Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Overby.
Hi Brittany, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began photography at a young age. My dad was into photography as a hobby when I was growing up, so we would go on photo excursions around town during the summers and take photos of train cars, old buildings, and nature. I initially loved nature photography, mostly animals and flowers. I would do the occasional photoshoot with a friend at the park or of family friends from church, but I never really got interested in portrait photography until 2020. At the beginning of 2020 (and the start of Covid) my husband and I found out we were pregnant. We had our son in November and I decided I wanted to take his newborn photos myself, not just because of the restrictions at the time, but also because I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could do it. I bought a new camera, some wraps, and a very wrinkled backdrop (which I did not iron for some reason…let’s just say they were not my best) and shot his newborn photos. And I was in love!
When my parents and my in laws opened those photos for Christmas and I saw the joy that got from them, I just knew that I wanted to help bring that same feeling of joy to other families. From there I slowly began building my business through discounted sessions, word of mouth, mini sessions events, giveaways with other local businesses, etc… and now I am so excited to be booking 2-3 sessions a week some months. My business still has a lot of growth left and I as a photographer have a lot of growth left, but what started as a hobby slowly turned into a side hustle and slowly turned into an actual business that allows me to stay at home with my son. It is so humbling and amazing to see where I am now compared to where I was a year and a half ago, and I am so excited to see what the future holds!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not exactly. Trying to start a required “face to face business” at the start of Covid was definitely a struggle and maybe not the best business move (hard to take photos remotely, haha). Also, being a first-time mom to a newborn while juggling a new business had its difficulties as well, but my husband and family have been so incredibly supportive and have helped me out so much in growing my business and allowing me to have time to go do sessions or edit photos. I also had the difficult decision of leaving a job I absolutely loved and the financial stability it had and made the leap to become a stay at home mom and pursue growing this photography business. I stepped out in faith and every single roadblock has been dealt with and every single prayer has been answered. It has not been a smooth road, and it’s sometimes been a scary road, but it has been an eye-opening experience, one that has strengthened my faith, and one I am so grateful for. And I hope that from the struggles I faced I can help other new business owners and new moms with finding a way to manage work and family life, pursue their passions, and to know when to just go for it and take that jump.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a portrait photographer who offers outdoor and studio sessions of all kinds. I just love taking photos and being able to help people capture special memories, so I haven’t been able to narrow down what types of sessions I offer yet. That being said, my session types include Newborn, Maternity, Milestone, Cake Smash, Couples, Family, Graduation/Senior, Boudoir, Headshots, etc. I also try to offer monthly mini-session events at discounted rates. I am really proud of the growth I have had over the past year, both professionally and personally. I am a perfectionist and could spend hours and hours adjusting one photo, so I have learned to give myself some grace and be proud of my work. I don’t know if anything necessarily sets me apart from other photographers because I think we are all in this business to bring happiness to people. But I do know that I am passionate about what I do and want to make every photoshoot special for every client.
I also want to make my photography accessible to everyone. I try to keep my prices reasonable, offer mini sessions for those who may not be able to afford longer sessions, and am trying to start a client closet of dresses so my Maternity clients don’t have to spend even more money on a dress to have beautiful photos. I don’t want to only be financially accessible, but I want it to be inviting in every aspect. As a Recreational Therapist, my job has always been to help others do what they love in an adapted or accessible way. So I want my photography business to reflect that as well. I will happily describe my sets to clients who have low vision, make sure to let clients know if a location may be difficult for those with low mobility, and just want to make everyone feel like they are welcome and they deserve beautiful photos just like anyone else.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me as a photographer is that I am accessible to any and everyone, that my clients have a great experience during their session, and that they love their photos! Everyone deserves to have special memories captured and I want to be the person to help them do that.
Pricing:
- Mini Sessions $85-$95
- One Hour Sessions $160-$180
- Mini Session Events $65-$100
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brittanyophotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanyophotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrittanyOverbyPhotography
