Moscow Mules with Brittany Elena Photography/Eclectic Branding Co.

Over Moscow Mules, I chat with Brittany Bensch of Brittany Elena Photography and Eclectic Branding Co. Brittany is a Philadelphia-area photographer with an edgy and unique perspective that truly sets her work apart. We discuss the origins of her passion for photography, how her background in radiology  influences her artistry, and she offers valuable advice for women entrepreneurs.

Visit her site at www.eclecticbrandingco.com and follow her Instagram page at @eclecticbrandingco

Thanks for listening! Follow us on Instagram @champagnestars1 and check out our site at www.champagneandstarsdecor.com

Transcript

[MUSIC]
Hey, I'm Anne, owner of Champagne and Stars Event Decor.
Welcome to And I Like Large Parties.
Join me as I chat with amazing women business owners in the events industry,
some that I've worked with, and some that I can't wait to work with.
We'll be sipping cocktails while discussing their passions, hurdles and accomplishments.
You're gonna love it.
Thanks for listening.
[MUSIC]
Okay, so I'm so glad that you decided to be on this podcast.
Me too.
I will admit I'm a little nervous.
It's okay.
When I was thinking about doing this and I'm thinking about the folks that I wanted to be on it,
I think you were my real first Instagram friend.
By the way, I'm talking to Brittany Bench of Brittany Elena Photography.
Hello.
Nice to be here in my own house.
I'm so glad to be here in your house.
Yeah, I don't even remember how we connected on Instagram.
I had no knowledge.
I knew what Instagram was.
I didn't know how to use it.
I didn't really understand when I started my business that I was going to have to use it.
It was a friend of mine said, you know, you're gonna have to get on social media.
I'm like, yeah, I'm of the Facebook era.
Now there were zips, TikTok and Instagram and Twitter.
I had no clue.
I do know once I started getting on Instagram and posting and just trying to get my footing
there, you were one of the first people that I connected with.
I don't remember how if I saw your stuff started following you or if it was the other way
around, but I'm really grateful.
I don't remember who first, but I remember seeing your stuff and I was like, she seems
like she would be really cool to work with.
And also you were like the one person that was constantly liking my posts and my stores.
And you still do.
I do.
One of my biggest supporters.
I do.
I really appreciate that.
Well, you do the same for me, so I appreciate it.
Yeah, so just why don't we start with you telling us a little bit about your business
and then we'll talk about how you got into it.
Okay.
So, I've been running my business officially since 2012.
It actually wasn't my first pass, but we'll get back to all of that.
What was the question?
Tell us about your business and then you'll get into how you got into it.
Oh, right, right, right.
Okay.
So, yeah, started in 2012.
A little bit about my business.
Right now I'm shooting a lot of weddings, portraits, branding, allotments, product photography.
I also do some fun, like editorial shoots.
A lot of those I kind of create in my head and execute, but yeah.
And kind of what I do.
Okay.
And so is this something that you're doing full time?
It is part time.
Okay.
So I'm currently, I still, I work in the medical field.
A lot of people don't know that about me.
I do that three days a week, Monday through Wednesday, and then my Thursday through Sunday is
all dedicated to photography.
Right.
So, hoping to make it full time.
Yeah.
So, why is it that you wound up getting into this?
So back, like a little bit of a backstory.
So when I was a teenager, I think it was about 17, my grandparents gifted me a camera for
Christmas.
I kept saying I wanted that.
I really wanted a DSLR.
This was film at the time.
Like, I don't even think digital was a thing.
Okay.
17.
So, I really just kept hitting, dropping hits that I really wanted a DSLR camera.
And then eventually my grandparents got me one for Christmas.
So that was really cool.
My first Nikon film camera.
Oh.
So basically just learned how to use that.
And I took a photography class in school.
Okay.
I was trying to take like really artsy abstract images.
I remember taking pictures of like an electric, like a power plant that just smoke at night
and the cold and, you know, just pictures of everything.
Sure.
So that's kind of how I started and then eventually like it, I didn't really do this professionally
until my late 20s.
Okay.
Just like a period where it was just all for fun from like, my teenage years.
Sure.
Late 20s.
Right.
A coworker of mine saw my photos on Facebook and said, "I've been seeing your photos on
there and I really want you to photograph my wedding."
And I'm like, "No, you do not want me to photograph your wedding.
I'm not a professional photographer.
This is like just fun for me."
Right.
And she's like, "No, I've been, I've been looking at all your photos and you're really talented.
I really want you to shoot my wedding."
And I was, so I just kept trying to talk her out of it.
And eventually I caved and she said, "Well, how much can I, how much will you charge me?"
And I said, and I had to go on to like eBay to see what a, a used speed light sold for.
Right.
I was like, "If this is going to be indoors, I'm going to need a flash and a battery pack
so that I did go through my battery so quickly."
So I literally charged her like $400.
Okay.
And that was the first wedding I shot paid.
She got that for a bargain.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And she actually loved her photo.
Oh good.
So that, from there, it kind of took off and I had different people asking me for, you know,
family photos, more weddings.
It just kept going from there.
Okay.
Posting on Facebook.
Right.
And people saw my work and were like, "That's really cool.
We didn't know your worth of photographers."
Right.
Okay.
And so now that you're doing this, this is something that you'd like to be doing full
time.
That's the goal.
I love it.
I feel like I'm living two different lives right now.
Right.
And it's crazy how my attitude and everything just changes.
Monday through Wednesday, I'm like one person Thursday through Sunday.
I'm like this relaxed, happy person just loving life.
Sure.
When you're getting to do what it is that you love.
Exactly.
And Sunday nights, it's like anxiety kicks in and I'm like back to the grind.
Well, hopefully that'll, that's definitely on the horizon for you, I'm sure.
So what is your ideal booking?
I mean, because we're friends, we've chatted just personally, not just about business.
So I know that you've talked about loving branding shoots.
I know that that's one of the things that you really, really love doing.
So just walk us through what's an ideal booking for you or what does an ideal job look like
for you?
Right.
Okay.
So it didn't used to be like this, but in the last few years, I found that clients have really
started to trust me in the creative process.
So probably my favorite thing to do is, or favorite thing is when a client contacts me and
is like, I love your work.
We want to do an engagement shoot, for instance.
But we have no idea where we want to do it.
And I will respond back.
Well, like tell me a little about about you and your fiancee.
Right.
What do you guys like to do for fun?
How did you meet all that stuff?
And then I just start coming up with ideas.
Like it just keeps coming out of my mouth.
And most of the time, everybody, like clients really, really love that.
Right.
They really didn't even, like I had a really cool couple that contacted me.
Wanted to do an engagement shoot, but they had no idea where.
Sure.
So I found out that they met in a bowling alley.
Oh.
I found out which bowling alley and I contacted the bowling alley and found out that we
could shoot there.
We opened up early for us and they love the idea.
It was fantastic.
Like that is the kind of stuff I live for.
It's just getting to be creative and all these ideas, these bucket list shoot items I have
in my head when clients are like, hell, yeah, I want to do that.
Yeah.
That's my favorite.
I feel like that really sets you apart probably from other photographers that you actually
took the time to get to know them, did a little bit of research and went out of your
way to try to find a location that would be really special to them.
I feel like it's fulfilling for both of us.
I mean, they're getting something that's unique, fun and that doesn't feel like your typical
photo shoot.
Right.
A lot of people forget they're in front of a camera when they're doing something interactive
like that.
So it's fulfilling for them because it's almost like just a fun day out.
They get to hang out with me.
Not like, you know, I'm not two to my own.
Horn or anything.
Not two, too.
But we get to hang out like kind of like friends shoot and then I love the end result and
getting to meet these people and hang out with them too.
So it's kind of like a win-win for everybody.
Right.
So the equipment that you have to bring with you to complete these jobs, what is that like?
Are you able to manage all that?
Do you have someone that helps you?
It really depends.
It depends on what the setting is.
Like the bowling alley for instance, I knew I was going to have to use flash.
Bowling alley don't typically let a whole lot of light in.
There's a ton of windows.
But there's also an arcade at the bowling alley.
So I was still using my flash, but I was relying more on the lights from the machines and
stuff.
So it like I said, it depends on the location.
I try to always bring backup equipment with me just in case you know, God forbid, something
fails.
But outdoor locations, you know, I'm typically not using a flash.
It's a day time.
I might bring a reflector with me like, you know, this one here just in case.
Yeah.
But I don't typically have a helper.
Surprisingly, I do a lot of work on my own, but every once in a while I'll recruit my
husband.
Yeah.
No, I know same, same.
And he's always happy to support me.
I know.
I know.
We have some great guys I know for sure.
So let's talk about your style.
One of the things that I love about your photos, they're moody.
Some of them, sometimes the color is so vibrant.
So what do you think sets you apart in terms of your style from other photographers that
are out there offering those services?
I feel like, you know, when I first started, there was a lot.
I mean, there's always trends, sure, especially with the digital cameras.
Like, you know, it's changed a lot since, you know, film was the primary format.
I feel like, you know, when I started shooting, the theme was everyone shot light and airy.
I even surprisingly shot light and airy and I look back and I'm like, oh my God, you can't
differentiate the people.
Sorry, just hit the mic.
You can't differentiate the people from the background because they're so washed out.
You can't see skin tones very well.
So I, now I find that dark and moody is like the thing, you know, and muddy tones, like
a lot of like brown kind of casts.
And that's pretty in all, but I love vibrant color.
I also like bold.
So I try to, you know, have a little bit more contrast in my photos, get some bold fun
colors, but I also can read the room.
