of my work and values photography or documentation as an art form. They are folks who are not afraid to be their authentic selves together (or individually). They appreciate the service industry (because yes my job is also technically customer service) and service workers. My ideal clients are often creative folks themselves or patrons of the arts. Thankfully most of my clients have been so ideal, and I’m always grateful to be able to say that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.courtneyhellen.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscourtneyhellen/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneyhellenphoto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-anderson-6b4973156
- Other: https://vimeo.com/user179109503
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
