Latest / The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast / Episode 40 From Film Rolls To Wedding Roles: Jana Scott Photography

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Episode 40 From Film Rolls To Wedding Roles: Jana Scott Photography · The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast

0:00
SPEAKER_01: Welcome to The Preferred List, a podcast about the people behind the best wedding days.
0:05
SPEAKER_01: I'm James, a wedding filmmaker.
0:06
SPEAKER_01: I've spent years in the industry working alongside incredible vendors, and this show is all about the real conversations with the ones who make it happen.
0:14
SPEAKER_01: Whether you're a vendor or a couple, you'll get honest insight, good stories, and maybe a little inspiration along the way.
0:21
SPEAKER_01: Let's meet today's wedding vendor.
0:23
SPEAKER_01: Hey Jenna, how's it going?
0:25
SPEAKER_00: How's it going, James?
0:25
SPEAKER_00: Good to see you.
0:26
SPEAKER_01: Good.
0:26
SPEAKER_01: I'm so glad to have you on.
0:27
SPEAKER_01: I'm so glad to meet you too.
0:29
SPEAKER_01: I've heard great things.
0:30
SPEAKER_00: Oh boy.
0:32
SPEAKER_01: All good things, all good things.
0:33
SPEAKER_01: Um, and I'm so excited to dive into all things photography, getting your experience and your unique perspective on how you serve your couples, and um, yeah, walk through one of the best days with them alongside them.
0:48
SPEAKER_01: Um before we do though, we are here at Harmony Forge filming this episode.
0:53
SPEAKER_01: Harmony Forge Inn is nestled into the Rolling Hills of Belfont, just 15 minutes away from Penn State.
0:59
SPEAKER_01: It features a historic house built in 1795, a newly remodeled creekside lodge, and a rustic barn with some modern touches.
1:08
SPEAKER_01: And if you haven't met Billy and Casey, they are just the best people.
1:12
SPEAKER_01: They are and it's just it's so much more than just a place to get married.
1:16
SPEAKER_01: You're walking into a place where people care about you, and they're also doing so much to improve the space.
1:22
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
1:23
SPEAKER_01: Um, even from the year ago that I met them, and to now, it's just so cool to see the things that they've done.
1:31
SPEAKER_01: We're we're diving right in, and I'm excited to hear more about all of the things um that you've experienced as a wedding photographer.
1:40
SPEAKER_01: But like I say to all of my guests, at one time you were not a wedding photographer, and then you were a wedding photographer.
1:48
SPEAKER_01: Can you take me back to where all of this began for Janice Scott photography?
1:53
SPEAKER_00: So I've always been interested in photography and have been in the dark room and out of the dark room.
1:59
SPEAKER_00: And after I graduated school, I thought, oh, uh, I graduated Penn State, and I thought I was gonna go on to do PhD.
2:07
SPEAKER_00: But I took a little break from school, went to work in the mental health field, and that was exhausting.
2:14
SPEAKER_00: So I decided to take a break from that and worked for a photographer who does fine art and portraits.
2:21
SPEAKER_00: Well, he was doing fine art at the time.
2:22
SPEAKER_00: His dark room had flooded.
2:24
SPEAKER_00: We're switching to digital.
2:26
SPEAKER_00: So I helped him do that, and I started my business shortly after that, and I learned a lot about business stuff.
2:32
SPEAKER_00: You know, I knew a lot about photography, but I didn't know a lot about how to run a business and how to treat clients and how to.
2:38
SPEAKER_00: I think for the first time there, I saw red and green in my prints too, which is different.
2:43
SPEAKER_00: Um, if you've ever seen your work in print and be like, that's too green, that's too red.
2:48
SPEAKER_01: Sorry, getting off track.
2:49
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no.
2:50
SPEAKER_01: I mean, there's people out there that probably lost you when you said dark room.
2:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
2:56
SPEAKER_01: So you're talking like film days.
2:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
2:59
SPEAKER_01: Um, not even, you know, we have digital cameras that just click click click, right?
3:04
SPEAKER_01: And you go through and take thousands and thousands of photos.
3:07
SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah.
3:08
SPEAKER_00: Too many photos.
3:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, right.
3:10
SPEAKER_01: What was it like uh having that kind of slower medium of film photography as like where you started?
3:16
SPEAKER_01: From my perspective, there there's gotta be a difference in the way that you started shooting film photography, stuff's moving a lot slower, yeah, more intentional.
3:29
SPEAKER_01: Like definitely you only have a certain number of frames per role.
3:33
SPEAKER_01: Did that kind of give you a starting point that was maybe different than some photographers that started right from digital, they can just click off a whole bunch of photos?
3:43
SPEAKER_00: That's an such an interesting question because I haven't really thought about it that way.
3:46
SPEAKER_00: But yes, and I shot my first wedding in film in 2003, and it was a candlelit ceremony in a big dark cavernous room.
3:56
SPEAKER_00: If you know anything about film, that was not great.
4:00
SPEAKER_00: And I did use camera um on camera flash for that.
4:04
SPEAKER_00: Um, and it was someone else's gear that I rented, so I wasn't a hundred percent familiar with it.
4:09
SPEAKER_00: But I the photos came out nice and I did a good job.
4:12
SPEAKER_00: Um, that was before I started paying taxes, so before I started my business in 2008, but yeah, very intentional with the framing.
4:20
SPEAKER_00: And what I appreciate about digital is you can roll a lot looser with people and not have to be like, okay, this right here.
4:29
SPEAKER_00: And you know, there's there's a lot of more personality and authenticity that I feel like can come through if you're you know engaging with your clients.
4:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for sure.
4:41
SPEAKER_01: What was that path like for you um making the decision to be like, I want to go do my own thing after having that experience with the kind of fine art side of things with the the guy that you were working for?
4:54
SPEAKER_00: So I was petrified to jump in and be a full-time photographer, but my husband pushed me out off the out of the nest, and I had been saving money for a horse, and he said, use that to upgrade your gear.
5:07
SPEAKER_00: At that point, I hadn't gotten a digital SLR.
5:10
SPEAKER_00: I had a lot of film gear and I had some digital gear, but it wasn't SLR quality.
5:15
SPEAKER_00: So invested in a good lens, got a good digital um SLR, and went for it.
5:20
SPEAKER_00: And assignments just started coming in.
5:23
SPEAKER_00: So this is a funny story.
5:24
SPEAKER_00: I was photographing a senior, a high school senior at a golf course, and the golf course manager came over and I thought for sure we were in trouble because I don't think either one of us got permission.
5:33
SPEAKER_00: And he said, Hey, we need some golf course shots.
5:37
SPEAKER_00: Can you do that?
5:38
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, Here's my card, you know, and it was just kind of things like that.
5:41
SPEAKER_00: Word of mouth kept spreading.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: And then my transition into the wedding industry was um kind of a natural one.
5:49
SPEAKER_00: I it was hard to do all the things.
5:52
SPEAKER_00: And so being a high school photographer, family photographer, all those things, uh it was nothing really clicked with me except weddings.
6:01
SPEAKER_00: And when I was looking for a studio space to display my fine artwork, I found a photographer that was in an artist collective.
6:10
SPEAKER_00: And she was kind of running the place and did everything but weddings.
6:14
SPEAKER_00: And she said, if you're gonna move in here, you can't uh do this other stuff, but you could do weddings.
6:20
SPEAKER_00: Like I kind of have this conflict of interest.
6:23
SPEAKER_00: And so I thought I'm good with that.
6:25
SPEAKER_00: I'll just do weddings.
6:27
SPEAKER_00: So it wasn't as intentional of a decision.
6:30
SPEAKER_00: Like when I look back on it now, it just felt like a natural path to photographing weddings.
6:35
SPEAKER_00: Um, and then I just haven't looked back.
6:37
SPEAKER_00: I've been full-time forever.
6:38
SPEAKER_01: I I was gonna say, like, it's so funny that that was the start, and then here you are now.
6:43
SPEAKER_01: How many years later?
6:45
SPEAKER_01: Like doing it, doing it well.
6:47
SPEAKER_01: Like, it's just it's so funny to see how things can start.
6:51
SPEAKER_01: And probably at that point you're like, Well, give it a try.
6:54
SPEAKER_00: Like, I was petrified the first six weeks of being full-time.
