Meet Suzanne McCann`

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

Suzanne , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Being a part-time photographer, for a long time I felt like I was in a “fake it until I make it” mind-set. It never had occurred to me that almost every other photographer, even the ones I greatly admired – the ones that seemed to have it all together – were all experiencing the same insecurities – I had no idea imposter syndrome was even a thing. Over the past few years, I have worked at getting involved within my local photography community, rather than just focusing on getting clients. By getting involved with local groups and building friendships with other photographers in my community, I have had the opportunity to help new photographers with skill building and mentoring – one day it just hit me that “hey, I really do know what I am talking about.” Also, I recognize that even though I am not an “imposter” there are always things to learn and ways to improve and grow – and that is how one becomes a great photographer.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I started shooting professionally about 15 years ago. I had always loved photography and had taken a few classes in college, and was finding myself so burnt out with my day job. Picking up my camera again brought back a sense of joy in my life. To me, photography, capturing those special moments in your life, is about so much more than the final product. My goal is to give you an experience you will look back on and cherish; that when you look at your photos, not only will you think “wow, we look fantastic!” you will think “OMG! Taking these photos was so much fun! We laughed so much – I was dreading being in front of the camera, but man, I can’t wait to do it again.”

I have found over the years that I cannot limit myself to one genre, because life is about growth and change. It makes me so happy to hear from my Seniors, years later, when they are getting married. When couples I have photographed call to tell me they are having a baby and it’s time for my camera to meet them. My clients become my friends and extended family, and I love sharing in the special moments of their lives.

I’ve also found out how much I love working with other small businesses and helping them grow, and have branched out into branding sessions. I’ve met a number of people who own small local business, and I feel a sense of happiness in providing them with images to help them and their businesses succeed.

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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?

I think in order to build a successful photography business, people need to focus on patience, adaptability, and resilience. Starting a photography business is not for the faint of heart. A lot of people are under the impression that with digital technology being what it is, all one needs to do is purchase a good camera and start snapping away. But there is so much more involved. Most photographers are natural artists – and the business side of things can be very difficult. You need to have the patience to focus on your craft, and not simply give up the first time things don’t go as expected. When shooting, especially in event photography, you need to be adaptable and able to think on the fly and pivot quickly – the old adage of “if something can go wrong, it will” often rings true. Ad campaigns don’t always work. Mini-sessions get planned only to have the weather do a complete 180 on you 30 minutes before shooting time. Dealing with all these situations and coming out of them on top, really does require a combination of patience, adaptability, and resilience, because at the end of the day, there are things that you just cannot control and and you need to be able to make the best of the situation and learn from whatever snafus came your way.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is someone who values connection, authenticity, and the beauty of life’s fleeting moments. They are someone who deeply values special moments and understands the power of photography in preserving memories. They are the kind of people who prioritize family and cherish experiences – fun time spent together, filled with love and laughter. They find joy in the little moments that make life rich and fulfilling. They appreciate the art of capturing these moments through photography and see it as a way to relive and share the magic of those experiences with others, as a way to share the story of who they are with future generations of family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://developmentsoflifephotography.com
• Instagram: @developmentsoflifephotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevelopmentsOfLifePhotography

Image Credits

All images belong to Developments of Life – Photography By Suzanne McCann