Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Bauer.
Jen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi! Yes, of course. Thank you for having me.
Ok, let’s see. Where does my story begin. My parents bought me a Nikon camera kit from Costco. I was like ‘Cool, I’ll take pictures of trees.’ Spoiler alert: that did not go as planned.
How did I get where I am today? Every job I have ever had has prepared me for becoming a photographer, specifically a wedding photographer. I’ll explain.
When I was a kid, and someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, ‘photographer’ was NEVER one of my answers. What was one of my answers? Dolphin trainer. I did that. Another answer? Personal trainer. I did that too. Add in the rest of my careers: group fitness instructor, saleswoman, cocktail server, account manager, and customer service representative and you have a 360-degree view of why I was able to seamlessly step into the role of a wedding photographer. The skills I acquired from this smorgasbord of careers created a strong foundation of what I needed to succeed in photography. The last piece of the puzzle, honestly, was learning how to use a camera (an ongoing process to this day).
But here I am, at age 33, switching careers, starting a business, and running in a direction I never imagined I could go. The creative side of me had been trapped for a long time navigating through corporate greed, being stuck in one place, enduring brain-numbing 9-5s, and getting constantly underpaid. I am so excited I found a job that allows me to design my own life how I want to live it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth? Hahaha no. I’d love to talk to anyone with their own business that describes the beginning as ‘smooth.’ I think the hardest part was the transition from a job with a consistent schedule, a consistent paycheck, and a consistent set of expectations to a job that is exactly the opposite. My schedule varies day to day, month to month, and, you guessed it, with a varying schedule comes a varying paycheck. Furthermore, not only am I in charge of just taking photos, I am in charge of every part of the daily operations. I am the supervisor of photography, marketing, bookkeeping, Human Resources (lol), transportation, customer service, and the worst, IT.
With all the added responsibility, it is challenging for me to structure my days to be as efficient as I want them to be. However, every day I learn more about what I need and what my business needs to be successful in the future.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My entire business was inspired by nature, and for that reason, my main logo is a pine tree. Being outside is where I feel most connected with myself. When I connect with nature, I connect to the person I am meant to be. I am isolated from the external factors that TELL me who I am, and I am left with WHO I really am. I mean, have you ever seen a Haleakala sunrise? The Sierra Nevada Mountain range? The way the light hits the flowers in your front yard at sunset? Yeah. It’s like that.
Looking back at my editing from my earlier years (scroll all the way back on my Instagram for the ‘interesting’ beginnings of my work), I knew I wanted my brand to portray crisp, bright, full-of-life, true-to-color photographs. It took me some time, but I finally made it to a style that combines all of those attributes but now with a sense of nostalgia, a sense of emotion.
I’ll be totally honest with you; I am not going to sit here and tell you that what sets me apart is ‘capturing candid moments’ or ‘making you look the best you ever have in front of the camera’ because the truth is, every photographer wants those things for our clients. So as much as I do both of those things, they don’t set me apart. I ain’t special in that thinking.
What does set me apart, however, is that I am Jen Bauer, and there is only one Jen Bauer Photography. My experiences as a human, my creativity, and the way I view the world belong to only me.
So, listen… more honesty. I don’t want to be your choice of photographer solely because of what my photos look like; I want to be your choice of photographer because of who I am as a person. Because of my personality. Because we have similar backgrounds. Because you liked a meme I posted. Because we both love birthday cake. Because we both almost died hiking Angel’s Landing. And if you’re reading this and you’re thinking, ‘Well, ok, that’s not everyone,’ you are correct! I am not for everyone, and everyone is not for me. BUT, if you are for me, I am telling you right now, we will have the BEST time together, and I will treat you like a friend I have known my whole life.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
DISCLAIMER: I don’t know everything; I don’t even know what I would consider ‘a lot,’ but I did JUST go through the pains of starting a new business, so it is very fresh in my mind. These are the things I wish I had put more emphasis on earlier in my career.
Pay for education.
YouTube is a perfect place to start to get your bearings with your camera and the basics. Watch all the free videos. Then, when you are really serious about starting a business, research classes taught by photographers who shoot the niche you are looking to get into. The more specific, the better. Paying for courses really forces you to make a commitment into investing in yourself.
Hold off on buying all the gear right away.
I think every photographer will tell you how they have hundreds of dollars of unused equipment that they bought right when they started. This includes lenses, filters, bags, tripods, cases, straps, etc. So don’t be like us. Break the cycle. Photography is an industry with millions and billions of products designed to ‘make you a better photographer.’ Some of it truly helps, and a lot of it really doesn’t. Depending on what type of photography you choose to specialize in will determine what gear you actually need. When you first start out, it is hard to choose just one photography niche. So, hold off on the gear for now. It will always be there. Pay for education first.
Start on a basic, entry-level DSLR camera.
This is an unpopular opinion, but I truly stand by this advice. It’s so tempting to jump straight to a fancy and expensive DSLR or mirrorless camera, but I wouldn’t change a thing about learning the exposure triangle on my Nikon D3500 (with a kit lens from Costco. Thanks, mom and dad!). I genuinely feel like I would not understand some of the tiny nuances and idiosyncrasies of photography had I not taken the time to figure out how to shoot my Jen Bauer Photography-style, bright and timeless photos on my entry-level camera with terrible low light capabilities.
Hire a bookkeeper (or invest in a business tax/accounting course)
Unless you have an education or affinity for tax accounting, there is no way you will be able to know what to do, how much to pay, what information to document, or, most importantly, how to maximize savings and profit for your business. Even if it’s only for a few months to understand what you need to do, hire a bookkeeper!
Learn how to communicate and set boundaries with clients.
If you are thinking about switching to photography full-time because you love it and it’s your passion, amazing. You’ll think, ‘wow, I can’t believe people pay me to do this.’ But do know that it does become a job after a certain point. From the editing to spending hours on your feet at weddings, to communicating via text, email, or phone call with sometimes difficult clients… the time starts to add up. Learn how to set personal and professional boundaries with your clients. Specifically, I am talking about saying ‘no,’ navigating uncomfortable discussions about money, and maintaining neutrality with clients who really just push all your buttons. Learning to communicate and set boundaries is an integral part of your business and the most crucial part of your client experience.
Pricing:
- $400 mini sessions
- $550 full sessions
- Weddings starting at $3,500
- Elopements starting at $1800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jenbauerphotography.com/
- Instagram: @jenbauerphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenbauerphotography
