Checking In: Half a Year Later
We’ve been working this sister gig now for a little over six months, so it feels like a good time to circle back and review a bizarre time to start a business, and to introduce ourselves for those who have just started to keep up with us.
Things that are pretty obvious:
We are sisters.
We are photographers (we are both graduates of VCU’s Photo + Film BFA program, and have been taking pictures since we were young).
We started a business during a pandemic.
Things that may be less obvious:
We are five years apart in age, with Whitney being the oldest.
We have a brother in between, who even some of our closest friends forget exists (he hates having his photo taken; go figure). He is an engineer and is not very artistic. He can, however, describe some of the most seemingly uneventful characters in the Game of Thrones series, so his mind is very powerful.
We still have other jobs outside of the photo business! Whitney works full time as the Gallery Coordinator at Candela Gallery in Richmond, and Casey splits her time between several endeavors. In addition to weddings, she still runs her own business, photographing boudoir, family, and lifestyle sessions, and has bigger clients through the Diocese of Southern Virginia. She holds staff positions at two churches as Communications Manager and Creative Director.
We primarily shoot with our Nikon DSLRs, but we have pretty rotten brand loyalty when it comes to cameras. We shoot with whatever feels right in the moment, carrying along anything from point-and-shoots to conversation-starting antique cameras.
Things we’ve learned from half a year of business:
Casey after bravely asking for a wooden hanger.
We have tossed cookie cutter expectations out the window – we can create an experience that feels true to us while providing that best version of ourselves to our clients. It’s been so validating to hear from clients who are genuinely drawn to our aesthetic and personalities.
Good things genuinely seem to be attracted to those who are ready to receive them. Focusing on the negative can cloud your ability to welcome good things when they arrive, so it’s best to let setbacks roll off. Keep moving forward, working hard, and being good to others.
We both have things that we particularly shine with, and we’re really beginning to figure out how to mold our workflow to allow ample opportunity for that. Rather than becoming frustrated that we can’t do the same things equally, we’re understanding that we can take turns doing the things we’re best at, in turn making everything better.
Communication is key: this will be a work in progress, possibly forever. Whether it be making a facial expression across the ceremony or keeping track of the financial components, we are always working to figure out how to communicate the best with one another. Working as sisters can mean honesty in the best and worst ways, so we’re learning how to channel that into genuine productive conversations for the function of our business.
Whitney, Fuji-ing it up with the bouquet
Things we have learned from each other since working together:
WHITNEY: Casey’s no-nonsense attitude and confidence has already begun to help a nearly lifelong tendency to second-guess myself. She has a way of stopping me before I get started and being like “that’s ridiculous, you’re literally a professional and this is beautiful.” She’s great at reflecting the absurdity of my hypothetical worst-case scenarios in a way that makes me see that those thoughts should have no power over me.
CASEY: Whitney is good at always assessing a situation before diving in. She also manages to make candid moments look really intimate, which is something I want to try to work towards. While I’m good at directing and arranging people, Whitney is particularly good at creating a composition from physical objects. I might shoot them as they lay, but Whitney is incredible at styling them and making them work together.
BONUS ROUND:
COMPLETELY RANDOM VENN DIAGRAMS
ABOUT WHITNEY + CASEY
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES
THINGS WE DID BEFORE THE THING WE DO NOW
FAVORITE MOVIES
WHERE WE SHINE ON WEDDING JOBS
FIFTH VENN DIAGRAM TOPICS
FAVORITE EPISODES OF THE OFFICE (USA)
We’ve felt so fortunate from the support we’ve received from six months of working together, and we’re so happy that we’ve been able to find a balance between our personalities and skill sets. We look forward to strengthening our unique combined voice and bringing goodness to the lives of those we work with in 2021. Thanks to all of you who have shared our work, hired us for a project, and ordered prints. We very literally wouldn’t be here without you.
Want to know more about our workflow, favorite tv shows, or something else? Ask away in the comments!
Want to inquire about booking a session or wedding with us? Inquire here!