6:57
SPEAKER_00: I thought, how am I gonna do this?
6:59
SPEAKER_00: I don't know anything about a website, I need help with that.
7:02
SPEAKER_00: I don't know anything about taxes, I need help with that.
7:04
SPEAKER_00: I went to the small business association and they set me up with like how to register your name and all these different things, which now I think there's plenty of like tutorials out there, but we're talking like I needed major help, you know?
7:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: So that that was 2008.
7:19
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's so fun.
7:20
SPEAKER_01: Uh, was there a moment that you felt like after you were not petrified that you're like, this is actually something that like fits with maybe like your values or like something that you're like, this is actually what I feel like I was meant to be doing, like career-wise.
7:40
SPEAKER_00: There's a few points along the way that I I can highlight.
7:43
SPEAKER_00: I remember the first time a client that I didn't know or have a warm connection called me, and I was just thrilled.
7:50
SPEAKER_00: Like the the um client wanted me to photograph their wedding.
7:55
SPEAKER_00: They had seen my work, and that was just so validating as an artist, but it was like that next step of, oh, we could I could do this.
8:04
SPEAKER_00: And it was a very um fun wedding, and I got weddings from that wedding, you know, and it just kind of went from there.
8:12
SPEAKER_00: But knowing when I was created to do it, a whole nother story.
8:17
SPEAKER_00: I don't I know that I'm created to like be with people, serve people, yeah, um, make them feel love and cared for.
8:25
SPEAKER_00: Um, and so I think that I can do that through wedding photography, and I really enjoy photography.
8:30
SPEAKER_00: So those two things go together.
8:32
SPEAKER_00: But another point in time when I have recognized that this is something I'm good at um is that clients, family and friends, and I get this all the time.
8:43
SPEAKER_00: Did you know them before the wedding?
8:45
SPEAKER_00: Have you been their friend for a while?
8:48
SPEAKER_00: Like, is there you're just someone that they hired, you know, and people are honestly asking, do because I'm so some of those.
8:57
SPEAKER_01: It's so fun to hear like that journey and and kind of like realizing like that that was what you were supposed to be doing or what you were kind of created for.
9:07
SPEAKER_01: I'm curious if there's like other things that you were hearing maybe from people maybe at the wedding days or like couples that you're like kind of was like validating, like, no, this really is.
9:19
SPEAKER_01: I'm thinking that it is, and then people are also like validating that like this is what I'm I'm meant for.
9:25
SPEAKER_00: I really love caring for people, and when people started noticing all the different things I do on a wedding day for someone, like from bustling the dress to fixing decor to arranging this and that, I found that I got a lot of compliments after the wedding of um just that I was w caring well for my clients.
9:46
SPEAKER_00: And um, people uh would tell me, you know, or well, they would ask me, Did you know these people beforehand?
9:53
SPEAKER_00: Because we feel like you're friends with them.
9:55
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, no, I didn't know them.
9:57
SPEAKER_00: They they're definitely paying me to be here.
9:59
SPEAKER_00: This is a lot of work.
10:01
SPEAKER_00: But um, yeah, so I've become friends with so many clients over the years and love to catch up and still follow up with them.
10:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean it it it shows I think a little bit of character, but also just like your concern for the couple is more than just like they're paying me to be here, I'm taking their photos.
10:20
SPEAKER_01: Like worst.
10:21
SPEAKER_01: You want them to have a great day, the best day.
10:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and also feel cared for and that you're you're not just like their photographer.
10:29
SPEAKER_00: Right.
10:29
SPEAKER_00: No, absolutely.
10:30
SPEAKER_00: I I want them to know, be confident and relaxed that they're in a professional's hands, right?
10:36
SPEAKER_00: I want them to feel um like they can just be present in the moment and enjoy everything.
10:45
SPEAKER_00: And you know, we've planned well, you know, our timeline and everything.
10:48
SPEAKER_00: And so this is like just show up and enjoy the day.
10:51
SPEAKER_00: And you've hired professionals, lean on those professionals.
10:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
10:55
SPEAKER_01: So people listening and like watching right now, um, they know that you do photography, but maybe they've never seen your photography before.
11:03
SPEAKER_01: Uh, I would love to know if you could like describe like the style.
11:07
SPEAKER_01: Sure.
11:08
SPEAKER_01: And then even just like day of process, like how are you interacting with the couple, giving like a lot of direction or like kind of just a little bit more documentary, like letting stuff play out?
11:20
SPEAKER_01: Like, what's all that look like for you?
11:22
SPEAKER_00: So if I had to describe my style, I think I would say it's very true to color, but there's a lot of light involved.
11:29
SPEAKER_00: Um, I wouldn't necessarily describe myself as light and airy because I do like contrast.
11:36
SPEAKER_00: So true to color, um, very bright, very authentic emotion.
11:41
SPEAKER_00: Um and I do say that, you know, it I try to include as much nature in my work as possible with it still being a portrait of my clients.
11:50
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
11:51
SPEAKER_00: Um, so I work in central Pennsylvania a lot.
11:54
SPEAKER_00: And so that has been my canvas.
11:56
SPEAKER_00: So I'm not in downtown Philly all the time.
11:58
SPEAKER_00: Although I just shot in downtown Hoboken, like fine, you know, that isn't a whole nother interesting canvas, but most of my work is the canvas of central Pennsylvania.
12:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's so fun.
12:09
SPEAKER_01: It so day of you're trying to get the nature kind of involved, but it are you giving like a ton of direction?
12:16
SPEAKER_01: Like your couples expecting you to kind of like really take charge and tell them what to do?
12:21
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I absolutely lead them.
12:23
SPEAKER_00: Um, all of my clients come to me at some point and say, we are not models, like whether it's on the engagement session or the first call and say, like, we're uncomfortable in front of the camera.
12:32
SPEAKER_00: How can you help us?
12:34
SPEAKER_00: And that is totally my job.
12:35
SPEAKER_00: I make people feel comfortable and give them direction, but I'll put them in nice light and a nice setting and I'll have a vision for, oh, there's that tree, and I'm gonna put them here.
12:43
SPEAKER_00: And so I'll ask my clients to go there.
12:46
SPEAKER_00: And then I'll tell them, I'll give them a prompt.
12:48
SPEAKER_00: I'll ask them to talk to one another, share some words of affirmation, give themselves um, I'll ask funny questions, um, and I'll give them direction that is very clear.
13:00
SPEAKER_00: Um and some clients take a little bit and run with it, and other clients need a little bit more encouragement until they realize, oh, this is gonna be fine.
13:08
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna be fine.
13:09
SPEAKER_01: That is very accurate.
13:10
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
13:11
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
13:11
SPEAKER_01: Some couples you give like half a sentence and they're just like, boom, doing something cute and just living life.
13:17
SPEAKER_01: Others, you know, it's okay if you're a couple that you really do feel awkward and you need just a little bit more kind of guidance or where do I put my hands or right?
13:26
SPEAKER_01: The question the biggest question we always get, right?
13:29
SPEAKER_01: Um, how do you um how do you have that room for your couples to like stay present, but still knowing like you need to capture some sort of like portrait work, but you want them to have a good time and and oh yeah, like still be present for that part of the day.
13:44
SPEAKER_00: My best answer for that is really just giving, and these are these are great questions because I don't get them from clients, right?
13:50
SPEAKER_00: Like this is not how a client would ask me these questions.
13:53
SPEAKER_00: So this is great.
13:54
SPEAKER_00: Um, I shoot with primarily longer lenses.
13:59
SPEAKER_00: Um, so I'm farther away from my clients.
14:01
SPEAKER_01: Longer lenses for people who don't know what that is.
14:04
SPEAKER_01: I'm farther away.
14:04
SPEAKER_01: So 70 to 200.
14:06
SPEAKER_00: 70 to 200 and 85 is my uh favorite lens, but that gives me the space I need to be back for my clients.
14:14
SPEAKER_00: So if I ask them to share something intimate with one another, I don't hear what's going on, right?
14:19
SPEAKER_00: And so I try to put them in their own space and don't really interrupt.
14:23
SPEAKER_00: Like when we have a private vow session, like I'm not hearing the vows.
14:27
SPEAKER_00: I'm back far enough where I can reach them with my lenses and still get nice and close up, but I don't know what they're saying.