So I know that if we're shooting in a certain venue, certain looks would be better than
others.
Right.
If I'm shooting in an arcade, I know it's going to be a lot of fun, bright, vibrant colors.
So I'm going to go for that bold, vibrant colorful look, but I did a Boudoir shoot and I
knew that, you know, we were using on a natural light, but typically Boudoir is dark and
moody.
Sure.
So, you know, I might not have as many vibrant colors in that just to like, you know, make
it a little more dramatic.
Yeah, sexy, you know.
Yeah.
So let's talk about challenges.
So I know one of the challenges inherently is you're balancing your career in the medical
fields with this career that you're building in photography.
That said, with the photography aspect of you, what are some things that you're finding
just really difficult and challenging?
It should be just related to the industry, it could be clients, equipment, just some obstacles
in this.
Probably the hardest thing for me, I mean, work life balance is one thing, that's a bait
major thing, but the hardest thing business-wise for me has been marketing.
Yeah.
It's like getting my product in front of eyes of the people that I actually really want
to work with.
Like a lot of clients don't realize when they contact me, those are the clients I really,
really want to work with.
And I do like a little celebration inside when they contact me because they're seeing my
work and they're like, "Oh, that's cool.
I feel like we could vibe really well."
But yeah, marketing has been really tough in the digital age.
It's not like it used to be, you know.
But I mean, there's pros and cons.
Now I get free marketing with social media, but you have to be able to keep up with that.
Right.
So I would say that is the biggest challenges, like actually bringing those people to me.
Right.
In terms of social media, what are the social media apps that you're relying most heavily
on?
Um, most heavily is Instagram for number one.
I felt like that was made for photographers and all pictures essentially.
That's number one.
And I also still keep on Facebook because believe it or not, like I feel like there's still
some people on Facebook that pay attention.
Right.
But I would say out of the two Instagram, it probably gets in front of more eyes for a photographer.
Yeah.
Obviously, never, when I heard of Twitter and TikTok, I'm like, nope, never.
I'm never doing that.
Yeah.
I don't want to overlap myself.
Right.
Like, already have enough going on.
I don't want to overwhelm myself.
And Twitter, I mean, I don't know how many clients you could really bring in for a photographer
on Twitter.
Yeah, I don't feel like I had, I started with the Instagram, Facebook, um, and Twitter,
just because it was a thing and I thought, well, it's a thing.
I have to be doing it.
So I was posting on Instagram, which is lovely because then it just dumps right onto Facebook.
So you don't really have to do much there.
But then I had to post separately on Twitter.
I was not getting engagement.
And the things that I have friends and family send me from Twitter, they're not business related.
So I hear some politics.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Or look at this person doing something silly on the street.
I thought, okay, I have to, I have to just shift because I'm, I'm going through the motions,
posting it and it's really not.
I did just venture into the TikTok arena.
You said the TikTok.
The TikTok is a TikTok.
I think you just dated yourself.
Yeah.
So I just started with that and I, I, oh, I'm not creating original content for the TikTok.
What I'm just taking certain videos that I have on Instagram that, you know, just
I feel like did very well, you know, had a lot of views.
I had this conversation with my friend.
You know, what social media app should I be on?
And she said, well, where are your clients?
You know, are your clients on TikTok?
Hmm.
I don't think so.
I don't.
Are they on Twitter?
Probably not.
It's mostly Instagram and Facebook.
So that's where I'm focusing the attention.
But I do have to admit, I, I just started with TikTok just as an extra.
Let me see.
Maybe this will get, because I see a lot of other people are on it, you know, where they'll
make TikTok videos and then they post those on Instagram and so they're stamped and I
can see that they came from.
Yeah.
TikTok.
So maybe I should do this.
I don't know.
I know.
I do hear about a lot of people getting on TikTok and it maybe it does make a difference
for me.
Like, like I said, I feel like a little overwhelmed sometimes with the amount of social
media that I have to keep up with already.
It's exhausting.
And the other thing is like, I know like on TikTok, you see a lot of videos people doing funny
dances and stuff and I'm like, I don't, guys, I'm sorry, but I don't think you're ever gonna
see me doing a fun dance on TikTok.
It's just me.
Like, I'm here because I, I make, like, art, you know, I like, take pictures.
Right.
That's my thing.
I'm not here to like, be a clown for everybody.
Sure.
But I like posting funny stuff sometimes.
Yes.
You know, it turns me serious all the time.
Right.
I know.
I would say Instagram for you.
Instagram is, yeah.
I think for me too, I've gotten the most engagement through Instagram as well.
And I've met so many people through Instagram, which, you know, I started out with, I don't
want to talk to anybody.
I don't want to talk to anybody.
I don't meet anybody.
I don't like anybody.
But I really, I feel like I've amassed such a wonderful community of creatives, particularly
women business owners, just doing their thing and the shared experiences that we have.
And the support, you know, we, we, we, we, we, we, we mentioned at the beginning how you're
supporting my posts and I'm supporting yours.
I, I feel like that was something so unforeseen.
And I'm getting most of that on, on Instagram, for sure.
So again, I'm not in, you know, photography and, and all that, but I have heard people
complain about Instagram, how it used to be, I guess, more photo-based.
And now there's a lot of videos.
I, I don't understand that because I wasn't on Instagram when it was all photos.
So when I came into it, reals, they were already a thing.
And I had to, oh, I can't just post photos.
I have to do these reals, you know, I have to make these videos.
What you're feeling about that as a photographer?
That for me is like the most frustrating thing about Instagram is that there's trends.
I mean, like you said, before you were on their, you know, you didn't know that it was all
photo.
Right.
I've been on it.
Geez, I can't, I don't remember when I actually signed up for it.
I was a little late to the game, but not too late.
Sure.
But it was all really just photos and videos.
And then I think stories were happening.
Okay.
Reals became a thing eventually.
Yeah.
The reals I had a hard time with because again, I just wanted to like post my photos
for people to see.
Right.
And now I had to be even more creative.
Yeah.
So, so then I finally started getting up, you know, getting on track with the reals and like
I was starting to ace it.
And then they're like, surprise, we're not going to focus so much on reals anymore.
Like I just posted a real, I think two days ago and people barely liked it.
It's like they're dead already, you know?
That's probably the hardest thing about Instagram is like the ever changing, but that's life.
Everything's always going to change.
For sure.
It's so hard, right?
When you post something, you think, oh, this is really, this is gold.
Yeah.
This is great.
And you just never know what is going to land.
Mm-hmm.
Well, and what's going to stick and are people going to like it?
I feel like the videos that I'm like, this one's all right.
They're like the most.
Mm-hmm.
Whereas the one that I put the most time and effort into it, like you said, barely anyone
has seen it.
That's really hard to navigate and it's frustrating.
It is frustrating.
And the other thing is you have to be conscious of the days of the week that you're posting
in the times of the day that you're posting.
Yeah, that's a thing, right?
I am constantly on my cell phone before I post anything.
Like what is the best time on a Tuesday to post?
Right.
So I think about all that stuff before I do that.
But I do have to say one of the life saver functions that I've been implementing recently
and I don't know if you do it.
I've been scheduling, have not done it.
I've heard about it, but I've never done it.
For someone like me who just mentally checks out Monday through Wednesday every week because
my job is just physically and mentally exhausting, to like on a Sunday have things scheduled
for the week as a game changer because you know, I could be with a patient at nine o'clock
in the morning on a Tuesday and chips coming up on here.
Sure, yeah, sure.
It's hitting the fan.
And I'm not thinking about, oh my god, my business, like I really need to make a post so everybody
can see it at this time because this is like the time to post.
So it actually is really a game changer for a lot of small business owners.
Like think, you guys should take advantage of it.
I'll have to try that.
And so you schedule it and it legit will just post when you tell it to.
Oh my gosh.
I think people hire other people to do this stuff for them.
And it's actually not that hard to do.
And yeah, it's something that you could do on like in your downtime, you have a day of the
week where you're pretty, you know, pretty caught up on your work and you're like, I got
to do a couple of posts right next week or the week after and then you just think of the
blog post, same thing.
You can schedule those too.
So when you're not working, so like the latter part of your week, what's the process that
someone goes through to get in touch with you?
So usually most people contact me through email.
That's the best way to get in touch with me.
A lot of like sounds so cliche, but like DMs get lost.
So you know, and if you're not following me or I'm not following you on Instagram, right?
I'm not going to see it's going to come up as a request and it won't even show me that
it's there.
Sure.
I'll have to like keep checking it constantly.
Yeah.
So number one is emailing me.
So usually people will, you know, Google wedding photographer in, you know, PA wedding
photographer or Philadelphia wedding photographer.
Don't worry, County photographer.
And they'll, they'll, you know, scroll through, find my website and then check out the photos
and then like, hmm, maybe, maybe she would be someone good to work with and they'll go through
my contact form and that will wrap to my email.
Okay.
So step one is email.
I'll reply back to them and I try to get them to have a conversation with me on the phone.
I feel like a lot of human connection is lost through email and you forget that there's
actually a person on the other side.
So I try to see when they're available to chat.
Right.
That's like step two.
And then we set up a time to chat over the phone, sometimes we face time or video chat.
Okay.
I just go through a bunch of questions like what, what does your wedding day look like?
What is your date?
You know, what is your fiance's name?
What do, what is important to you on your wedding day?
Like what do you really want captured and all that stuff?
Like all the details.
And then, you know, I asked them, I tell them about my process.
Like, you know, once, you know, there is a deposit that has to be paid, the balance, all
that stuff.
And then you usually get your photos within one to two months after your, your wedding day
on a, you, like, a basically inform them what they're doing.
They get and everything.
And then, and then it usually takes, either they're like, ready to book, right away, or they
need a little bit of time to figure it out or maybe they weren't planning on, you know,
what that was going to look like financially.
I think a lot of people don't think about that is, you know, how much photography really
sure.
So I mean, I, I know that's another, going to be probably another question, but yeah,
so I'm just walking them through what it's going to be like the whole process from start
to end.
And then we figure out if we're going to work together, right?
So what I hear you saying is sometimes, you know, in addition to underestimating the cost
of services, sometimes you don't hear from people, they reach out and, you know, sometimes
you take all this time, you're asking them about their wedding date and what does it look
like and all of that and you get so far in the process with them.
And then it doesn't actually materialize into a legitimate booking.
Oh my gosh, it crushes me.
It doesn't it?
I know it crushes it does.
Small business owner.
Yeah, it does for sure.
It's like a little bit of closure, please.
Like I, I understand if you don't want to work with me, I get it.
Like I'm not.
My feelings will be heard.
Yeah.
They hurt, it hurts more when I don't hear from you, you know, especially when it's somebody
you're really vibing with.
Right.
Right.
We're totally going to work together.
Yeah.
And then they're, you know, like you don't ever hear from them again.
Right.
So will you, like what's that process like?
Will you reach out to them?
Um, how does that work?
I usually reach out once more if I don't hear back, you know, I'm not going to, I'm not
going to try to beg for people to work with you.
Like if you really want to work with me, you'll work with me.
And if, you know, if you want to be respectful of the human on the other, the email, you'll
say I'm sorry, but I'm not interested.
I do find that, you know, everybody is busy.
Mm-hmm.
Sometimes it just slips through the cracks and like they mean to keep emailing you and they
don't.
So I know it's not usually bad intentions, but it does hurt when you're in a bad,
when you get ghosted, right?
Yeah, it does.
Just say no.
Yeah, right?
Just let me know.
Yeah, I hear you.
What are some personality traits or I don't know, um, just some skills and besides photography
skills, you know, just like life skills that you think are really important to have in
this business?
Um, ability to adapt.
Correct.
Because everything in this field and in pretty much any field nowadays is ever changing.
Like being a photographer 50 years ago is way different than it is now.
You know, not only do you have the internet and social media and all that stuff, but every,
like, you know, there's digital cameras.
It's not, there are film photographers, but like, for instance, when I looked at my parents
wedding album, it was all like documentary, I'm sorry, not documentary, so it was very post.
Okay.
So it was like, you know, everybody is in position, looking perfect, smiling at the camera.
And it's just very like, like, very stiff and, you know, and so like, that's, that's way
different now.
I feel like there are a lot of post photos and yeah, I'm guilty of posting people, but I try
to get a lot of motion in my photos and I try to like make it feel more natural and
relaxed.
Right.
So I usually give people a task.
Okay.
And then kind of like move towards the camera or, you know, just to make it feel like it's
not so stiff and posed and like, you're a statue, right?
You know, those are my favorite things.
But, yeah, the other thing is, okay, let's see.
Oh, being humble.
I did not crap all for this.
I apologize.
But anyway, yeah, it's being professional is one, like, we work with other photographers
and vendors.
I find that these people are like, I feel like they're easier to work with when they're
have a being a set, like, are kind of humble.
I'm in the wedding industry.
You're working with all different vendors and on a day of it can like really make or break
the whole working experience.
Sure.
When you're working with someone who's kind of like, snobby and doesn't want to give you
the time of day, right?
And you know, things are better than you.
Yeah.
Just like people are just like, hey, we're all here to do this together.
Like, we're the 18 for the day.
Like, let's, let's make this happen.
And, you know, like, I actually tend to make friends with the people I'm working with,
even though I haven't met them before.
Just because, like, I try to be laid back and friendly and professional, but like, not too
uptight.
Right.
And never cocky.
Yeah.
And never cocky.
So when you think about your business, what are some of the values that you hope,
people associate with you and your business and the work that you're doing?
I'm going to have to look at my cheeks for a little swan.
I'll take a sip while you do that.
Take your time.
Oh, here we go.
Okay.
I can't think on the fly just so you know, but, you know, when it's something like this,
I want it to matter.
All right.
Go ahead.
Hit me.
Probably the most important thing, like the most important value is just being kind.
I try to be kind to myself and others.
I think that I feel like that translates a lot onto my website on my social media, you
know, like, life is not easy.
And we are all very hard on ourselves.
So I really try to promote self-love.
I was a chubby kid growing up.
I had body issues up until a few years ago.
And when I finally accepted my body, I began to see myself as beautiful on the out.
Outside as well.
And then really enjoy building others up to you.
So I really try to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone.
