We recently connected with Gretchen Reese and have shared our conversation below.
Gretchen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
My background is kind of an interesting one.
I never really felt like taking the traditional career path – you know, the one where you study for 4, maybe 5 years, get the internship in a big corporate office, work your way up the ranks, and live for your two weeks of vacation every year. Just the thought of it made my skin crawl.
Early on, when I was still in college, I decided to start my own business as a ghost-writer – this was after my first internship with a small marketing agency in London. This continued for a few years – I was able to work with folks that had decades of industry experience and with some pretty big britches companies (which I loved); and I was able to hone my ability to speak with folks in a way that resonated and connected well.
You could chalk that up to learning the gift of the gab from my dad at an early age – I think he taught me the art of being able to notice the small things about folks when you’re talking to them. How they engage with the words you’re saying, how to tell when something is really important, even with the smallest of cues that they give.
This art of noticing, I’ll call it, really helped me be able to stand in rooms that I felt intimidated to be in. Even if I was the person in the room who knew the least – I was still able to connect with folks on a personal level that allowed me to feel at ease, even if I wasn’t.
It’s also what made it easy to change direction later in my career to photography instead of writing, even without formal training. I could see what was missing for brands, even without them having to tell me, because of understanding consumer psychology and the ability to connect with people beyond using your words.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At heart, I’m a very creative person, which is what made my decision to pursue photography full-time so easy.
I’m a cinematic brand photographer, and I specialize in creating strategic content for wine & whiskey brands in the US and in Italy.
This all started because I’m actually a wine & whiskey lover at heart, and I really appreciate the art that goes into every bottle and every pour. And when you see what goes into creating every bottle – the people behind it, the land, the agriculture, the fermentation specialists, the tasting notes – it made me want to capture it on camera.
I work solely with natural light and absolutely love every second of what I do. This leads me primarily to outdoor product and lifestyle photography settings – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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?
In my mind, it’s quite simple.
1) Understand people. Their desires, their interests, what fuels them, what makes them excited, what makes them feel safe. This will allow you to better connect with the folks you speak with, no matter the room, no matter the industry.
2) Learn how to market yourself. Social media is your handshake to the world, and your website is your home. Treat it like one. These are the first places people will look you up – and if it were me, I’d put my best foot forward.
3) Know how to shake someone’s hand and make eye contact when you do it. First impressions are everything, and they can be difficult to change.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
The ability to pitch myself.
Knowing how and when to pitch your talents and services/offerings is essential. And it’s a skill just like working out, playing sports, learning to write, or picking up a pen to draw something. You have to practice it every day – even if you’re pitching to your friends for practice before you go out and do it for real.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gretchenreese.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gretchen_reese
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-reese
Image Credits
Photo: Gretchen Reese
Talent: Mauro Preziosa, Elizabeth Brandt
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