14:34
SPEAKER_00: And I think that really helps to give space because they are very intimate moments.
14:38
SPEAKER_00: And even though I know them, we've been in engagement session, we've been in plenty of meetings together, this is still their relationship, especially in that private vow time, because they're choosing not to be private.
14:49
SPEAKER_00: Um, I've had a number of private dances at the very end of the night.
14:54
SPEAKER_00: And I usually kick the DJ out even, you know, if there's anyone else in the room, I want it to be private and I'll go out of the room sometimes because we need to create these moments for our clients that I know are not just about the pretty pictures, right?
15:07
SPEAKER_00: That are really about them.
15:11
SPEAKER_01: No, I love I'm getting goosebumps because I I feel like that's a sometimes it's a it's a take that people don't really have because we have this like weird, like we're creatives, we're artists, we have a vision for like the photo that we want to capture.
15:30
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but it really is not about us.
15:31
SPEAKER_01: And I I think if more vendors in the creative space could have a it's not about us kind of mindset, we would probably have a better experience for our couples day of.
15:43
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:43
SPEAKER_01: And I do there's so many technical things that our couples just we said 85 and 70 to 200, they're probably like is that how fast you're driving?
15:55
SPEAKER_01: Like, I don't right, right.
15:57
SPEAKER_01: And it's okay if that's if they don't know.
16:00
SPEAKER_01: That's fine, but there's so many technical things that they just they're not ever gonna know.
16:04
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but that's why us as professionals need to be knowing our gear and knowing what our process is so that we can just do that secondhand because there's so much, as you know, in a wedding day that yes, we want to create those spaces for our clients, but unless we have all of our skills, we're not gonna be able to do that because we're gonna be worried about all the things, other things that we have to do.
16:28
SPEAKER_00: And we really can't create uh beautiful moments for them.
16:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
16:33
SPEAKER_01: Have you always kind of stuck with the like longer lenses standing farther back?
16:40
SPEAKER_00: I actually have.
16:41
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I remember second shooting for someone early on that shot close up, and I thought, oh, that's that's interesting.
16:49
SPEAKER_00: That's a different perspective.
16:51
SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry, not close up, but um like a grand, I call it a grand perspective where like there were tiny people and there was this, you know, and I thought that's an interesting perspective.
17:00
SPEAKER_00: I don't have that perspective.
17:01
SPEAKER_00: So I added it to my to my book, but it was it was an interesting moment because I had always just th thought I needed to zero really close up, and my fine artwork is all close-up macro images, so it kind of checks out with what's going on in my brain.
17:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that longer like macro lenses, usually like 90-ish.
17:21
SPEAKER_01: Um a hundred.
17:22
SPEAKER_01: A hundred.
17:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
17:23
SPEAKER_01: And you're like really close in on something.
17:25
SPEAKER_01: So like taking that like close up.
17:28
SPEAKER_01: Taking that really close up view but mentality, but for portraits, that's kind of where you're you got the kind of 85, 70 to 200 farther back.
17:38
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it just found to uh so I when I've tried the 50 millimeter lens, I don't see like that.
17:44
SPEAKER_00: And I've tried it.
17:45
SPEAKER_00: I tried the 35mm lens.
17:50
SPEAKER_00: I thought I would love it because I thought, oh, I want to include all this nature in the photo and it isn't for me.
17:55
SPEAKER_00: Just didn't work for you.
17:56
SPEAKER_00: No, no, no.
17:57
SPEAKER_00: The 85 is for me, and I'll back all the way up if I have to.
18:01
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you're she's gonna be really far back with 85 for like a full length.
18:06
SPEAKER_01: But um, I do feel like you know, there's a style to that.
18:10
SPEAKER_01: Sure.
18:11
SPEAKER_01: And um I say this all the time.
18:13
SPEAKER_01: If you're looking at the portraits that you're seeing from someone like yourself, you're gonna get pictures like that.
18:19
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
18:20
SPEAKER_01: You have to look at the style and see, yeah, it's really interesting.
18:22
SPEAKER_01: Does that match the vibe of what we're going for?
18:25
SPEAKER_01: Could I see that type of style picture on my wall for years to come?
18:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
18:31
SPEAKER_00: Don't come to me and ask me for something that's dark and moody.
18:34
SPEAKER_00: Right.
18:35
SPEAKER_00: It's not my style.
18:36
SPEAKER_00: I can go there with you for a couple of things, but it's not going to be the majority of your gallery.
18:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:42
SPEAKER_00: Um, yeah, 100%.
18:43
SPEAKER_01: It's just not how you see it.
18:44
SPEAKER_01: It's not how I see it.
18:45
SPEAKER_01: It's totally fine.
18:46
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
18:46
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
18:47
SPEAKER_01: Um, has has anything evolved in your business over the years?
18:51
SPEAKER_01: Like maybe that could be like more business heavy.
18:55
SPEAKER_01: Um I don't know if it's like marketing or like any of that kind of stuff, or even just like kind of couple client-facing things.
19:02
SPEAKER_01: Has has any of that stuff kind of evolved for you over the years?
19:05
SPEAKER_00: Yes and no.
19:07
SPEAKER_00: Because once you find something that works, yeah, I've got it.
19:10
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like I find this dish at a restaurant, love it.
19:13
SPEAKER_00: Don't you?
19:15
SPEAKER_00: Um, but finding a balance for me and work-life balance, also between my two businesses, uh, fine art shows and weddings, how many number-wise is comfortable in a year.
19:27
SPEAKER_00: Um, but what I think the biggest thing for me has evolved and just evolved as an artist in my business is being able to anticipate the moments that are going to be happening in a wedding or potentially could happen.
19:41
SPEAKER_00: But um to add to that, I think when I became a mother and then lost my mother two years after that, there was an importance placed on all these moments that are happening on a wedding day that wow, I didn't have before.
19:58
SPEAKER_00: So, not only from the daughter's perspective, but now I am a mother too.
20:02
SPEAKER_00: And that was that was a game changer.
20:04
SPEAKER_00: So that happened in 2016 and 2019 for me.
20:08
SPEAKER_00: Um and so when my mother died, there was printed photos.
20:14
SPEAKER_00: And I've always been a fan of printed photos.
20:16
SPEAKER_00: In fact, when you get when you get into it.
20:19
SPEAKER_01: I would guess I would have said yes, you probably print just about everything.
20:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
20:23
SPEAKER_00: So when I give a USB to a client, they get 200 printed photos with that.
20:28
SPEAKER_00: Because if they never print anything off there, at least they have those.
20:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
20:31
SPEAKER_00: Right?
20:31
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna have them because they're just something different about holding it in your hands than viewing it on a screen.
20:37
SPEAKER_00: And when I had my mother's funeral, we had all the pictures, you know, all the printed pictures.
20:43
SPEAKER_00: She was a photographer and she was frankly the one that got me into it.
20:46
SPEAKER_00: So cool.
20:46
SPEAKER_00: I have all her 35 um negatives and wait, she was a photographer, and you were worried about her not thinking like it was gonna work.
20:54
SPEAKER_00: But she was a speech pathologist with a master's degree running a whole unit of a hospital floor as well.
20:58
SPEAKER_01: Casual, casual.
21:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
21:01
SPEAKER_00: My dad's private practice doctor.
21:03
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I know.
21:04
SPEAKER_01: So so that you noticed in that moment that was like, man, these printed photos, yeah, these moments are more than just like the celebration party.
21:13
SPEAKER_01: Like there's so much more to it.
21:15
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
21:16
SPEAKER_00: And so really looking for that nuance of the tear in mom's eye, or even just the slightest bit of emotion if we have someone who's pretty stoic, you know, like just really watching people.
21:27
SPEAKER_00: At first, when I started photographing people, I felt like a predator.
21:32
SPEAKER_00: Like because I had to watch them so.
21:35
SPEAKER_01: Especially with your like 70 to 200, you're far away.
21:37
SPEAKER_01: Like just kind of that lens is cool.
21:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
21:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
21:41
SPEAKER_00: So that that was a game changer uh for me.
21:44
SPEAKER_00: And I I appreciate all those stages in life, but that I didn't expect to change my business as much as it did.
21:51
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
21:51
SPEAKER_01: I and I I feel like there's gonna be creatives are we have a mind that is creative, and there's a lot of things like it.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: Life that can impact the way that we see that kind of um the way that I tell my stories has changed over the years.
22:07
SPEAKER_01: Sure.
22:07
SPEAKER_01: Um, and it it comes out differently, I think, for photo versus video, but the mindset I feel like is still very similar.
22:16
SPEAKER_01: Um, from what you're saying, I I feel like I have a similar kind of like I think I was thinking a little bit more of just like the beauty of it at first, which there's still beauty, but now I'm just like, man, I just want to capture these moments and memories.
22:29
SPEAKER_01: And like this could be the last time that all these people are together.
22:33
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
22:34
SPEAKER_01: And these are all your favorite people in one room.
22:38
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes there are two groups of favorite people coming together for the first time, too.
22:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely.
22:44
SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm curious, uh, what's what's something that you would love couples to know um before hiring their photographer?
22:53
SPEAKER_00: So I wish that clients knew that I can't really charge what my years of experience are worth.
23:01
SPEAKER_00: Um I've 17 years of being with couples, over 400 couples, on their wedding day, solving problems, planning with them, yeah, creating beautiful moments over and over and over again for them to have these memories preserved.
23:20
SPEAKER_00: And not only does it come with all of that technical skill and people skill, but there's there's polish and professionalism and things that go without I don't know, a title really that you know you can bring to a wedding day.
23:36
SPEAKER_00: Let's call it class.
23:37
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
23:37
SPEAKER_00: That's kind of cheesy, but it's kind of just the the overall experience.
23:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's the experience.
23:43
SPEAKER_00: It's it's what what do I bring to the table?
23:45
SPEAKER_00: It's the experience of all those years, but it's the experience I'm creating for you, I guess.
23:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
23:51
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
23:51
SPEAKER_01: What?
23:52
SPEAKER_01: If you've gone to 400 weddings, you've probably experienced 400 or more problems.
23:59
SPEAKER_00: A few, yeah.
24:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
24:00
SPEAKER_01: And um over that time, um, I'm guessing, you know, systems have improved, the way that you communicate has improved, and even just like if you come up to a problem and it's a you problem, it's like, well, let's get a solution for that so that it doesn't happen again.
24:17
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
24:18
SPEAKER_01: Um, has has your process like from initial inquiry to final delivery, has that changed much over those years?
24:26
SPEAKER_00: In the begin I would say in the first five years, it was in refinement, right?
24:30
SPEAKER_00: And and then I really dialed it into how I wanted that to feel and put everything into my content man or sorry, my client management system.
24:38
SPEAKER_00: And, you know, now I have, and for people that don't know what a client management system is, it's a way to keep all the details of 20 weddings in a year on track, and the five from last year that I'm still, you know, working on, and the 15 for next year that are incoming.
24:53
SPEAKER_00: So everybody's at a different stage, and so it really helps to systemize those things.
24:58
SPEAKER_00: My husband's been the key of systems over our lifetime together, and uh it's taught me a lot.
25:04
SPEAKER_00: Systems are underrated, but really needed if you're gonna run a successful business.
25:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean you have to stay organized.
25:10
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
25:10
SPEAKER_01: I I tell a lot of people I don't know anything until I go into Honeybook and and confirm, like, okay, this is the these are the details.
25:19
SPEAKER_01: Sure.
25:20
SPEAKER_01: And I don't know how you would not keep track of all that stuff, how you would be able to keep track of all that stuff if you didn't have somewhere that you were writing it down at least.
25:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I did it in my brain for a lot of years.
25:32
SPEAKER_00: Before I before I was with Dubsado, I was with 17 hats.
25:36
SPEAKER_01: I've never I haven't jumped on the honey book yet, but I know it got a lot of flack because they raised the prices on it, but I like it.
25:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean, and once you're set up in a system, it's hard to change, but because I changed and it was not fun.
25:46
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I've heard.
25:48
SPEAKER_01: I was on Sprout Studio for a while.
25:49
SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
25:50
SPEAKER_01: Because they have an integrated photo delivery system, uh-huh, which is great for when I wanted to be a photographer.
25:58
SPEAKER_00: But you're not.
25:59
SPEAKER_01: I'm not.
26:00
SPEAKER_01: I do a little bit of photo, but um, but yeah, it get a CRM for sure.
26:05
SPEAKER_00: For sure.
26:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
26:06
SPEAKER_00: When I hear that vendors don't have it, I th I know where that where they're at because for years I did, like I said, in my head, that was I was younger then.
26:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, maybe it's just because I'm 30 now.
26:19
SPEAKER_01: I just I can't keep track of anything.
26:21
SPEAKER_02: Oh, you're young.
26:21
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
26:22
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
26:23
SPEAKER_01: Sorry.
26:24
SPEAKER_02: That's good.
26:24
SPEAKER_01: You're good.
26:25
SPEAKER_01: Um, no, it's it's so fun to hear like the the journey you've been on and the experience that you have.
26:32
SPEAKER_01: Are there other things besides the CRM that you feel like have evolved over the years in terms of like your systems, your process, like the way that you're communicating with your your couples, whether they are just inquiring or they're like the couples that you're gonna be working with like at a wedding coming up?
26:51
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if much has changed in regards to how I communicate.
26:55
SPEAKER_00: I've always been really casual with my clients and open and share my story um with them and encourage them to share theirs.
27:04
SPEAKER_00: Um, but I text with my clients.
27:07
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if that's you know uh what you're going for, but it's um Yeah.
27:12
SPEAKER_01: I mean, there's people that don't text their couple.
27:15
SPEAKER_01: I text our I text our couples.
27:17
SPEAKER_01: I think text is where they're at in emails.
27:20
SPEAKER_00: 100%.
27:20
SPEAKER_00: I have people text me all the time, details and things, and okay, you know, I'll mark it for I gotta deal with that later.
27:26
SPEAKER_00: And um yeah, uh other things that have changed over the years?
27:31
SPEAKER_00: So many things.
27:33
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I know.
27:34
SPEAKER_01: I'm like opening the can of worms.
27:35
SPEAKER_01: You're like, what do I talk about?
27:37
SPEAKER_00: I know it's hard.
27:38
SPEAKER_01: I know it's fun.
27:39
SPEAKER_01: Um I'm curious, like, is there kind of like a typical wedding day?
27:45
SPEAKER_01: Is there is there kind of like most couples are like they're kind of doing like an eight-hour day with you?
27:51
SPEAKER_01: Are they getting kind of the same number of images?
27:54
SPEAKER_01: Like, what's that typical wedding day look like for you?
27:57
SPEAKER_00: Great question.
27:58
SPEAKER_00: I started doing all day coverage from day one.
28:02
SPEAKER_01: I love that.
28:04
SPEAKER_00: Because I didn't know how to do anything else.
28:06
SPEAKER_01: Let's just say that's why I stuck.
28:08
SPEAKER_00: That's why I did that.
28:09
SPEAKER_01: This is what everyone's doing, right?
28:10
SPEAKER_00: No, no one's doing that, but you're just doing that.
28:13
SPEAKER_00: But I didn't know how to capture the whole story without that.
28:17
SPEAKER_01: Do you still do that?
28:18
SPEAKER_00: I still do all day coverage.
28:21
SPEAKER_01: I everyone take a moment.
28:23
SPEAKER_01: We'll just, you know, lift up a clap.
28:25
SPEAKER_00: It's hard work.
28:26
SPEAKER_00: They're 12 and 14 hour days.
28:27
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we do it.
28:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
28:28
SPEAKER_01: Um it's the best, honestly.
28:31
SPEAKER_00: I love it because they're it takes the boundaries off.
28:34
SPEAKER_00: The client knows you're gonna be there.
28:36
SPEAKER_00: We can plan the day to have an evening light session, to have a cool exit, to have cool, relaxed mornings.
28:42
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I'm gonna be there for it.
28:44
SPEAKER_01: So that's your your couples are booking you how far in advance?
28:48
SPEAKER_01: They have no idea what their day is gonna be.
28:49
SPEAKER_01: 100%.
28:50
SPEAKER_01: And they're like, Well, do we need eight hours?
28:53
SPEAKER_01: Is six hours okay?
28:54
SPEAKER_01: Do we need to pay for 10 hours?
28:55
SPEAKER_00: Well, honestly, that's why I kept it over the years because um I started with it because I didn't know how to put my hand around a wedding day and I didn't know the flow of it.
29:04
SPEAKER_00: And then, oh yeah, my couples don't really know what they need either.
29:07
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
29:08
SPEAKER_00: So it made a lot of sense to keep that.
29:09
SPEAKER_00: Um, and and even now I have a smaller package of eight hours for clients who absolutely want to work with me but can't afford it.
29:18
SPEAKER_00: Or we definitely, when we're doing the inquiry, yeah, we could fit this into eight hours, no problem.
29:23
SPEAKER_00: Um, and so I'll walk it th walk through the timeline with them.
29:27
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I love that I can just be there.
29:30
SPEAKER_00: No one has to come up to me and say, Jana, will you stay?
29:33
SPEAKER_00: We haven't cut the cake yet.
29:35
SPEAKER_00: Weddings don't run on a perfect schedule.
29:37
SPEAKER_00: And so it just allows me to be with the couples.
29:40
SPEAKER_01: And the last thing you would want to do as a couple is see your photographer leaving or your videographer leaving, and then be like, ah, but yeah, we had we didn't do the thing.
29:50
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
29:50
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
29:51
SPEAKER_00: And they're just like, I'm clocking out.
29:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
29:53
SPEAKER_00: You know, or pay me more.
29:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: Right.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
29:57
SPEAKER_00: I didn't want to be that guy.
29:58
SPEAKER_00: I didn't want to say that to anyone.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: Um, I mean, it's just my personality.
30:02
SPEAKER_00: I don't like that confrontation, but I didn't want to, I didn't that's their day.
30:06
SPEAKER_00: Like that seems like it makes it too much about it.
30:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I don't think they need to decide if they want to spend another$300 or something for you to be there for another hour while they're trying to dance and have fun.
30:16
SPEAKER_00: Right, right.
30:17
SPEAKER_00: They're asking them to place value on something that really doesn't have a value because it's their time at their own wedding.
30:23
SPEAKER_00: So yeah.
30:24
SPEAKER_01: So typically you're doing all day more so than the eight hour.
30:28
SPEAKER_01: Oh yeah, yeah.
30:29
SPEAKER_00: 90 to 95% of my days.
30:31
SPEAKER_01: Um are they are you kind of guaranteeing a number of images?
30:35
SPEAKER_00: No, I don't, but I'll I'll guarantee a range.
30:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
30:38
SPEAKER_00: Um, but I don't think that's as important to clients.
30:40
SPEAKER_00: I'll show them a full galler gallery, they'll ask me for it, and here it is.
30:44
SPEAKER_00: And you know, they're overwhelmed by it usually.
30:47
SPEAKER_00: But I divide them up into categories.
30:49
SPEAKER_00: And so my clients end up with my range has been increasing now that I'm working with some pretty solid second shooters.
30:55
SPEAKER_00: So um 12 to 1400 images.
31:00
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
31:00
SPEAKER_01: I I do say when you get that many images, it is a lot at first.
31:05
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
31:06
SPEAKER_01: But you want the a lot at first for the we have everything later.
31:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely.
31:13
SPEAKER_00: It is hard to narrow down.
31:14
SPEAKER_00: My couples have a hard time narrowing down for albums.
31:16
SPEAKER_00: It's the hardest part is choosing 150 images from that or a hundred images to go into an album.
31:22
SPEAKER_01: So you mentioned second shooter, you mentioned album.
31:25
SPEAKER_01: Is that like a part of your all day kind of collection there?
31:29
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so second shooter for sure.
31:31
SPEAKER_01: Um Do you shoot without a second shooter ever?
31:34
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
31:34
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
31:35
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
31:35
SPEAKER_00: And I did for 10 years.
31:36
SPEAKER_00: Oh wow.
31:37
SPEAKER_00: Shot by myself.
31:38
SPEAKER_00: I can do this.
31:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
31:40
SPEAKER_01: You got a second shooter and you're like, wait a minute.
31:42
SPEAKER_01: Oh, this is cool.
31:43
SPEAKER_00: This is different, right?
31:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
31:45
SPEAKER_00: Someone could fill up my water bottle.
31:47
SPEAKER_01: That's all they're good for.
31:48
SPEAKER_01: No, she's not saying that.
31:50
SPEAKER_01: She's not.
31:50
SPEAKER_01: If you're her second shooter, that's not what you're good for.
31:52
SPEAKER_01: Oh, they know, they know.
31:53
SPEAKER_00: But um, yeah, it was a big change for me when I had my daughter and I had a C-section.
31:58
SPEAKER_00: I had a wedding scheduled six weeks after her due date.
32:02
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
32:02
SPEAKER_00: Well, she came two weeks late.
32:03
SPEAKER_00: And so now it was four weeks.
32:05
SPEAKER_00: And I thought, I my guts are gonna fall out.
32:07
SPEAKER_00: I need to have someone with so from there it was like, this is amazing.
32:12
SPEAKER_00: I can rely on someone else, and I hire professionals only.
32:15
SPEAKER_00: I don't have my husband come along and hold the camera, or a high school student, or someone who's emailed me looking to gain experience, yeah, which is great.
32:22
SPEAKER_00: I would have you come carry my bag, but you're not gonna be my second shooter.
32:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because it'll take it.
32:27
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, it does depend.
32:29
SPEAKER_01: Like some I know there's some photographers that have like the lead shooter is getting all the stuff, and the second shooter is more like backup.
32:40
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
32:40
SPEAKER_01: In that case, sure, you know, if it is the I need experience kind of person, and the lead shooter has that mentality of like, yeah, I am kind of getting all the stuff.
32:49
SPEAKER_01: But if you are a lead shooter that is relying on your second to come up with maybe it's groomsman photos or groom getting ready photos or very important second angles of the ceremony, like you kind of need to know that that person's gonna do the thing.
33:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and couples are super savvy, so they know that a second shooter means they can plan their timeline to be, oh, the guys are getting ready over here.
33:11
SPEAKER_00: We can have another photographer go over there.
33:13
SPEAKER_00: Or if we want to be at our cocktail hour or we don't, we can have someone at the cocktail hour or not.
33:19
SPEAKER_00: And so they're asking me about second shooters pretty regularly now.
33:22
SPEAKER_00: So that's why I decided to include it.
33:24
SPEAKER_00: Um, it's super helpful.
33:26
SPEAKER_00: And gosh, I love working with other professionals on a day of, it's really like brings a lot of ease because even though I still shoot like I'm by myself, I have someone there that I can rely on.
33:36
SPEAKER_00: It's a game changer.
33:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I mean it could be as simple as like they have an extra battery and you ran out, or they can go get a different lens for you.
33:44
SPEAKER_01: Or they're capturing that second angle.
33:47
SPEAKER_01: I mean, you're picturing like father of the bride and bride turning for a first look.
33:52
SPEAKER_01: If there's not two people, you have to pick is dad more important?
33:57
SPEAKER_01: Usually but is dad more important or is the bride more important?
34:00
SPEAKER_01: Right.
34:00
SPEAKER_00: With two people, yeah, you're capturing logistically trying to figure out okay, how quickly can I get around to the other side and not miss like half of the thing.
34:08
SPEAKER_01: Right.
34:08
SPEAKER_00: And there's a lot of pressure on you.
34:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for sure.
34:11
SPEAKER_01: Uh so you've had all this time experience.
34:15
SPEAKER_01: Um I'm assuming like weddings when you started were not like weddings now.
34:23
SPEAKER_01: I'm curious, like, what's what's some of those big changes you've seen over the years that you've been photographing weddings?
34:31
SPEAKER_00: Good question.
34:32
SPEAKER_00: So I've seen like wedding culture develop in the Pinterest era, right?
34:37
SPEAKER_00: When I had my wedding in 2006, we didn't really have Pinterest to plan.
34:41
SPEAKER_00: And so, yikes, I'm glad because I'm a girl who likes all the options, but then I have a hard time choosing.
34:50
SPEAKER_00: Um I want all the.
34:52
SPEAKER_00: Yes, yes, and I don't know how my girls do it now, but um so I watch that and those ideas kind of become like cultural norms of like we have to have pajamas for everyone getting ready.
35:06
SPEAKER_00: We have to have robes, or the guys should do something fun the day of and go fishing or golfing beforehand, because we started to see all these pictures on social media.
35:17
SPEAKER_00: When I started, social media wasn't a game that I had to play, if you will.
35:23
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
35:24
SPEAKER_00: Um, I had a very basic website and put my work on it.
35:29
SPEAKER_01: And were you mostly like word of mouth, or were people still finding you on your website at that point?
35:33
SPEAKER_00: I think I was word of mouth and people were finding me on my website.
35:36
SPEAKER_00: Sure.
35:36
SPEAKER_00: I was there wasn't a lot of photographers at that point.
35:38
SPEAKER_00: It was too probably a lot of fun to not have to worry about social media.
35:42
SPEAKER_00: I was still yeah, I mean, yeah, yes.
35:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
35:45
SPEAKER_00: I always say no.
35:46
SPEAKER_01: You're still market that you still have to market your business.
35:48
SPEAKER_00: I'm not saying there's not there wasn't marketing.
35:50
SPEAKER_00: Don't talk to me about marketing.
35:52
SPEAKER_00: I don't do any of it well.
35:53
SPEAKER_00: I only share like a a fifth of what I shoot.
35:56
SPEAKER_00: I'm so bad at this.
35:59
SPEAKER_01: Well, this is a part of marketing, so you're doing a good job today.
36:02
SPEAKER_01: All right, good job.
36:04
SPEAKER_01: Um but so that Pinterest era kind of shifted things to to like you couples are feeling like they have to do this half of it.
36:14
SPEAKER_00: I think I saw that happen, yeah, where it was like we I saw a lot of repeat things.
36:18
SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, where are these ideas coming from?
36:20
SPEAKER_00: Oh, Pinterest or oh social, you know, and as social media got bigger, yes, they're coming from social media.
36:25
SPEAKER_00: So um all of that is great.
36:27
SPEAKER_00: And some of my clients come to me with pictures they've seen and they want to recreate the idea of this.
36:32
SPEAKER_00: Um, but I don't really get clients that are saying we have to do this exact thing, you know.
36:36
SPEAKER_00: I want that exact thing.
36:37
SPEAKER_00: Um, because they've hired me because they trust my work, it's consistent and they've seen it.
36:42
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
36:43
SPEAKER_01: How do you how do you build that trust that you brought up?
36:45
SPEAKER_01: You brought up trust.
36:46
SPEAKER_01: Oh no.
36:47
SPEAKER_01: Tell us how you build it.
36:49
SPEAKER_01: I just show up.
36:50
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
36:51
SPEAKER_01: No, I just I feel like um I I I asked that question because for me, I love when couples are like, just do your thing.
36:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
37:00
SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah.
37:00
SPEAKER_01: When they say that, I'm like, game on.
37:02
SPEAKER_00: Right.
37:03
SPEAKER_00: I'll ask my couples, do you have any preferred locations on your at your venue?
37:07
SPEAKER_00: They're like, Really?
37:08
SPEAKER_00: We're just gonna leave it up to you.
37:10
SPEAKER_00: Uh we trust you, do your thing.
37:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
37:13
SPEAKER_00: I love it.
37:14
SPEAKER_00: It I happens most of the time.
37:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
37:16
SPEAKER_01: So I'm I guess circling back, like, where do you think that comes from?
37:20
SPEAKER_00: I think it's built over the relationship from the very first moment they encounter your social media or word of mouth from another bride or something.
37:28
SPEAKER_00: Um it probably it starts big time there because if they have a warm connection with someone that knows you and your work, then you know, if it's a former bridesmaid, they've already worked with you.
37:38
SPEAKER_00: Um, but then all through the process of like do what you say you're gonna do.
37:42
SPEAKER_00: Um, or if I can't deliver, tell them why, you know, or give them, give them all all the information they need, manage their expectations so that there aren't surprises.
37:55
SPEAKER_00: Um and day of, you know, just showing up and being a human yourself and being vulnerable with them.
38:02
SPEAKER_01: Don't show up and be a robot.
38:03
SPEAKER_01: No.
38:03
SPEAKER_01: That's not fun.
38:05
SPEAKER_01: Don't no, but I feel like do what you say you're gonna do.
38:09
SPEAKER_01: I mean, you gotta follow through.
38:11
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
38:12
SPEAKER_01: And if you follow through with enough people, sure, that's that that's gonna get around.
38:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
38:18
SPEAKER_01: And then people are gonna be like, okay, this is the this is the person who says they're gonna do a thing, they show up and they do it, sure, and they do it well.
38:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
38:27
SPEAKER_00: And hopefully they're not even looking at did she show up or not?
38:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
38:32
SPEAKER_01: Hopefully it should be.
38:33
SPEAKER_00: Hopefully, it's like, wow, that was a great experience.
38:36
SPEAKER_00: You know, like it's so far beyond the basics.
38:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
38:39
SPEAKER_01: So I mean, like, if you're a vendor and you're kind of just starting out and you're listening to this, like take that to heart because that's gonna take you way further than you know, some random Instagram post or or something like that.
38:52
SPEAKER_01: Like focus in on the experience that you're kind of crafting from day one.
38:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
38:57
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely.
38:58
SPEAKER_00: And it matters how you show up for those things too.
39:01
SPEAKER_00: Like, we're just saying, just show up, but it matters how you show up.
39:03
SPEAKER_00: Are you positive?
39:05
SPEAKER_00: Are you solution-oriented?
39:07
SPEAKER_00: Are you um I mean, like when I'm working with other vendors, this is what I'm looking for.
39:13
SPEAKER_00: Like, oh, I like working with James because he is solution-oriented.
39:18
SPEAKER_00: He's always professional.
39:19
SPEAKER_00: Just guessing at all these things.
39:21
SPEAKER_00: She has no idea.
39:23
SPEAKER_00: Um, he's client-focused, you know.
39:24
SPEAKER_00: I I love it.
39:25
SPEAKER_00: It's all sound really, I mean, I'm I'm just I you're great.
39:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'll write your view later.
39:30
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, but having that mindset of I'm here to serve the client is what a new vendor needs to have, you know, all the time.
39:38
SPEAKER_00: It's not, again, it's not about you.
39:40
SPEAKER_00: You saw that Pinterest shot you want for your portfolio, throw it out the window.
39:44
SPEAKER_00: Just capture what you're there and try to really get what the essence of what is there if you're a photographer.
39:50
SPEAKER_00: But um yeah, vendors should be client-focused.
39:53
SPEAKER_00: It's the game that we're in.
39:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
39:56
SPEAKER_01: And if you are, generally you're gonna be on the same page with the other vendors.
40:00
SPEAKER_01: Hopefully.
40:01
SPEAKER_01: And you're gonna help the day run smoother and honestly just be more enjoyable.
40:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
40:06
SPEAKER_01: Uh, but yeah, not to put pressure on a new vendor, but like every time you show up to a new venue, a new wedding day, there's a whole probably big group of people, other vendors that you're showing up in front of, just think about the idea of like if you're showing up and you are personable, helpful, yeah, willing to go the extra mile for other people, big impression.
40:32
SPEAKER_01: They're gonna take that home.
40:33
SPEAKER_01: And if someone then says to them, a couple, hey, uh, you know, we're in this bind, who's the person?
40:42
SPEAKER_01: You might be the top of the list at that point because they had a good experience with you.
40:47
SPEAKER_01: And that's gonna go way further in the couple's mind than Googling like so-and-so event planner, whatever.
40:55
SPEAKER_00: I'll make this story short, but I had a situation where someone was firing their photographer, but these clients had met with me previously, they chose that photographer over me.
41:06
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
41:07
SPEAKER_00: Now they're firing that photographer, and they came back to me.
41:10
SPEAKER_00: So I had to swallow my humble pie, and you know, but they they were said, we're halfway through this process.
41:15
SPEAKER_00: We can't work with this person.
41:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but would you work with us?
41:18
SPEAKER_00: And I said, Yeah, I'll work with you.
41:20
SPEAKER_00: But it was uh because the other vendors around them said, Why don't you work with this person?
41:26
SPEAKER_00: The venue, the planner.
41:28
SPEAKER_00: They're like, Oh, this is the person you should have worked with.