And I find that like when you do a photo shoot and you're doing something that's pretty
uncomfortable for you, it's actually like a huge confidence boost.
So like I really want, I've always thought that since I started photography, like what
could be my mission that could change the world, you know?
And it's to really help people see just how beautiful they really are, you know?
I love that.
So I used to be like really heavy into retouching when I first started.
I remember when like my first wedding I ever shot, I was in Photoshop a lot.
Like fixing any skin in perfection, any little wrinkle on the dress.
And now I like barely ever open up Photoshop.
It helps me in the editing process for one.
But I'm also more mindful when I'm shooting about, you know, things in pockets and, you
know, stuff like that hair out of place.
But also like I like to document what's actually happening.
And I feel like I've kind of broadcasted that.
That's like that's my thing is I try not to.
I think it's on your website, right?
Or there's a blur of that that speaks to that in some way.
There's actually a part on my website that's like a little bit about me and, you know,
it said like if you want me to look, make you look like somebody that you're not, then
maybe we aren't the right fit for each other.
Because I want people to look like themselves.
That's one thing and the other thing is I also don't want to spend forever in a day editing
your photos to make you look like someone else.
Yeah, look like somebody else.
So I mean people are going to see these photos and be like, wow, but that doesn't look like
you, you know, I want people to embrace things that people may think are flaws.
And I think we're all harder on ourselves than other people than, you know, like things
that you feel self-conscious about, I would never have thought of.
For sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You talk about this journey that you've been on to love yourself and accept yourself.
And I think it's, yeah, I think I needed to hear that actually.
So thank you for that.
So if you could go back and, you know, just have a conversation with your, you know, 18,
19 year old self.
What do you, what are some things that you think that you would say?
I don't know.
That'll for less.
That would be one thing.
You're, you know, you're worth so much more than you think.
And you're also a little badass.
You just don't realize it yet.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, that would be, that would be the one thing.
And then the other thing that, and parents, you might want to use earmuffs for this one.
Because I feel like I might get some backlash for this one, but I think that college is
not quite for everyone.
I know that's a hard thing.
Like you don't want your kids to ever hear that because, you know, like automatically after
high school, you think the next step is going into college.
But I think that a lot of people have taken detours that way.
Yeah.
Like actually distracted them from what they really wanted to do.
So, you know, when I graduated high school, I believe it or not, was wanted to be a veterinarian.
And I, and the thought of being a photographer never even occurred to me.
So long story short, you know, I ended up in radiology about that human health was probably
better fitted for me than, you know, working with animals that were hurting.
So that kind of redirected me.
But the reason I got into radiology was because of my love of photography, but also like I really
love science and anatomy and physiology.
So I was like, what could I do in the medical field that would, that I could be good at?
Taking pictures of people's insides, that's so creepy.
But it's, but it's blending of the two.
Yeah, it's true.
It's actually how I got into radiology.
I started an x-ray.
They went to CAT scan and MRI.
Yeah.
But now here we are back at the beginning.
And my ultimate passion was taking photos.
Yeah.
So I feel like all those years stood in between me doing what I probably should have been
doing in the first place, but also I like getting into the medical field and, and meaning of
our people and then seeing my photos on Facebook and stuff is actually helped me grow my business
as well.
So it's kind of like who knows how it would have been if I went the other direction, but I
do think that college is not for everyone and don't feel like you have to go in order
to do what you love.
Right.
Like really, I, I, again, parents, I'm sorry.
But sometimes taking a break to figure out what you really want to do is like the way to
go because a lot of, I mean, think about kids coming out of high school.
They don't even know what they want for dinner tonight.
Yeah.
Do they really think they know what they want?
Yeah, it's, it's a struggle, it's a challenging time because you feel like you have to know
what it is that you want.
And this has to be your forever thing.
Mm-hmm.
That's a lot of pressure.
Yeah.
But I think I feel like it makes us want it more.
And you know, this wasn't your first path either.
And it kind of puts everything into perspective and makes you want it more.
Yeah.
So since we're on a roll here with giving advice, what, what are some pieces of advice that
you would give entrepreneurs that are starting out, particularly women?
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
I'm going to have to refer back to my cheat sheet on this one.
I'm still sipping.
Okay.
Um, practice.
There we go.
Jeez, my memory is so horrible.
Practice, practice, practice because you're never going to be the way you, like, the way
I am now, I started my business back in 2012.
And I mean, if you look at my pictures from 2012, you'd be like, oh my god, like I would
never hire you if I had to.
Oh, now.
I mean, style was different.
Sure.
And like I said, I started out like kind of light and airy.
Mm-hmm.
I was actually like, honestly, the first wedding I shot, it was still pretty bold and everything.
Okay.
I feel like I kind of went back to that style a little bit.
But then I started getting into like the light and airy stuff because that was the trend.
I just feel like, I feel like because of the experience I've had and being able to practice
all these years and learn things, it has really molded me.
