Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Steffe.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It started back in 2001 when I was home with my one-year-old daughter. I purchased a custom outfit on eBay for $15 and sent the seller photos of my daughter wearing it. She used those photos for her next listing, which subsequently sold for over $100.
This sparked a professional relationship where I provided images in exchange for clothing. As she recommended me to other designers, I realized how much high-quality photography impacts a small business’s success. I dedicated myself to mastering camera techniques and lighting, eventually transitioning from photographing friends and family to officially launching my professional photography business.
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?
The journey has been quite smooth. When I first started, there were few professional private photographers, so I was very busy from the beginning.
The primary challenge has always been work-life balance. It was difficult because I truly love what I do and genuinely enjoy working, but I also love being a mother and spending time with my children. Treating work time as work time helped significantly.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional photographer approaching my 25th year in the industry. For the first 15 years of my career, I specialized in newborn and baby photography. As my clients grew, I transitioned into capturing their high school graduation milestones.
Due to the increasing demand for senior portraits, I eventually decided to focus exclusively on high school and college graduation photography. My business has continued to thrive, and I truly enjoy working with the seniors I photograph each season.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me in my career is doing work that I love and, as a business owner, performing a job that I am proud of every day. Since a career takes up a significant portion of one’s life, I firmly believe you should do something that makes you happy to go to work.
I also believe it is essential to value your time. When you leave your children to go to work, you should love what you do and value yourself enough to be fairly compensated for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.EMAPhotography.com
- Instagram: emaphotography_1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EMAPhotography1
