Meet Linda Mills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Mills.

Linda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a mother of four, I have always liked taking photos to document their lives growing up. In 2012, I started dating my now-husband. He is a high school basketball coach. Being the supportive girlfriend, I would attend his games and sit in the bleachers and watch. The attendees were brutal to say the least so I knew I needed a way to get out of the stands. I asked for a professional camera for Christmas and that is where it all began. I started off taking photos at football and basketball games and posting them on Facebook. Then parents started asking how much I would charge to take photos and I loved it. It was my way of giving back to the school and students. Within one year, I went from sports photos to doing Senior Photos and Prom Sessions.

In 2013, I decided it was time to take this seriously and begin a business. I started attending photography conferences like WPPI in Las Vegas and Shutterfest in St. Louis, studying online and completed an online photography certification. Every year, I found myself growing in my photography to where I am today and I am still learning and growing! My specialty now is weddings and engagements but I have not forgotten where I came from. I continue to take photos for seniors, families, newborns, etc. I love capturing memories of any kind so while my niche is weddings, I take any opportunity I can to be behind the camera documenting life.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all. There have been lots of ups and downs, actually. Photography sounds fun, right?! You get to take pretty pictures and capture memories. What I didn’t realize when I got busier was the amount of time I spent AFTER the session on the editing and the business side of my business. I found myself sitting behind my computer for hours, trying to make sure that I kept up with the turnaround time demand. It felt like everyone wanted their photos the next day and in the beginning, I was trying to meet that demand, which meant sacrificing sleep and time with my partner and family. The business side was not all fun either. As a creative, I love to be out creating epic images, not working on accounting and business plans. I invested in a customer management system that took the pressure off. It helped me organize my day to day business operations.

Another struggle was comparing myself to others! It is so easy with Instagram and Facebook to compare your work to other photographers. I scroll for hours, thinking I did not measure. Up and would not post my work thinking it “wasn’t good enough,” But I used that to fuel my desire to learn more! I wanted to know how they got their lighting so perfect so I studied lighting. I wanted to know how they edited so well, so I studied editing. It was time-consuming at first but has paid off nicely! I now have others asking ME how to achieve dramatic lighting and epic images.

It turned into a lonely job. I would be alone taking photos, alone editing photos, alone in wedding consultations. Then my husband joined my company and is now with me all along the way. He started off just assisting my holding my lights and now he is doing video work for our wedding business and even learning photography as my second shooter! Having the support system in him has helped with several obstacles. He is very understanding of the hours I sit in front of the computer so now, instead of me being in my office, we moved my computer to the family room so that I can edit while he watches sports on ESPN!

We’d love to hear more about your work.
Linda Mills Photography is a husband and wife photography and videography team. We focus on photographing weddings across the southeast and beyond. We love to travel and can travel anywhere in the world for destination weddings. We believe in love and family and want to capture the love you have during your wedding day. The wedding day goes by so fast so it is important that we capture your story and keep your memories alive for many years to come. We also photograph high school seniors, sports, prom, families, events. We love what we do and that comes out in our photos. We want your day to feel as special as you are. It is our passion to capture moments, both big and small to tell the story of your love. We love capturing both natural light images and creating dramatic images depending on your style.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Technology-wise, the photography industry continues to grow and develop. Camera companies like Nikon, Sony and Canon are continuing to evolve and change. DSLRs are now competing with new mirrorless cameras. New lighting systems are being developed.

Demand wise, you have the segment of the population that believes you don’t need a professional photographer anymore because they have “portrait mode” on their iPhone. Younger clients want quick access and the ability to share on their social media vs. printed photos. I balance this by offering both print and digital products based on my client’s needs. I love having my husband take a photo with his phone then I take the same image with my creative lighting to show my customers the difference.

Industry projections show an expected rise in demand for photography services. 2020 hit the wedding industry in general really hard. 95% of my 2020 weddings were postponed until 2021 or converted to elopement style weddings with smaller guest lists. We are remaining flexible and accommodating during this time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lindamillsphotography.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindamillsphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindamillsphotography

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