I mean, you're not going to be good at anything pretty much the first time you do it, right?
You're going to have to learn that and get better at it and just keep practicing in order
to get to where you are.
So I would say practicing is number one.
Like when I first started before I even shot that one wedding by myself, I offered to
shoot for free alongside a hired photographer that I had known at a few weddings.
Just to help build my experience, get the feel of the day, like what's expected of the photographer
and to build my portfolio at the same time.
So I know a lot of people starting out don't want to hear it, but shooting for free the
first few times just to get comfortable, not have high expectations.
Like clients are not going to be upset with you because they're not paying you for it.
Right.
They really can't get mad at you if maybe you screwed something up or just wasn't as good
as you wanted it to be.
But yeah, just doing that and like I said, I'm thankful that I had a mentor and had somebody
that I had known who was in the photography industry and he kind of took me under the
wing, gave me some tips on, you know, light room, which is my primary editing software and
photo shop.
You just gave me, he gave me some really, really valuable advice.
That's great.
Thanks, Mike.
I just want to give you a shout out.
Hi, Mike.
But yeah, he gave me a lot of basic knowledge of professional photography and I'm so glad
that like I really, I really pushed myself and kept practicing because I feel like my photos
now.
Sometimes I look at my photos when I'm editing.
I'm like, whoa, I shot that.
Yeah.
That looks really good.
Yeah.
That happens, but then I look back at photos from five years ago and I'm like, ah, right,
not so good.
So you're going to keep growing and getting better no matter how long you do something.
That's the thing.
So give yourself a little bit of patience and be gentle with yourself.
Yeah.
What you just said is a really good lead into my next question.
What is the one project that you've done or shoot to use your terminology?
That you are, it's just, you think it's your best work and you're super proud of it.
Oh, that's tough.
It's probably some of my editorial stuff.
Okay.
Although my engagement shoots have been really freaking awesome recently.
That's really tough.
One that really stands out was, one I did at the graffiti pier.
This was an unpaid shoot.
This was me really wanting to do some funky stuff from the portfolio and get some friends
involved.
It was like February or March and I recruited a friend of mine and her husband and said,
hey, I really want to do this like goth smoke bomb photo shoot at the graffiti pier.
And we're all like standing there.
You know, Fabians behind me with a cool, like we had to put these things out too.
You can't just leave them there.
Yeah.
I'm not going to watch fire.
I don't want to be responsible for like watching anything on fire.
So he's like behind me.
We're both like teeth chattering and like I'm shaking the camera.
But it was just so fun.
We had like music playing.
We're playing the Smiths and you know, it was just like, I love this.
This is like my jam.
I can hear it in your voice.
He's doing is doing like really creative fun edgy stuff that maybe not everybody is doing
right?
Yeah, that's cool.
So earlier you mentioned, you know, just loving yourself and knowing who you are and accepting
yourself, you're balancing your photography business with your radiology job.
What are some things that you do because running a small business is really, it can be very,
very stressful.
Especially when you know, you're really running it by yourself and I feel that too.
What are some things that you do to manage the stress of it all?
Music is probably my, it's definitely my biggest outlet.
Like listening to music or a lot of people don't know this, but I actually sing.
Okay.
So I will like come down here in my basement and close the door by myself and I'm blasting
music and I'm singing along, but I just feel like this huge weight has been lifted when
I'm all done.
So that is probably being alone and music.
Those are just a good way for me to decompress and feel like a normal happy person again.
Right.
So long term goals for your business.
I mean, obviously you'd like to do this full time.
So with that said, what are some other goals that you have?
Where do you see yourself?
The one thing I haven't really talked about to many people recently is my love of branding
photography.
I am really, really trying to gear my business primarily towards branding.
So I'm hoping to make that happen really soon.
I still love doing weddings.
I still love editorial stuff.
I'm still open to doing other things.
I want that to be like the real meat and potatoes of my business.
Why is that?
I really love working with small business owners.
I love like meeting people, getting to hear their story, helping them grow.
Well, I'm growing at the same time because you think about it.
Like I'm taking your photos.
Yeah.
But so I'm promoting you on my website, on my social media, but you're also promoting
me because I took the photographs.
So it's kind of like a win-win situation.
And the other things I don't think you know this, but a lot of the small businesses I work
with are people that I would actually support if I weren't a photographer.
Or like, you know, I don't remember who friend and who one.
Instagram.
Yeah, I don't know.
I love like your work and your spirit.
And you like were one of the people who are constantly liking my photos and my stories
and everything.
So a lot of the businesses are actually all the small businesses that I work with are people
that I actually would choose to work with.
Like I would actually, you know, go there, spend money myself because I believe in your
business just as much as I believe in my business.
So I really like that, you know, we're both growing together and I'm like able to network.
So it's kind of like it feels fulfilling to me.
