Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Richardson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dawn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My photography journey began when I was working as a software engineer for a large insurance company. I really love my job, my craft and the people I worked with, but one day, a co-worker IM-ed me a link to a refurbished entry level camera on Groupon. I had always wanted a “fancy camera”, so I bought it. I don’t think I could have ever predicted how much my life would change after that package arrived.
To me, that little camera was so much more than a camera. It was a technical machine that given the right puzzle of settings, would create a beautiful photo. I became so intrigued by how technical photography was, and how relatable it was to my career at the time. I started to take photos of various things – headshots for co-workers, senior photos for a family friend – a pretty similar story to most photographers. As my love for the craft grew, so did my interest in being a business owner. Again, I loved my corporate job at the time, but what IF I could be my own boss and pave my own path? I took a big leap of faith in April of 2015, and Dawn Elizabeth Studios had begun.
I couldn’t believe how quickly things fell into place after that moment. I met incredible mentors who would take me under their wing and teach me everything they knew about the wedding world. My corporate job learned about my new endeavor and actually encouraged me to keep pursuing it. But one night in the summer of 2015, I found myself at a coffee shop with a room full of strangers at an event called “Rising Tide Society’s Tuesdays Together”. The whole purpose of this group was to bring creatives together (photographers, florists, designers, planners, etc etc) in the spirit of community over competition. I was enamored with this incredible group of creative entrepreneurs – some were just starting out like I was, and others had made a 15-year career out of their passion. This group would be the fuel to my fire as I pursued my new-found dream.
Flash forward to today – I took the leap about a year ago and left my corporate job to work full-time for Dawn Elizabeth Studios and I photograph about 30 weddings a year all over Texas. I married the man of my dreams and I now lead the San Antonio chapter of the Rising Tide Society. Big things are in the works for Dawn Elizabeth Studios as I merge my old life of IT work with the creative world I’m in now – but more on that later this year! 🙂
Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth?? Oh gosh, absolutely not! The past three years have been a whirlwind of learning, tough decisions, and hustle. It hasn’t been smooth in the slightest, but I do know one thing – I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
I faced a lot of struggles along the way, but one of the hardest things I had to do came to terms that I was changing my career path. I had worked in the technical space for almost 8 years at that point and I was doing great at my well-paying corporate job. I had an Information Systems degree… and I was going to become a… photographer?? I not only struggled with that career shift internally but also with people at work and friends and family. Getting past this struggle was a long journey for me, but there came a point where I realized that when I was working on Dawn Elizabeth Studios, I felt free. For the first time in my life, I knew I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing and I knew I needed to pursue it, even if it was terrifying.
My advice for women who are starting their journey is this: Be proactive, Be legit, and Enjoy the process.
Be Proactive – Starting a business is hard, but it is even harder when new business owners kick back and just expect things to happen. I have seen many a Facebook rants from new photographers who aren’t booking, yet they don’t put in the hustle to get their business off the ground. Go meet other creatives in your industry, ask to shadow, attend meet ups (like Tuesday’s Together with RTS), try new marketing ideas, build your portfolio. If it matters to you, you will make time. I fell victim to the “I don’t have time” thing for many months when I got started and I wondered why I wasn’t a successful business that could support me leaving my corporate job. Things changed when I realized that only I was in control of that. I started waking up at 4 AM to work before my day job started and I pushed through a long season of hustle to get to where I wanted to be. Only YOU can decide to do that.
Be Legit – I’ve always been a big believer in the “dress for the job that you want, not the job that you have” mentality. This also goes for the legal and legit side of your business. Do the research and take the steps to make your business a legal business early on. Get your DBA or LLC, open a separate bank account, use contracts when working with clients, pay your taxes, get necessary permits, learn how to manage your books, etc etc. If you want it to be a business, then, you have to treat it like one! Your clients will value the professionalism. I promise.
Enjoy the process – This ride is an adventure, to say the least, but if I could go back to day 1 and give myself some advice, it would be to enjoy the process. I learned so much along the way, and I was so stuck in getting to the next step that I failed to celebrate the little victories. Be proud of your accomplishments. Have dance parties in your living room when you book a client. Give yourself grace and know that you will make mistakes. It’ll make this ride so much more fun.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dawn Elizabeth Studios – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in photographing weddings and wedding related portraits (engagements, bridals, bridal boudoir) for couples who are excited to celebrate their marriage the way it deserves to be celebrated. My couples are fun, over-the-moon excited to marry their best friend, and will be on the dance floor with a margarita in hand! I’m known for being on the dance floor with them (and my camera, duh), fun and authentic photos that are bright and vibrant, and giving my clients the BFF treatment.
Something that I’m (now) extremely proud of in my brand is my brand voice – it is a true representation of who I am. It hasn’t always been like this, and over time I realized I was hiding behind a brand and voice that was someone I felt like I was supposed to be and not the quirky, bubbly, energetic self that I am. In early 2018, I made a shift in my brand to be that margarita-loving, dancing, girl boss that I am, and since then, my potential DES couples know exactly what personality to expect. If we aren’t a good fit, that’s totally okay! And I’d rather my brand voice do that upfront than we realize we probably weren’t great for each other just a few weeks before the big day.
I pride myself in being an anchor for my clients on their day. I want them to be so comfortable with me that it’s like their best friend walked in to help them through a stressful time. Sure, they get gorgeous photos too, but I truly think a key part of getting joyful and authentic photos is that they are comfortable around me!
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I’m a firm believer that women are well positioned for all opportunities and that your internal hustle will be the driving force of making that happen. In my IT career, I was often one of the very few women in a room, but I never let that make me feel inadequate. I set my sights on being the best in the whole room, not just the best woman in the room. I’ve carried that mentality with me in this career too and it has served me well so far!
I do feel like I have a slight advantage in the wedding world because I can connect with brides on a more personal level. Girl, I was in your shoes not too long ago, so trust me when I say – I feel ya girl!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dawnelizabethstudios.com
- Email: hello@dawnelizabethstudios.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dawnelizabethstudios
- Facebook: facebook.com/dawnelizabethstudios
- Twitter: twitter.com/dawnestudios
Image Credit:
For image Dawn-personal-branding-5.jpg (black background with camera) – Photo by Melissa Raelynn Photography, the rest Dawn Elizabeth Studios
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
