Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Sulzer.
Hi Wendy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey in photography began about 10 or so years ago when my husband bought a DLSR camera for product pictures for his own business. I have always been very interested in photography but just never moved on that desire, or had the time. I quickly took over that first camera, reading the manual from cover to cover, and then slowly devouring everything photography I could find and slowly (I had two little girls at the time) developing skills with lots of practice. It took me a few years to become confident in my skills, and like many photographers I know, somewhat stumbled into a business. It was never my plan, but at some point, the number of people requesting pictures got me to a point where I needed to figure out where this passion was taking me. What a privilege it is, to be able to start a business doing something that brings me great satisfaction and at the same time providing something that brings joy to others too.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I aim to treat the people I work with as I would want to be treated, which has served my business well and has resulted in happy clients. I have had the ability to slowly grow a business which was amazing as I have l had lots to learn along the way. As a stay at home mom who was also homeschooling my 2 kids, I have had to balance out my time carefully and have learned to shift and grow where needed. My husband and I are definitely do-it-yourself type of folks, which meant spending a lot of late night hours after the kids are in bed reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts as a way to educate myself in how to grow a business, and how to continually grow as a photographer, and has been a rewarding challenge. I feel like there is never a reason to not keep learning and growing, accumulating new skills as we go through this life.
But then covid. I lost at least 6 months of photography work to covid, probably even more. Before Covid, I had been studying and taking some courses in school portrait photography, with a new goal of working with local preschools and small private schools doing natural light fine art school portraits. I was all ready and well prepared, had my marketing material sent out, purchased specialized equipment to do the job well, and then covid. I had to put all this on the back burner for a year and a half, but I am happy to say that I now have several schools that have contracted with me, and have had some great successful school picture days, where every school has invited me back for the following school year. Covid may have helped me in that I am often competing with “big box” photo companies that send in multiple photographers for picture days. However, in my business it is just me working with a school. I have had the flexibility to work around when classrooms were out for covid infections, and extra re-take days, whereas the big companies don’t have the same ability to flex that I have, so the reality is that covid really helped me out in the long run.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a natural light photographer that specializes in families, children, newborns, and school photography. I am obsessed with natural light; the power it has to change a scene, to impact a mood or a feeling, and so I have chosen to focus on using natural light to the best of my ability. I lean towards more emotive, organic images, sometimes even editorial or lifestyle. I love little details, like the little hands wrapped around dad’s neck, or a toddler’s sweet, curious or pensive stare. I often will shoot during the golden hours and let the sunlight play a big role in my images. Something that sets me apart is my attention to light, and my detailed focus on making sure that there is plenty of detail and sharpness in the eyes, if that detail is lost, to me it is not a strong image. I also have the ability to connect with toddlers, and still manage to capture soulful and sweet images of even the busiest of little ones.
My school photography is unique in that is fine art in nature, simple and beautiful but with the child’s personality shining through. I use window light, which of course is the most perfect light, with a focus on very natural expressions. I have had multiple parents call me, just to tell me that their child’s school picture was the best picture they have ever had of their child. I just love capturing that for a mom!
I also have a background in working with kids/adults with special needs and disabilities as a physical therapist assistant, and have been able to utilize this in my photography as well. I currently work with a school with an autism program, and to have my two passions join together has been amazing to me. I am able to get beautiful images of these sweet kids for parents, Children with autism are notoriously difficult to get good pictures of, especially looking at the camera, with a natural expression where you can see their beautiful eyes. I take joy in doing the best I can to capture that gift for parents.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I do think because I have been able to slowly grow my business I have not had to take a lot of risks, outside of putting myself “out there” in front of people trusting me to deliver, which was intimidating at times and came along with a good dose of self-doubt in my beginning years.
My push into school photography has been a risk, pushing the boundaries for sure; investing time into education and setting up systems and equipment to serve schools well and making sure I was prepared to do what I promised I could do for these schools. Especially in light of the fact that one of the largest school photography businesses is based right here in the Twin Cities, I am competing against a company with a long history as The school photo provider. But I am passionate that school pictures can be so much more and have risked really putting myself out there, sending out marketing materials tyring to convince schools that school pictures can really be great, and that myself, alone, can provide them with a great school picture day experience. . I am excited about this aspect of my business and have so appreciated the schools that have trusted me, and to now have the confidence that I know can do it well.
Pricing:
- Photo sessions are $225-$350
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.wendysulzerphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendysulzer.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendysulzerphotography
Image Credits
Wendy Sulzer Photography
