We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abby Shepard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abby below.
Hi Abby, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
One benefit of a difficult situation is the empathy that results when you make it through. We all go through hard things in life, and while they’re challenging at the time, I’ve found that the hard things I’ve gone through in my life have made me a more empathetic person.
Here are a few –
I was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disorder at the age of 19. I have rheumatoid arthritis, which will forever impact my life.
I was engaged in my mid-20s, but then ended it before we got married.
I moved across the country to Colorado because my boyfriend at the time moved there. He broke up with me just a few months later.
When I moved to Colorado, I took a new job that I ended up hating, so I quit and decided to pursue photography full-time and be self-employed.
Last year I had a friendship breakup with my closest friend in Colorado.
All of these things have been so hard, but have allowed me to develop a level of empathy that I don’t think I would have reached otherwise.
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’m a full-time wedding and elopement photographer based in Boulder! I think what sets me apart is my focus on colorful images and genuine emotion. Many couples say they booked me because the people in my photos look so genuinely happy, and the colors are rich and natural. I think I’m also really good at composing images that highlight both the couple and the landscape, and leveraging natural light in interesting and dynamic ways.
This year, I’ve taken on several destination weddings that I’m really excited about! I have weddings in Hawaii, Georgia, Wyoming, and Texas!
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?
I’d say passion, persistence, and a desire to make a difference.
Passion – I’m genuinely passionate about photography, and did photography for fun before doing it professionally. I still do lots of photography purely for fun, and take my camera with me on every hike, trip, or adventure. I never planned to do it professionally, but I just loved photography so I kept doing it.
Persistence – I’ve been doing photography for about 6 years now. It takes time to develop your style, brand, and aesthetic. I did a lot of free work to build my skills and practice.
Desire to make a difference – I think this is important for professional photographer, especially in the wedding industry. My job goes beyond just taking pretty photos. I genuinely care about my couples and want to serve them in a way that helps make their wedding day the best it can be.
Advice for folks earlier in their journey? Love what you do, practice a lot, and care about how your work makes a difference to others.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I’ve lived in Colorado for a little over 2 years now. I spent a lot of that time rebuilding my life and figuring out how to have a life here that I loved. Now that I feel more established here, I’m thinking about what I want my life to look like for the next few years!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abbyshepardphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abby.shepard.photography/
- Facebook: facebook.com/abbyshepardphoto
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/5675cc052eb7d702f524316abc11c5/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbyshepardphotography
Image Credits
all photos are mine