Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kate Garcia, founder of Kate Garcia Weddings, located in San Diego, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a photographer that specializes in small weddings & elopements; however, I have no problem photographing more traditionally sized weddings as well. Weddings/couples are where I thrive and come alive!! I would say I'm most known for my ability to tastefully unify the authentic, small, in-between moments that happen with a refined, editorial, and intentional editing style. I believe that my couples not only deserve to see + experience the real moments that happened on their day, but I also believe they deserve to feel fabulous while doing it. I am just as passionate about anticipating those candid moments as I am about making you and your spouse look like you should be on the cover of a magazine!

I get asked all the time HOW I stand out in the sea of wedding photographers, and I would say I do that best through two words – intentional service. I had the most hard-working, unconditionally loving father growing up, and the service + sacrifice my dad willfully chose to do for us growing up is the model I use for my business. I am a born-again Christian and believe to my core that I am meant to glorify God in whatever I do. For me, that means following my dad's example of service (which was ultimately my dad striving to follow Christ's example of service) and implementing that into my business. Everything I do from the moment a couple inquires to the day I send them their final gallery is intentional. It's with a heart of service that cannot be found in any other photographer because it's so deeply rooted in who I am as a person. This job offers extreme blessings, but I'm not in it for the money or to be "the best." I do this because I'm passionate about providing memories for people (just like my parents did for my family) that we can look back on for as long as we live.

Photographs increase in value over time, and I believe in providing an experience that respects and matches that value. One day these frozen memories will mean more to someone than I could ever know, and it's an honor to provide that for couples.

Tell us about yourself

Growing up, I had two incredible parents who saw the value in capturing all the special moments of our lives. My mom was always taking pictures with her film camera, and my dad was the king of home videos. I can vividly remember always having some sort of camera in my hand and making my friends take pictures with me, OR – if no human was around — I would resort to taking photos of whatever I could find around me. So, needless to say, photography has always had a special place in my heart. As I entered high school, I purchased my first DSLR camera but still only saw photography as a hobby – I just wanted to get better at it.

Things began to grow organically, and I took grad photos, family photos, and a second shoot for a photographer I knew in San Diego. Once I graduated high school, I was consistently second shooting for weddings. Eventually, I shot my first wedding when I was 17 years old. Despite seeing all this, I still never thought it would be something I would do full-time. I was going to college to study speech therapy. I was working full-time at a steady job, with benefits, as a manager.

Towards the end of 2016, I was beginning to consistently book weddings/engagements through word of mouth & social media. Because of this, I realized I would have to make a decision. Do I take the risk – follow my passion and make photography a full-time gig? Or do I stay where I was (and I was very happy!) with a consistent paycheck and benefits? I have always been pretty entrepreneurial-minded. Even when I was a kid, I made jewelry and sold it to my friend's moms, so my natural urge was to follow my passion and see what would happen!

I dove into photography full-time at the beginning of 2017 and have been blessed to be doing this ever since! It wasn't easy by any means – especially that first year. I had to learn how to run a business, communicate with clients, manage scheduling that was 12-14 months into the future while also ensuring I was creating quality work for my amazing clients. I knew halfway through my first year that I needed to find someone to mentor me, as well as invest in workshops to better understand how to market myself and run a business. Once I started doing that in the latter part of 2017, I started to see growth, have been blessed to watch my business grow tremendously. On average shoot around 30-35 weddings a year – except last year, haha… because of the postponements that came from COVID, I photographed about 56 weddings for 2021.

I would not be where I am today without the grace of God and the support of my family & friends, though – surrounding yourself with people who will always cheer you on to chase your dreams makes a huge difference!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say the adaptability that I had to endure over the past two years (and now going into 2022 and 2023 as well). Going from having a fully booked wedding year in 2020 to in a matter of days, literally not knowing where my next paycheck was coming from, is a whole different ball game. I had to learn to adapt and serve my couples in ways I could never have imagined. I am proud of how I was able to encourage and come alongside every single couple who either had to postpone or reached out because of postponement and be able to keep them excited about the process and remind them that the most important thing that happens is that they are getting married. Even if everything else falls through - their love is worth celebrating because of that simple fact.