41:31
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
41:31
SPEAKER_01: And I was like, Oh.
41:33
SPEAKER_01: Are there more like red flags that couples should be looking out for with vendors?
41:37
SPEAKER_01: That I'm I'm I always struggle with this question because I feel like there you don't you don't really know until your day of.
41:48
SPEAKER_01: That's true.
41:48
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes photographers with the engagement session.
41:51
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
41:51
SPEAKER_01: Um that's kind of a great preview.
41:53
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
41:54
SPEAKER_01: But you don't really know until your day of, and you really are just basing it off of what you see from other people talking about them, reviews.
42:03
SPEAKER_01: Reviews are huge.
42:04
SPEAKER_01: Um what what people you know that have had experience with them before.
42:08
SPEAKER_01: But like, are there other things that couples should be like like if vendor says X, Y, and Z, like I don't don't have anything to do with that.
42:19
SPEAKER_00: That's a hard one.
42:20
SPEAKER_00: I don't I don't know that I could create, you know, one specific.
42:26
SPEAKER_00: One specific thing.
42:28
SPEAKER_00: Um I was definitely thinking that reviews when you said that are huge, but I think that couples should ask the vendors that they do trust, let's say they have a warm connection with their DJ.
42:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah who do you like to work with?
42:42
SPEAKER_00: Um, and why, you know, and because if they ask me that, I'm gonna tell them, you know, and if they are working with someone that I've had a questionable experience with, I'm gonna tell them.
42:52
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
42:53
SPEAKER_01: Um well think about this way in your scenario where they're asking you, hey, who is a DJ that you've loved working with in the past?
43:01
SPEAKER_01: You're not gonna say a DJ that you wouldn't stake part of your reputation on because if you do and they show up and they're not good, they're gonna look to you and be like, Why did you tell us to hire this DJ?
43:14
SPEAKER_00: So total tangent.
43:16
SPEAKER_00: The DJ for my wedding played the wrong version of my first dance song.
43:22
SPEAKER_00: He played the techno version.
43:23
SPEAKER_00: Oh god.
43:24
SPEAKER_00: So we're like up there trying to slow dance, and then it's like we're like, oh yeah, this is gonna be bad.
43:29
SPEAKER_00: And you know, he shows up wearing sunglasses and just his own disco balls and a big banner across the front, DJ so and so.
43:37
SPEAKER_00: And my husband had hired him, and I just thought, what are what have we gotten ourselves into?
43:42
SPEAKER_00: We didn't read any reviews.
43:44
SPEAKER_00: So don't do that.
43:45
SPEAKER_00: Don't do that.
43:47
SPEAKER_01: Oh man.
43:48
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that, yeah, don't do that.
43:50
SPEAKER_01: Don't do that.
43:50
SPEAKER_01: Um, but it it goes a long way.
43:53
SPEAKER_01: Like you said, that warm connection with XYZ vendor.
43:57
SPEAKER_01: Ask your vendors, ask them because they're gonna.
44:00
SPEAKER_01: tell you the good people.
44:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
44:01
SPEAKER_00: And so long as they've worked with exactly good people.
44:04
SPEAKER_01: And but you can take that good person recommendation.
44:07
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
44:08
SPEAKER_01: And compare it to the reviews.
44:09
SPEAKER_01: Like are there five-star reviews?
44:11
SPEAKER_01: Are there three or thirty?
44:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
44:15
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
44:15
SPEAKER_01: And you'll see I'm really bad at asking for reviews.
44:18
SPEAKER_00: I need to do better at that.
44:19
SPEAKER_01: I messed up my Google for a minute so I couldn't.
44:21
SPEAKER_01: Oh no.
44:22
SPEAKER_01: Tried to change like the That's so scary.
44:25
SPEAKER_01: It all came back around.
44:26
SPEAKER_01: We're good.
44:27
SPEAKER_01: I show up when you search near me now.
44:29
SPEAKER_01: Oh good.
44:30
SPEAKER_01: Because I wasn't.
44:31
SPEAKER_00: Oh wow.
44:31
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
44:32
SPEAKER_01: Uh Google.
44:34
SPEAKER_01: Love it.
44:35
SPEAKER_01: Sponsor the the show.
44:36
SPEAKER_01: That'd be that'd be cool.
44:37
SPEAKER_00: That'd be cool.
44:37
SPEAKER_01: No.
44:38
SPEAKER_01: Um so it seems like the reviews uh very important the even just experiences from past couples or or friends that might have experiences with vendors.
44:50
SPEAKER_01: I mean that can go a long way to kind of mitigating some of those like red flag vendors.
44:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
44:56
SPEAKER_01: But there's bound to be times where we're at a wedding.
44:59
SPEAKER_01: Maybe it's not the dream team and that's okay.
45:02
SPEAKER_00: Yeah sure.
45:03
SPEAKER_01: Um couple picked that person for a reason.
45:06
SPEAKER_01: But there's sometimes there's conflict sometimes there's stuff that happens.
45:11
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
45:12
SPEAKER_01: I'm curious how you handle those moments where it's maybe not the sunshine and rainbows moment of a wedding day.
45:20
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
45:20
SPEAKER_00: Well it's time to be professional and put on your big boy pants and show up for the client right.
45:26
SPEAKER_00: And so you need to work with difficult people in life.
45:29
SPEAKER_00: And so this is just one of those times and it's also the biggest day of these people's lives up to this point.
45:34
SPEAKER_00: So don't make it about you.
45:36
SPEAKER_00: Don't be drama queen and go to the other vendor that you know and chit chat about it.
45:42
SPEAKER_01: Oh so and so.
45:42
SPEAKER_00: It's going to take time and energy away from what you're there for.
45:45
SPEAKER_00: And so my approach is just how can we find a way to work with what we have?
45:50
SPEAKER_00: We're not going to change this vendor for the day.
45:54
SPEAKER_00: And so we just we need to figure out how to bring the best out of that person, give them what they need.
45:59
SPEAKER_00: Some people need more support.
46:01
SPEAKER_00: I might need more support in this area, you know, and and if I can know that weakness and ask for it, great.
46:08
SPEAKER_01: But some people give us room for the other vendor to be like, hey, I'm also I need help over here.
46:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely.
46:13
SPEAKER_01: And then we can all come together.
46:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
46:15
SPEAKER_00: And so some I I probably didn't know a lot of my weaknesses early on.
46:18
SPEAKER_00: And so I'm sure people had to you know make up for me.
46:21
SPEAKER_00: And so I'm just there to make a great day for someone.
46:25
SPEAKER_00: So if I can help and support another vendor in their weakness, even if they don't know they have the weakness.
46:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
46:33
SPEAKER_00: Um I will just figure it out.
46:36
SPEAKER_00: You know, even if I have to work harder it makes my job harder.
46:39
SPEAKER_00: I just it's okay.
46:40
SPEAKER_01: So there there is this connotation where some photographers don't love videographers.
46:46
SPEAKER_01: And maybe it's vice versa.
46:48
SPEAKER_00: I love some of you.
46:49
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
46:50
SPEAKER_01: I'm curious though, because you've had experience I mean you've been shooting for years now.
46:55
SPEAKER_01: What's your best advice towards videographers that's like hey yeah if if we could just like get on the same page in this way or do this or don't do that like I would have a better time.
47:08
SPEAKER_01: And then maybe we can even like flip the role too of like hey other photographers like this is where we're not doing a great job for for the video side of things.
47:17
SPEAKER_00: I'll start with the photography but the up side I think we could do a better job in sharing our timeline with with videographers.
47:26
SPEAKER_00: I find that when I reach out to the videographer ahead of time and say this is the timeline what do you need?
47:32
SPEAKER_00: That's the question.
47:33
SPEAKER_00: I love that what do you need?
47:35
SPEAKER_00: Because again we're working together to make something for our clients and it's going to show so because we're going to work very in very close proximity.
47:43
SPEAKER_00: So if I can if I only have 20 minutes and you need 10 of that but I didn't know that ahead of time I'm not going to be able to deliver the same product to my clients that they thought they were going to get it.
47:53
SPEAKER_00: And then there's that opportunity for ah like well resentment will come because I didn't talk with you ahead of time.
48:02
SPEAKER_00: It's a simple thing.
48:03
SPEAKER_00: So let's just talk it talk it out.
