Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Grimes.
Barbara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It started back in 2015, I decided Id like to take on a new hobby and remembered my love from a very young of photography. Back when I was a young child, I remember getting so excited when my dad would bring home those disposable Kodak cameras from our local drugstore. I would take photos of my friends, cool things I loved and even of myself (before the term “selfie” was even invented). And I would be over the moon whenever my dad brought back the photos after they were finished being developed.
So, 2015 I waited for income tax return time o purchase my first ever DSLR camera which was a Canon T3i, I was thrilled! I had to have watched Hundreds of YouTube videos getting myself familiar with all the new buttons and learning the very basics of how light affected my images! And more on how I can control the light and use this new tool to get creative, which helped me define who Barbara was as a photographer.
I began practicing on my newly born son as he grew so quickly into many different stages of his early life. I captured those moments that I knew were fleeting which ultimately is what led me to my why in my photography business maybe a year or so later. I understood the value of memories and knew I can offer the gift of photographs to other families who also had young children and just loved ones in general that they’d want to keep memories for.
I began taking on sessions for free at first to better understand the logistics of providing this service, including the customer /client aspect and how to provide not only great images but quality experiences. I absolutely loved working with families and enjoyed the very adorable little ones I photographed. I honed in on a variety of skills as a photographer and grew as a business owner and eventually, I branched out in 2017 to go full-time. Quitting my job was a tough decision and every day even seven years later it is not an easy road.
As I worked with families, I began to gain a client base of more than just cute adorable kids and their parents but was able to branch off and learn even more skills as an event photographer, a wedding photographer and eventually a branding photographer. I thoroughly loved the new world of event photography, the energy of the events were unmatched. However, branding photography was where I found my groove.
I began to connect with so many beautiful other brands, small and large. And God attached me with so many women like myself who were focused, driven and wanted more out of life and believed in themselves enough to make things happen for themselves through their passion and business. This ’till this day brings me so much joy, knowing I can support their dreams of pursuing these goals through quality photographs that allow them to show up in their best light (pun intended) and stand out in their industry.
Today, these women that I now work with, as solely a branding photographer, are like good friends (such as Chandra Abbott) and I couldn’t ask for a better job or better client base. I am super grateful for my journey that has led me to where I am today working with other women in business. I am thrilled for the future of my branding photography business. I look forward to more success and opportunities (such as this) for Barbara Yvonne Photography!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Whew! Yes, I can write on this question, keeping you here for hours But we’re not going to do that so I’ll cut to keep it brief. As I mentioned before, leaving my “9-5” corporate job I would say, was the biggest struggle. I knew where I was working was going to suck the life out of me, so I approached a crossroad and took the jump into entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship itself is not a smooth road, and I don’t think it’s ever going to be but it’s something I enjoy and I am consistently learning not only about business but about myself and to say the least fulfilling so, it’s worth it, in the end.
Marketing is a current hurtle for me. Through this fast pace technological society, it’s easy to get drowned out, so it’s very important to stay consistent with putting yourself out there. And staying on top of all the changes in ways to do that while staying authentic is something I am navigating through.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a branding photographer providing quality images to other brands small or big allowing them to show up as the professional they are and allows them to connect authentically to their target audience in their industry.
My clients walk away from our sessions not only feeling good about their brand’s imagery but about themselves. A lot of the time, my client are unsure how their images would come out, thinking they make it awkward or not being “photogenic” enough.
But I give lots of genuine encouragement and simply being their ultimate hype-woman showing them who I see them to be. M clients tell me they have had a good time and how much fun shooting with me, it was. Then after seeing the results the confidence they receive is truly amazing and it translates in how they further show up to their audience in more ways than one.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thank you for taking the time out to read and learn about Barbara Yvonne Photography and I hope to connect with you further on Instagram @ www.instagram.com/Barbarayvonnephotography.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barbarayvonnephotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/barbarayvonnephotography
Image Credits
Image Credit: Barbara Yvonne Photography
