I interviewed the amazing Dawn with Dawn Photography and she has shared with you guys all about her and her successful business!  Get ready for some great tips she shares in this interview!!  Shes such a talented and gifted photographer as well as one of my sweetest clients!  She has such a distinctive and beautiful style that she is known and sought after for.  Read on to find out more about her, her business, and why she has chosen to trust in us to outsource her photo editing!

 

She is also offering workshops, so be sure and check it out!  More info below!

Tell us a little bit about how you got started in weddings/photography.

I started back in high school, just photographing friends, and families. I never imagined myself as a wedding photographer, but as a started capturing more couples photos in beautiful places around Oregon, I fell more and more in love with it. I joined a sorority in college, Sigma Kappa, and I began to photograph events, and way more portraits. As the juniors, and seniors were getting engaged, they invited me to photograph their journey and it felt so good to be trusted by my fr the forehead kisses!! Also, just make the shoot FUN!! It should be like a date that you are third wheeling, and they will do the rest.

 

 How did you find your distinctive and gorgeous editing style?

Wow thank you so much! I call my presets, That 70’s Show! Lol I love those grainy, warm, vintage tones. A few years ago, I did an epic in home session, and I couldn’t get ANY of the presets I had bought to work on these photos the way I envisioned them. So I spent hours on hours, tweaking + creating my own preset, and it’s still the same one I use to this day, with tones of new tweaks of course…

Who are your favorite photographers you like to follow?

My favorite photographers are….India Earl, Anni Graham, Kylie Morgan, Karra Leigh, Henrys Diary, The Foxes, Autumn Nicole, Blake Hogge, Melissa Marshall, Annie Ruby, Amanda Meg…Gosh I could go on and on.

 

Do you offer workshops or mentoring?

YES + YES!! I love love love teaching. It’s so huge on my heart! Honestly, I’ve gotten more into the education side of things in photography in this last year and have taken a huge step back from actually shooting so I can teach more. I offer in person + over the phone mentorships. My workshop is called Wander Workshop, and we host 1 day workshops, and multiple day workshops to badass boss babes who want to take their business to the next level!!! www.wanderworkshop.org!

 

 What do you shoot with? Favorite lens?

I shoot with 2 5dmark IV’s and my favorite lenses are the Canon 35L, 50L + 45mm Tilt Shift!

 

What drew you to outsourcing your editing?

Honestly, I started out by outsourcing my editing so I could keep up with the amount of shoots I was taking on. But I quickly realized that it was so worth it for me to outsource my editing, and spend that time with my family, husband + puppies instead.

 

What made you choose private editing over bigger box editing companies?

When I found Janelle, through my best friend Amanda, I instantly fell in love with her kindness + support. She is truly so helpful, and is always trying to find ways to make your life easier. This might sound weird, but I almost feel like it’s shopping locally, which is super important to me. Even though Janelle lives in Arizona, and I’m in Oregon!!

 

How has it helped you in your business and personal life?

I have been able to edit quicker, return galleries to clients faster (which is hands down my biggest problem with my business), and have been able to focus so much more time on my family + friends. I used to NEVER want to let someone else edit my photos, I was so obsessed with the control over all the editing + had a very hard time being able to trust someone with my preset + my work. But after seeing the process and really getting to know Janelle, I trust her completely and willingly send her more galleries than I planned just because I know it’s so worth it!

If you are looking for more info on editing and what this could look like for you, this blog post here is super helpful.. also website here

 

Any advice you would like to give to other wedding photographers hustling hard in their business?

Figure out your work/life balance. I’ve been full time for 4 years now, and I’m just now figuring it out….haha! But really, I’m finally learning how to say no to people, I’m finally letting go over some aspects of my business, like outsourcing my editing, and hiring an assistant to help keep up with emails, contracting + invoicing. My favorite quote ever, that I remind myself daily, “don’t sacrifice your own memories while capturing others.”

 

A list of must haves for wedding photographers to help you through your long wedding day.

A good camera bag + straps, I use an Ona Backpack and the India Earl double camera strap. I always have my cards attached to me with a clip on case from Thinktank. And I’m almost always wearing my black jean overalls from free people, and a fanny pack! Make sure you bring plenty of water, snacks, back up camera batteries + cards! If you’ve made it this far, thank you so so much!! xx Dawn

 

Check out more interviews from our amazing and talented photographers…  Katelyn Cantu, Valorie Darling