This week, our featured photographers Britney Gardner and Joe Rumore from Turn Loose the Art are here in Portland, Oregon, sort of right down the street from us! Not only is Turn Loose the Art amazing at what they do, but Joe & Britney are fun, all-around awesome people. Shooting destination weddings and family portraits, this duo has more than a decade of experience in the photography business.
I love the warm tones in these romantic summer shots below and the vibrant colors from a destination wedding in Mumbai, India. Enjoy these images and Click here to check out more of their work. Thanks for sharing Britney & Joe!
How did you get started in Photography?
While going to college for a communications major, Joe started working at a camera store and assisted photographers he met there. Britney became the second photographer for a southern California wedding photographer while trying to decide what to do with her life after leaving a microbiology major in college. For both, one thing led to another and they each started their own businesses about 10 years ago.
Several years ago they met in Las Vegas amongst thousands of other photographers and soon joined their business together under the Turn Loose the Art brand.
What has contributed to your success?
We have concentrated on taking more business-oriented workshops over shooting education and strongly feel that’s led to our success as a photography business. One of the applicable things we’ve taken away from so many talks is learning to adapt to an ever-changing market.
In addition to constantly reminding ourselves we’re a business as well as artists, we’ve had to learn to outsource that which isn’t our strength. Britney is a great album designer, but when she tried her hand at binding albums as well it was a disaster!
What is the most important thing for your continued success?
Continually educating our clients even when we feel it’s common sense is huge! We also try to get confirmation from them along the way throughout the photographic process. The last thing we ever want to hear a client say is, “I didn’t realize…”
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
Always keep the clients’ wants and needs in mind.
What is most important in your photography?
Always trying to improve upon the last thing we photographed is the most important, followed closely by always looking for beautiful light.
Britney operates another business as well, Willow Album Design (willowalbumdesign.com). After years of strong album designs and sales, she opened up her doors to other photographers four years ago. Willow Album Design is a boutique-style company that promises clean, modern designs and personal service to photographers in need of album design outsourcing.
Britney also will be speaking at Mystic Seminars in January on “Out Of This World Album Profits.” She will turn negativity about selling wedding albums on its head by teaching how to educate your clients and build better relationships with them throughout the album process.
Click here to get more details on Mystic.
