Meet Carly Swan | Photographer & Twin Mama

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

Hi Carly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I started my own photography business, I kind of went in head first, but with blinders on. I had never created my own website, I didn’t know how to handle my money, and I didn’t know how to get more clients and keep them coming. Luckily, I had a few photography friends who were more than willing to give me some advice on how to get my business up and running. Once I had a list of items and had a better idea of where to start, I had to think of how I could make my business stand out from others. At the time, I was photographing my friends and their growing families and noticed that most kids (and dads!) could really only last so long during a photo session without being bribed by snacks or ice cream. I had seen a few other photographers offer “mini sessions’ and I thought that would be the perfect thing to plan my business around. It’s surprising how many photos you can take within a 20 to 45 minute session, and no one leaves feeling exhausted or overstimulated. My business quickly thrived within the first year and I’ve found that the busiest season for me is in the fall when everyone wants photos for their holiday cards.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my photography career back in 2012 when I worked as an executive assistant to a real estate broker in Pennsylvania. Her husband ran an event business with DJ’s and photographers. There was a high need for listing photos of the properties my boss was selling, so her husband thought it would be a great idea to teach me how to take professional photos and I fell in love! I moved to Denver in 2014 and kept my real estate photography gig going while also swearing I’d never take photos of people. As my friend group grew, I had a few people ask if I’d take their family photos for their holiday cards and I gave it a shot and realized I had been missing out on bigger and better opportunities behind the lens. This realization is what really struck a fire under my bum and got me excited about photographing more than just empty houses! I now can say that I LOVE photographing families and capturing their love on camera for them to cherish for years and years to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Taking a friend around Denver who has never visited before is one of my absolute FAVORITE things to do because there is so MUCH to do year round! I’d probably start off the week with a cheeky brunch at Le Bilboquet or Postino followed by shopping around the RiNo Art District. The days would be filled with visiting Meow Wolf and the Nature Science Museum, as well as taking a quick drive and fun hike up to Saint Mary’s Glacier. On our way home we would stop in Golden for a beer at New Terrain Brewing Company. Evenings would include drinks at the new rooftop restaurant Stellar Jay or 54Thirty, and then dinners at Cholon, Shells & Sauce, Sushi Den, or WonderYard.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My success comes from the help of my husband, Benny Swan. Without him in my life, I would never be able to be a photographer. He watches our two year old twin girls when I’m off at a photoshoot and never complains.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowrayphoto/?hl=en