Right.
Like maybe more than other types of photography do because I'm helping you to like I'm boosting
you up and helping you too.
What are some tips that you have for entrepreneurs that might help them run their business more
efficiently or more smoothly?
The one thing I think I said it earlier was about scheduling posts.
That scheduling email scheduling posts scheduling like on Instagram, Facebook scheduling blog posts.
Those could actually make your life a lot easier because you know my Monday through Wednesday
gig, my medical gig, it's when when shit is hitting the fan, I'm not thinking about oh
my god, it's time to post this thing on Instagram.
It's because it's the peak time for viewers or whatever.
So if you know like the night before maybe I have some downtime and like I really need to
post something on Instagram, it's been a little silent on there lately.
And I know the peak time is nine o'clock.
I don't know if you can see my eye rolled.
We can hear it.
Could you hear the eye rolled there?
So you know if you can schedule it the night before even days before it makes your life
so much easier because it's posting about peak moment.
You don't have to think about it anymore, it's already doing the work for you.
So doing that, scheduling blog posts, email.
Tell you the one thing you did put me onto, 17 hats.
Yes, yeah, that was the game changer.
It's really nice.
It's your business a little more organized for sure.
It's kind of like a trapper keeper.
Yeah.
But like a digital website trapper keeper.
Yeah.
Do you had to name three really important or influential people in your life who would
they be?
First would definitely be my mom.
She raised myself and my twin sister from the age of two on by herself.
So she really taught me that being like I could do anything, I can be independent.
She really, she was the one who truly taught me how to be independent and not to rely on
others.
So she's number one.
My number two would be my grandfather.
He is one of my favorite people in the world.
He just has this really chill vibe about him.
He's so friendly.
He makes conversations at the grocery store with the cashier and does dad jokes and stuff.
But he is actually the one who kind of inspired me to get into photography.
This camera we have right here was his and there's actually still masking tape on the side with
like the f-stops and what settings you should use your shutter speed when you're using flash.
But he ultimately went to Nikon and that's kind of why I shoot Nikon.
My first camera was a Nikon.
I still shoot Nikon to this day.
But he was like the documentarian of the family.
So he was the one who documented trips and family gatherings.
And he had a video camera at our dance recital.
My sister and my dance recital.
He's just like, I love that man.
Love you Papa if you're listening.
Which you probably are not.
Not many people in our 80s are going to be listening to this podcast about my business.
But you never know.
You never know.
You never know.
So he's number two.
My third would be free to call.
She's just a badass.
Let's be real.
It was a feminist, an art like a crazy good artist like vibrant, bold, daring, different,
she just didn't give a flying f about anything.
She just did things to make herself happy and I love that.
Yeah, she was a real badass.
Those are really great choices.
Right, so if people wanted to get in touch with you, how would they find you?
One of the easiest ways to do it is going into Google and just typing in Brittany, Elena
Photography.
That's B-R-I-T-T-A-N-Y space, E-L-E-N-A.
Photography, I hope you know how to spell that.
You can also find me.
My website is www.brittanyelenaphotography.com.
But probably one of the easiest ways is just going on Instagram and typing in the handle
@brittanyelenaphoto
And that will show my Instagram account.
Probably that's where I post the most.
I kind of, I can't say I neglect my website but I don't post on there as regularly as I
do on my Instagram account.
So yeah, if you get on there, make sure you click my website link.
It'll be a contact form on there.
The best way to contact me is through email.
Okay.
And so as we bring things to a close, we've been sitting here having really good conversation
about your business, my business.
And we've been enjoying a cocktail.
So can you tell me about what you made for me today?
Oh, so this is a Moscow meal.
It's probably my favorite drink.
It's delicious.
It's very refreshing.
And the ice is kind of melted at this point but it's in a copper mule mug.
Yeah, it's so good.
So the teacher in me, I'd like to give my guests on this podcast a little assignment.
And so your assignment is if you had to come up with a signature drink or signature cocktail
that you felt embodied the vibe of your business or you, you know, because you are the
business, what would that signature drink be?
It's probably more geared towards myself personally and it would be called the overthinker.
I like it because I had to overthink that question more than any other question.
And it occurred to me when I was lying in bed the other night because I overthink everything.
You know, I went through all these different names and I was like, that's not right.
That, no, no, that doesn't, that's not a good one.
And then it just popped into my head and then I could actually fall asleep after that.
That was the one.
So I would call it the overthinker.
And it would have watermelon, mint, simple syrup, crushed ice and a splash of grapefruit
soda.
That sounds delicious.
Yeah, you get some like interesting elements in there.
You'll have to make it for me.
I think we should definitely try it.
Yeah, I think so.
All right.
So let's end with a toast.
What are we going to drink to?
Friendship and success for our businesses for sure.
I like it.
All right.
To friendship and success.
Yep.
Cheers.
[MUSIC]