But it wasn't just about experiencing loss in the blink of an eye and being able to bounce back. It's also about what I (and everyone in the event industry) had to experience AFTER 2020. The re-bound of postponing events means that the work doubles as a result. And that was definitely true for me. I photographed double what I was used to in 2021. Learning how to manage my time despite being overwhelmed properly and knowing how to maintain the level of excellence I strive to offer was challenging but rewarding. I have the most amazing couples and felt so supported and valued last year despite feeling exhausted 24/7.

A lot of people choose to define their success or accomplishments with the numbers, and though yes - that is still part of owning a business, and I am proud of the steps I have taken to become financially stable - I am most proud of the client experience I provided despite the past two years. I never EVER let complacency take root in my business. I never let things be "just okay." I am constantly evolving and choosing to push myself to grow every single year so that I am ALWAYS offering the newest + best ways to serve my clients in ways they could never have imagined. That is my biggest accomplishment that I can only say I have achieved (and will continue to achieve) through the grace of God!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

We joke all the time that we quit our 9-5 to work 24/7, haha. Balancing your passion (which is also your work) is extremely difficult because we genuinely LOVE what we do, so we LOVE doing it! But it's also important not to let the personal relationships you have in your life fall to the wayside. It's important to understand your business so well that you know exactly what you need to do to survive, but also what you need to do to give yourself the time off you need.

In addition to balancing work and life, entrepreneurship can be a lonely road. It can be hard for others to understand what it takes to keep your business going every year. Even though yes - we shouldn't get caught up in making our work our lives - it still takes a LOT of time and effort to run a business on your own successfully. And it's hard for the average person to understand that. That's why it's SO important to cultivate relationships with other business owners in your industry. Having people in your life who have taken the same steps and made the same sacrifices you do is so encouraging and motivating. We are not meant to walk this road alone!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

First, you cannot let fear dictate your decisions. Choosing to take the leap and make something for yourself is going to be risky and scary - especially if you're leaving a well-established job already. But if you can't dive ALL in to do it - you will never experience the fruit that comes from doing so. You can only make something incredible when you're able to invest 10000% of yourself into it. And speaking of investing, you also cannot be afraid to invest in yourself - not just time and effort, but also financially. You can't expect people to invest in you if you don't see the value of investing in yourself. Start saving now. Make a plan now. Figure out what it takes now. And I promise that every single investment you make will benefit you in some way - some more than others - but every investment will teach you something you can take into the future.

Second, don't be afraid to ask for help! And be picky! Find someone you look up to for not only their work but who they are as a person. Don't get caught up in all the fluffy stuff they can provide you. Pick someone that people can vouch for and that actually TALK business and show results. Find someone that can not only teach you business practices but also how to implement them. That is what is going to take you to the next level. You can save yourself so much time, money, and effort by choosing to learn from others who have already walked the road and made mistakes!

Lastly, be prepared for this to change your life completely. This will be one of the hardest seasons you will experience, but it will also be the most rewarding if you put in the work. There is not an "overnight" quick fix to make your business successful. It's on YOU to make it what you want. If you do not see results, it's on YOU. It's on you to figure out what changes you need to make to get to the next level and not give up. But choosing to start my own business and walk through all the highs and lows of doing so is a decision I have never ONCE regretted.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I think the last aspect I want to touch on in light of everything I've shared so far is that how you use social media will greatly impact your experience as a small business owner. Social media is a HUGE aspect of how I receive business. 80% of my inquiries come from it. And even though, yes, social media CAN be toxic - I truly believe it will only get that way if you allow it to. Choose to be a light in the social media world. Choose to extend kindness and grace to others online. Choose not to read the hate comments, or if you do, choose not to let them affect you mentally. I love social media because I have met so many INCREDIBLE human beings through it, and it has provided some absolutely unbelievable opportunities for not just myself - but for others as well. My company and I will be featured in a movie because they found me through social media. I just encourage anyone (whether in the industry for years or just starting out) that YOU dictate how social media will affect your life. So let it be for good!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://kategarciaweddings.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kategarciaweddings/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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