We are so pumped to have Stephanie Knowles of Jaiden Photography as our featured photographer this week! She is absolutely amazing! We are obsessed with her photos! Read on to learn more about her and her amazing photography!
I am a mom of two adorable, gorgeous kids (little biased) whose names are Aiden (6) and Jake (3). The name “Jaiden” derived from a mix of their names!! They are my true passion for working hard and pushing myself year after year in this business.
I have been married for close to 9 years and still loving every minute of it., my husband is a huge supporter of my career and without his daily jokes life would be a bore 🙂 We have two basset hounds, Jayda and Sadie and they are both rescues. I am very involved with a local animal shelter, and I foster and save the lives of shelter pets.
My dream would be to buy a huge piece of land, build a natural light studio and on the other side have a kennel full of adoptable shelter animals!! It will happen..one day 🙂 I love to travel and last year started traveling workshops, my kids tag along and we make a vacation out of it., mixing work and play is the best!!
This summer we have Costa Rica, Seattle, South Carolina on our list..so far. I love diet dr. pepper, tacos, french fries, avocados, the beach, a clean house, popcorn & cheese dip and my all time favorite movie author is Nicolas Sparks…I’m a sucker for hopeless romantic movies.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a photographer? I first realized I wanted to be a photographer in high school. I begged my parents to turn the basement into a darkroom!
When and how did you start out in photography? I started my photography business in 2009 when I was pregnant with my 2nd son, Jake.
How would you describe your style? Simple with a twist.
What’s in your gear bag? Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 105mm macro
One lens you can’t live without? My 50mm! It is ALWAYS on my camera body!
How did know when the right time to start charging was? When I could call myself a photographer in public!!!
How much did you charge for your first session and how much are you charging for the same type of session now? Oh goodness…maybe, maybe $75. I average between $800-$1200 each session now.
How did you market yourself when you started out? When I first started out, I advertised through word of mouth, and it is still the best form of advertising for me.
We are going to play a game… name the first person that comes to mind when you think of…
Newborn photographer: baby as art
Wedding photographer: jaime smith, couture weddings
Lifestyle photographer: pinkletoes
Most inspiration person: jinky art
Did you go to school for photography or were you self- taught? I have a B.A in communications and an AA in Photography. But I feel that I am mostly self-taught. I pushed myself as far as I could go in the beginning. I would be up till 3am on forums, shooting all times of the day..etc. In 2009, I attended Kelley Ryden’s workshop and loved it. It helped me get over that curve that I needed.
What has been some of the hardest things to overcome in your business? Time management. I have 2 young boys, so it was a struggle for me to give up the “stay at home mom” role. I felt so guilty but also knew I wasn’t running a business with my whole heart or being a mom with my whole heart. This past summer, I decided to send Jake (my 3yr old) to preschool full-time and it was the best decision for me. I now work full-time Monday-Friday and have the weekends for my family! Took me 3 years to figure that out, but now I have a system!
Do you have any tips for photographers just starting out? Don’t shoot for others, don’t shoot for Facebook, don’t gossip.
If for some reason you couldn’t be a photographer what do you think you would be? I would love to work at an advertising firm.
What’s the best lesson in photogrpahy that you’ve learned so far? Show your value, don’t defend it.
What are your thoughts on pricing? Charge what your worth!
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to put them in the comment field below!
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