Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Whaley.
Hi Eric , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been an artist with a creative streak, but necessity had me following a different career path for many years. I served in the Marine Corp shortly after highschool, and ended up driving trucks over the road for over 20 years after I got out of the military. In 2013 I met my wife and left the road life to spend more time at home, and began serving on full time staff at a church – mentoring youth and handling some of the creative aspects of church leadership, such as video and social media. This was refreshing to me, to be able to use those creative gifts once again, and I began to pursue photography on the side. My business grew here in the local community and I transitioned to full time photography and videography in May of 2023.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Let’s just say camera equipment is expensive, along with editing software, websites and platforms. It’s an investment every step of the way. I started using lenses on my cell phone to take photos as early as 2009, and not despising those small beginnings, I built my business with my first camera and gradually added about $10,000 worth of lenses and equipment over those early years. However, in late 2022, I attended the San Antonio Livestock Show and rodeo to capture photos of exhibitors with their 4H and FFA projects – and my truck was broken into and all of it was stolen. This was a rough patch for sure, replacing all of it as a result of crime. Insurance applies depreciation and after deductibles only covered about 1/3 of what I lost. I also had a drone for real estate photos that malfunctioned in-flight and crash landed, so that was another hit along the way. But despite those setbacks, my customer based was strong and I leaned into relationships I had built in the community to keep my business alive while I rebuilt. Talent will take you a certain distance towards success, but building relationships, relentless networking and impeccable customer care is what creates a strong business model that survives the hard and slow times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am honored to have been able to capture and cover a wide range of projects. Initially I did not want to photograph everything, I wanted to tell stories through imagery. My camera gave me a way to do this. Over time, the stories became wide-ranging. I started doing quite a bit of livestock photography, farm and ranch and environmental shoots through my work on my own ranch and with 4H and FFA livestock shows. Over time, those same clients reached out to me for portrait photography, from senior photos to family, maternity and professional headshots, lifestyle and branding photos. I make it a point to capture those candid “between the shots” moments with my camera as well as the emotion a senior may be feeling on the edge of adulthood. It’s so fulfilling for me to go from shooting a freshman at their local livestock show, to their high school senior session, to the college senior session, to an engagement session for the same client over the years . I am also blessed to do a limited number of weddings per year and represent the personality and love the couple shares through the images. I do the same with birthday events and family celebrations. Capturing connection goes way beyond a camera. Another specialty of mine is corporate events like grand openings, award ceremonies, ribbon cuttings and fundraisers, capturing documentary-style photos to celebrate the moment and feelings of success and achievement in the room. I have also spent quite a bit of time photographing home for real estate sales which is a specialized skillset for sure. Whether it’s a single portrait or a complex, busy environment, my goal to not just capture what it looked like, but to show what it felt like to be there. One frame at a time.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work, reliability, relationship building and an impeccable client experience before, during and after the shoot. I also believe God grants me success and for that, I am grateful.
Pricing:
- Headshots starting at $50
- Portrait Sessions starting at $175
- Corporate events starting at $100 an hour
- Real estate photos starting at $85
- Wedding photography starting at $899
Contact Info:
- Website: https://whaleyphotography.com
- Instagram: @whaley_photo and @simple_light_media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whaleyphotogtaphy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplelightmedia
