Venturing Vows was interviewed for the Outside the frame podcast and I spoke about my start in science and how it evolved into a career in elopement photography.
You don’t have to be around here long to know I’m a huge science nerd. I actually started out adult life with a degree in biology and a career in science (teaching biology and chemistry) before becoming an elopement photographer. When Kaitlyn and Kaylyn reached out about how I’ve included science into my business, I was ready to go off about how I somehow married (ha!) the two very different pieces together.
Here’s a link to listen on Spotify!
How I Became an Elopement Photographer
It all started in my teaching days. My mental health was awful and I learned teaching just wasn’t the career for me. While I was learning this, I had my first interaction with eloping…cancelling my own traditional wedding to elope on Oregon Coast. I suddenly knew why I’d never had a desire to be a full time photographer before. Family, senior, and traditional wedding photos weren’t it for me but elopements sure were. After experimenting with grad school applications, applying for science jobs, and trying out starting an elopement business, my business ultimately ended up taking off. Now that I have this super cool job and the joy of working from home for myself, I’m perfectly okay about those grad school rejections. 😉
Including Science in my Business
One of the top pieces of advice they give you for marketing is to just show up. While I was building up my business, I was trying to find ways to show up and add my own personal touches to my business approach. Given how much I think about science day to day, I naturally fell into discussing science weekly with Science Fridays. I was shocked how many people were loving it even though they had come for my photography. I slowly included more and more science into my marketing. Eventually, I had couples requesting tide pool trips and bird/whale watching as part of their elopement days.
The more I included myself in my business and marketing, the more I realized people want those things to connect over. There’s so many photographers out there and these personal touches are how I found “my people.” When I showed these seemingly unrelated pieces of myself, people felt more confident booking me as their photographer because they knew we’d connect when we spent their elopement day together. As a fellow introvert, I also learned that introverts will feel so much better putting such a special day in your hands when they know they have a talking point from the beginning.
Using Science to be a Better Photographer
I never would’ve guessed how much science would influence my photography. While we were chatting, I explained to them that I believe every big award I’ve won can be credited to my tide knowledge. The two images above could’ve only been captured with an in-depth knowledge of tides. Additionally, I’ve taken clients to places people don’t even know exist because they hide in the higher tides, I know the times each beach will be at it’s best, and how to find the coolest foliage for your images. It’s been the most amazing thing to watch science elevate my photography in ways I’d never imagine.
Still Doing Science!
If you follow me on Instagram, you know I spend lots of time still doing science. I currently volunteer my teaching experience as well as photography to local programs like Netarts WEBS and Tillamook Estuaries Partnership. I recently started on my citizen science journey with COASST by surveying beached birds on the Oregon Coast. It’s one of my favorite ways to use my flexible, work for myself schedule.
In addition to this, I love reading science books and spending lots of time in nature learning. I always thought I needed to be a scientist to do science. Really, there’s endless ways to engage in science that have nothing to do with your career.
Consider this my bat signal for all my fellow science nerds who want to elope! Let’s plan you a super romantic day that also involves oohing at moss and poking squishy critters.
Some other resources you may enjoy:
