Meet Sebastien Bicard | Destination wedding photographer

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

Hi Sebastien, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I came into wedding photography partially by accident, and partially through passion. I don’t believe someone wakes up one day and decides that she/he wants to be a wedding photographer, and that wasn’t the case for me either. After almost a decade working in Paris in a typical 9 to 5 after graduating from business school, I found myself at a crossroads in my personal life. Two kids, a divorce, and loads of time to think about my past and future choices. My current wife was a catalyst for my mental change— she helped me become more focused on what I love doing instead of what I should be doing. Starting my career as a wedding photographer in California echoed values I needed to live by to feel aligned. My work became a reflection of me, and I never looked back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In the wedding industry, you learn quickly that you need more than just skills and style to stand out. They are necessary steps on your path to success, but unfortunately, they are not magic bullet that will guarantee success. Interestingly enough, your personality will make a difference. In such a niche industry, YOU are your brand. The more your voice is true to who you are, the more you will draw people toward you, or away from you. Since the early days of my business, I wanted to be close to my couples – I never call them my clients. I spend time getting to know them, listening to their needs, and making observations before being hired for their wedding or elopement. Thanks to that, building trust feels like a natural progression in our relationship, and I think my personality is integral in this process..

The path to getting where I am today professionally can be challenging. I bet many people have heard about the 10,000-hour rule. I am no stranger to spending my time for years deep in learning through books, videos, trials, and failures. And I want to emphasize the importance of valuing failure. You have two ways to consider your failures: the end of a story or the opportunity to learn and grow. I keep failures as opportunities whenever possible in my professional and personal life. One huge outcome of this mindset is that it fuels my enthusiasm and positivity—something my couples have consistently praised for me. And I am very proud of it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This one is easy: any time I can take my van on a road trip and enjoy the best views in the USA. I have a Eurovan, so I can basically sleep, cook, chill in my own space in nature. Public lands allow me to enjoy free camping and the serenity of being out in nature, alone, but National Parks offer the most striking landscapes. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a must-see. Natural hot springs are available at several locations along the way, making it possible to stay remote (and clean!) for a long time. My favorite one is Valley View Hot Springs.
But my heart is always drawn to the mountains. Have a look at the Trail Ridge Road Summit, Sky Pond, or Lake Isabelle in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Just remember to breathe the fresh air – and avoid bears!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Many people should be mentioned starting with my family, and especially my wife, Tessa, as I explained. Being a photographer requires lots of time away from home. In addition, all the years before the financial side of a business taking-off are uncertain. It has been challenging, in both good and sometimes tough ways, for our couple since day-one. Two other people greatly impacted me: my best friend and photography mentor, Alain. He took a chance on me, as a young photographer in Paris where, looking back at it, my skills were lacking. And he saw in me what I could not. The second person would be Robert J Hill, my “brother from another mother,” as we call each other. Robert is a spiritual animal who influenced me heavily towards vulnerability and being present at work. He is also a phenomenal photographer.

Website: https://sebastienbicard.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebastienbicard/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-bicard-a0a8764/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bakedvl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sebastien.bicard.7

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sebastien-bicard-photography-sacramento-4

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sebastienbicard9495