Today’s blog is jam packed with advice, real life experiences and inspiration! Here’s your insider’s look at what it’s like being a wedding photographer!
We had the pleasure of chatting with Diana Clayton, owner of the wedding photography business, Swatch Studios all about being a wedding photographer. She is passionate about making her couples’ big day go off without a hitch, making them feel more comfortable and beautiful with every click of her camera.
Keep reading as she tells us about her business and also gets REAL about what it’s like being a business owner, struggling with comparison and what makes it ALL worth it at the end of the day.
Tell us about yourself! What makes you, “you”?
I like to describe myself as an extroverted introvert. I have no problem stepping up, working a room and being the center of attention, but I also thrive in small, intimate settings with close friends and family.
Tell us about Swatch Studios… What brought you to creating this business and why are you passionate about it?
We are wedding photographers who craft wedding stories for REAL couples. What I mean by that is, people who aren’t supermodels! Our couples are beautifully imperfect, slightly goofy and usually self-proclaimed awkward. From the start, I have always focused on getting to know our couples on a personal level. (We’ve actually gained a lot of friends this way!) It’s so important that our couples feel comfortable, making the wedding day as least stressful as possible.
What is your proudest achievement?
I don’t know that there is one specific thing, but I can’t count the number of times I have heard couples tell me that we were their favorite wedding vendor they worked with or that we made the wedding day so stress-free and fun. Hearing something like that never gets old! It’s the little things like that that truly make me proud of what we’ve got going on here and I love every minute of making someone’s day that much better.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business owner and how did you overcome it?
I think a big challenge in this business (and honestly in life in general) is getting over that imposter syndrome and ignoring the ‘competition’ that’s out there. I think it’s a daily struggle for people everywhere, especially woman, to avoid comparing themselves to other people and it’s especially hard in a business. Scrolling through social media and seeing what other people are doing can be a real bad thing for ones self-confidence! It’s even hard to admit here, but I am constantly reminding myself that I am doing my best and I’m doing good things and I can’t just sit there and compare to what everyone else is doing.
What advice would you give to a woman looking to start a business or get into a leadership role? Is there one thing that has helped you specifically?
I would say it’s important to never stop learning, trying new things and reflecting back on what you’ve done and how you can continue to make it better. Every year, we review our previous wedding season and establish new goals. In our off season, we are trying new things to make sure that we’re still doing the best we can, technically, but also creatively. We reflect on our couples, our personal development and re-align our goals to be as true as possible. I’d also like to reflect back on my previous answer about our biggest challenge as humans…stop comparing yourself to others! That will never help and it will never get you to the next step in your business. You will only beat yourself up if you continuously try to do what everyone else is doing.
What made you want to join HerHub?
I love the idea of connecting with other women-owned businesses and, after attending a HerHub social recently, I knew I wanted to be a part of this community.
We love spreading love to other woman-owned businesses and we bet you do too. Give a shout out here to your favorite, local, woman-owned business (besides your own)!
Oh where do I even start? First, I have to shout out to Kallie at Pip & Cricket design who does the most amazing wedding invites, paper goods and illustrations. And for me to shout out all the amazing woman-owned businesses in the wedding industry, I would be here all day! If you’re looking for a wedding planner, florist, bakery, videographer, I’ve got plenty of women-owned awesomeness that I can recommend!
Want more info about Swatch Studios?!
Check out their website at swatchstudios.com!
Click on the ‘Contact’ page to get in touch 🙂