48:04
SPEAKER_00: So I always talk with my videographers ahead of time.
48:07
SPEAKER_00: I'll send them the timeline, ask them if they need anything, do they have any more questions?
48:11
SPEAKER_00: And then we'll go from there and then day of if I can show up and I always ask what do you need from me?
48:19
SPEAKER_00: Do you this is my plan for the bridal party I'm going to create some motion for you guys because I know you love that.
48:27
SPEAKER_00: We do.
48:27
SPEAKER_00: And then I'll go right into the ceremony but I want to have some good rapport before that because sometimes what they need from the ceremony and what I need from the ceremony is different.
48:36
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
48:36
SPEAKER_00: I need that big wide shot without them in the middle of the aisle.
48:40
SPEAKER_00: I've worked with videographers.
48:44
SPEAKER_00: Gosh I've worked with so many videographers who think that's okay.
48:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah it's not don't put it there.
48:48
SPEAKER_01: It's not okay.
48:49
SPEAKER_00: It's it's really not and you don't have to be halfway up on the aisle buy a longer how far back.
48:54
SPEAKER_00: Well you know it depends on the setting.
48:56
SPEAKER_00: Maybe we're out in a field and now I need to get the whole thing far back or maybe we're kind of up a hill a little bit or something.
49:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah or maybe we're I just want the framing of the ceremony and nothing in the middle of the aisle.
49:08
SPEAKER_00: Now I certainly could dot that out but it becomes difficult when that tripod cuts into the people um get a longer lens.
49:17
SPEAKER_01: So you're a fan of like nothing in the aisle for videographers that are listening are you a fan of like just something back just a little further back?
49:27
SPEAKER_00: I have zero qualms about anything else that you do.
49:30
SPEAKER_00: Just cool just not in the center.
49:33
SPEAKER_00: Not only is it a distraction for the guests but it's just a distraction for every photo.
49:38
SPEAKER_00: It's a probably a distraction for the couple I've never actually asked them that but you know if they look out at their friends and family and then see a camera there they'll giant tripod the tripods are not inconspicuous.
49:49
SPEAKER_00: No yeah it's always it's always been a s head scratcher for me as to why that's been okay.
49:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
49:55
SPEAKER_01: Well what's I understand the angle I do and the view.
50:00
SPEAKER_00: Sure.
50:00
SPEAKER_01: But I've never put a tripod in the center.
50:02
SPEAKER_01: There's lenses that can reach that far enough just saying oh yeah there yeah there's plenty.
50:08
SPEAKER_01: And you could also just crop in and post a little bit.
50:10
SPEAKER_00: Especially when you're on a tripod yeah a hundred percent yeah there's ways.
50:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah there's definitely ways.
50:14
SPEAKER_01: So no tripod on this is is there other things besides no center out tripod that you're like hey videographers if we could just like do this.
50:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
50:22
SPEAKER_00: Maybe not in the ceremony per se but like as we're working together through the rest of the evening like I want to know like what are the lights that you're bringing in and then are you okay with my flash going off.
50:33
SPEAKER_00: Like we'll work through those things.
50:35
SPEAKER_00: But I think the times that I've found can be slightly tense are who gets control of the couple when you're doing portraits.
50:45
SPEAKER_00: Because we both have work that we need to make.
50:48
SPEAKER_00: And so I kind of go with like hey why don't you go first or I'll go first and then we'll switch back and forth.
50:55
SPEAKER_00: Like you can take them and do your thing and I'll work behind you.
50:58
SPEAKER_00: But what I don't love so that's my ideal working situation.
51:01
SPEAKER_01: What I just here's your time here's time for me here's time for you.
51:04
SPEAKER_00: Yeah because you have an idea that you want to do and I have an idea or we know how to get the best out of our clients because we see them from different perspectives.
51:12
SPEAKER_00: But if you have a videographer who has no ideas and just wants to piggyback off of what I'm doing, that's okay.
51:22
SPEAKER_00: But don't walk in front of my shot then, you know, because it's not your idea.
51:27
SPEAKER_01: You have to get a big sweeping wide shot in front of you.
51:30
SPEAKER_01: So I This was my idea.
51:32
SPEAKER_00: So it's so it's it's it's I don't know if it's a respect thing, but it's it's like if you're not going to come with your own ideas, then you have to stay behind.
51:41
SPEAKER_01: And that's where you are.
51:43
SPEAKER_01: Well there's also plenty of lenses where we could stand right next to you and get wide and tight.
51:48
SPEAKER_00: So yeah yeah so I really I do love working with people collaboratively.
51:53
SPEAKER_00: I recently worked with do you know Adam Jepsen?
51:56
SPEAKER_00: I know of him I've never met I worked with him he was great here's an idea I have here's you know we were able to just ping back and forth off of one another and it felt great and we were both inspiring one another and that's that's ideal.
52:08
SPEAKER_01: And as a creative with other creatives like if we can just inspire each other maybe there's a new thing like oh I didn't think about that.
52:15
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
52:16
SPEAKER_01: But if there's a way to do it where it's collaborative.
52:20
SPEAKER_01: That's the game.
52:20
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
52:21
SPEAKER_01: I mean the couple's gonna have a a more fun time in that portrait session.
52:24
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
52:25
SPEAKER_01: Photographers gonna get what they need to get yes videographers going to get what they need to get yes and everyone's gonna be happy.
52:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah I thought of one more thing.
52:31
SPEAKER_01: Oh go for it.
52:32
SPEAKER_00: I've found a lot of times videographers when I wasn't sharing the timeline with them or even occasionally when I have and they've not been invested maybe they're from like a bigger company and not necessarily their own company they're not prepared with the timeline and they're not usually where they need to be and then I'm trying to do something and I've got everybody I need except for the videographer.
52:56
SPEAKER_00: And so that can be hard to square.
53:00
SPEAKER_00: But again professional okay this person needs reminders I'm gonna start having my second shooter text this person five minutes before we have to do it.
53:08
SPEAKER_01: I will say if you're a videographer and you're not just like with the photographer all day I don't know what you're doing.
53:13
SPEAKER_01: Like go have your second setup or something.
53:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah yeah yeah well sometimes they're out getting b roll or yeah we do or fly the drone you really like that I see I do yeah we do fly the drone.
53:26
SPEAKER_01: But you gotta be like in earshot of the photographer popping the head out the door like hey we're ready for you sure and then you're just in and doing the next thing.
53:34
SPEAKER_01: Yep but I'll find you yeah I'll find you because I will um no uh Jenna that's been so great your experience is I mean no offense it's more vast than I even realized and it's so fun to hear your transition from film photography, the fine arts stuff that you've been doing and still do and how that impacts the way that you take photos for your clients.
53:57
SPEAKER_01: It sounds like your client experience is like dialed in.
54:01
SPEAKER_01: Let's all just like get that dialed in like that.
54:04
SPEAKER_01: I mean it's so fun to hear more about how you work with your couples and your work is great as well.
54:10
SPEAKER_01: Where can people find and follow along with what you're doing?
54:13
SPEAKER_00: So when I post I post on Instagram and it's uh Janescott photo um J A N A Scott Photo.
54:21
SPEAKER_01: And is that the best place for couples to reach out?
54:23
SPEAKER_00: Yeah they can reach out there my website is the same thing Janascotography.
54:27
SPEAKER_01: Awesome we'll have that linked in the description if you want to click on the link if you're watching the full thing on YouTube.
54:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah I love that.
54:34
SPEAKER_00: Is there anything coming up that you're excited about I have about four more weddings a ton of fall engagement sessions.
54:41
SPEAKER_00: I have one where I'm hiking halfway down a trail and out on the Alligate front and then then there's gonna be a lot mant over the Vista.
54:48
SPEAKER_00: Super pumped about that mid-fall um one more art show in Virginia lots of stuff busy stuff and it's all good.
54:57
SPEAKER_01: Yeah that's so fun well I appreciate you being on this episode thank you so much this is great okay I'm glad you had fun um if you guys are listening in and you love the episode make sure you give it a like and share it with all of your friends um and there's gonna be plenty more episodes just like this one so make sure you follow along like and subscribe and all the things that that's it for this episode of the preferred list we'll catch you guys next time.
55:22
SPEAKER_02: See ya