We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Bonner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I have a deep love for the human spirit. From the very first interaction, I make it a priority to take the time to get to know my clients personally, even if it’s just for a few minutes before the session. I listen attentively to their desires, expectations, and vision for their photography session. By understanding their individual needs, I can tailor my approach and provide them with the results they are hoping for. I really strive to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere during the photo sessions, allowing genuine emotions and connections to shine through in the photographs. I am also a stickler for quality in both the experience and the final product, which has allowed me to establish a loyal client base solely through word of mouth and referrals. This has helped me build a positive reputation in my community and beyond. My commitment to creating memorable experiences and preserving cherished moments is what sets me apart and contributes to the ongoing success of my photography company.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My passion for photography stemmed from my involvement in various art forms. From a young age, I immersed myself in music, playing the violin for many years. During high school, I discovered my talent for drawing and painting. By the time I entered college, I had set my sights on a career in Communication arts, particularly in advertising. Despite earning an art degree, I couldn’t secure a job in my desired field. However, life took a different turn when I got married and started a family, which I embraced wholeheartedly.

While being a stay-at-home parent was a cherished experience, I began to feel a decline in my self-esteem. I longed to utilize my artistic abilities and contribute financially to my family. After deep reflection, I started to pick up my camera more frequently and found immense joy in photographing my children. I shared my aspiration of turning photography into a profession with my supportive husband, and together we embarked on the journey of establishing my own photography business.

Although I had much to learn about running a business, my determination and passion drove me to devote the necessary time and effort for success. Within a few weeks, I had named my company, created a logo, registered as an LLC, commenced work on a website, and opened a dedicated checking account, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Despite having taken two photography classes in college, I quickly realized that I had a lot to learn about the new digital era. While I understood the basics of photography, my experience was limited to film cameras and work in the darkroom. To catch up, I enrolled in workshops and Photoshop classes, and I sought advice from fellow photographers. In my first year, I started accepting paid photography jobs and gradually built up my skills. Within 3-5 years, I established a steady pace of shooting portraits and weddings, receiving positive feedback and developing a base of loyal customers. Above all, I found joy in serving my community and creating cherished memories for families. I attribute my success to the experience I provide for my clients, as I think people remember how you make them feel. This is not difficult for me since I genuinely LOVE what I do.

However, starting my own photography business came with its challenges. I faced financial strain as I had to invest in new gear and studio equipment. Additionally, setting up insurance for my equipment was crucial. Balancing my new career with childcare responsibilities and long hours of editing and retouching proved to be demanding. I needed to find a better balance in my family life so I implemented strict shooting hours, office hours, and designated time off. I also utilized a retouching service for a small fee to help manage my workload. Moreover, I took out a personal loan to purchase the necessary gear for providing high-quality photos to my clients. This decision brought structure to my weeks and allowed me to spend much-needed time with my family. As a result, my business thrived.

Throughout my journey, I gained valuable knowledge on pricing my work, which I consider one of the most challenging aspects for entrepreneurs and creatives. Determining the value of our work, which holds deep personal meaning to us, can be a daunting task. I experienced firsthand the importance of assessing my target audience, showcasing my expertise, training, and accomplishments. Additionally, I recognized the significance of considering artistic vision, accumulated years of experience, and the ability to capture emotions and fleeting moments. Let’s not forget the countless hours invested behind the scenes in post-production. All these factors contribute to assigning a monetary value to our work. It took me some trial and error to get my pricing structure to a place where I was profitable. 

Throughout my career I have had some profound experiences. For 3 years I had the great privilege of volunteering for an organization called “Now I lay me down to sleep”. They offer the gift of healing, hope and honor to parents experiencing the death of a baby through remembrance portraits. I would conduct a session capturing the only moments parents spent with their babies. Parents are then gifted with heirloom, black and white portraits free of charge. At first, I was nervous to join and ILMDTS. I was unsure I could handle the emotional part, yet my heart kept pulling at me to volunteer for this amazing organization. I am so glad I finally did. Given the gift of love is one of the best things that I have ever done. It was an honor to meet these little angels and to capture memories for their families.

Last week, I photographed a memorable event dedicated to honoring a man’s life, who was facing terminal cancer. It was truly awe-inspiring to hear the stories that encapsulated his life and witness the outpouring of affection he received. As I finished up that shoot and departed, it occurred to me that this type of occasion should be embraced by everyone prior to their final journey.

This week, I will be photographing a fighter pilots last flight and the celebration that occurs with is family and friends after he lands, his “fini-flight”!  I am truly excited about this upcoming event and the chance to preserve these extraordinary moments through my photography.

In addition to the family portraits, high school seniors, newborns etc….these encounters have a profound impact on me, giving me everlasting gratitude for my chosen profession as a people photographer!

 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of the first things I did when starting my business was to partner with an online third party called Pictage. Pictage provided me with my online galleries to share, sell prints, digitals and slideshows to my clients. In addition, they provided a weekly meeting for local, Denver based photographers to get together, network and learn. I was so eager to learn every aspect of being a successful photographer that I attended as many meetings as I could. Here I met Katie VanBuren with www.vanburenphotogaphy.com. She became my number one “go to” for questions and advice. She allowed me to tag along to some of her shoots and weddings to observe and learn. This was 18 year ago and while Pictage no longer exists, I have a dear friend in my mentor Katie and I am beyond grateful to her of getting me off on the right foot!

Website: http://rebeccabonnerphotography.com

Instagram: @rebeccabonnerphotography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rebeccabonnerphotography

Image Credits
Roza Sampolinska for image Rebecca-bonner-2 Zara Ashby Photography for image Rebeccabonner-2

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