Meet Gabby Fletcher Photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabby Fletcher.

Hi Gabby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My father was a photographer by hobby and would pull me out of school to drive around the gorgeous Pacific Northwest and photograph nature together. He would slam on the brakes, and I knew exactly what he was doing. He had found the perfect shot and wanted to teach me how to capture it. He bought me my first camera, and it became a way that we would bond together. Then, in high school, I took film photography and digital photography. My first year was spent in the darkroom learning to develop my film, my sophomore year focused on digital, and my junior and senior years were spent learning composition and creating meaningful art. Then, I became a Senior Representative for a local photographer, worked for a small business that would photograph high school dances, and even started my own little business where I did senior portraits. After high school, I continued playing around with photography and would carry my film, DSLR, and Polaroid around with me everywhere. I started collecting antique cameras and was often gifted family heirloom cameras.

I took a break from photography while I was out of the country and when I first got married. After my second child, I knew I wanted to get back into photography and decided to start my own business. My husband encouraged me to start my own business before we even wed, but I was nervous because I was still in college and wanted to graduate first. Eventually, I began retaking photos for my interest and loved exercising my creative muscles again. That was when I began to feel confident enough in myself that I could start a successful photography business. Not even a week later, I had my first big gig photographing the Leavenworth Arts Festival. Business since then has been booming, and I have big plans for the future!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Photography has not been a smooth road, but not because it was challenging. There were bumps when I was busy, like when I left the country to serve a mission for my church, in college, or after I had babies. Regarding technical challenges, the camera I started my business with needed to be updated. It had a cropped sensor, only held one SD card, and was slower than a turtle. Such an outdated camera meant other photographers wouldn’t hire me to assist with weddings or other big events.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us more about your business.
Gabby Fletcher Photo LLC is the business I started, and I chose to use my name because when you book me for your session, you book me for me. Not only do I have 10+ years of photographic experience and knowledge, but I aim to be your lifetime photographer, not just a one-time photographer. I want to take your engagement photos, be the photographer at your wedding, your maternity and newborn session, and be the same photographer you hire when that baby is a Senior and needs their Senior photos! I don’t want to photograph you and your family; I want to be an extension of your family- there to capture your favorite memories and help you create your legacy through photos. When booking me, you should know that I will give you my all. You will have my undivided attention, and we will listen to music, dance, and laugh together. I don’t just want you to love your photos, but I want you to love your session with me. We will work together to make sure you feel comfortable and empowered in your own body, and we will accentuate your favorite aspects of yourself. The feeling I get after a photoshoot when I am driving home is like no other- I want to rush home to download your images and pick out my favorites immediately. Often, that comes before I eat, rest, or even use the restroom because I am so excited. That joy and excitement are part of what makes me a good photographer and is why I do what I do!

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Always, always, always have backup batteries and SD cards! Just teasing. Throughout my small business journey, I have learned to be confident in myself and my abilities. I put the work in, I study my craft, and I practice as much as possible so that I can produce quality photos that people love. My dedication to my work is what helps me to be confident that I can do hard things like start a business!

Pricing:

• Portraits start at $150
• Families start at $225
• Couples start at $200
• Weddings start at $1000

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gabbyfletcherphoto.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/gabbyfletcherphoto/
• Facebook: facebook.com/gabbyfletcherphoto

Image Credits
Models: Abigail & Ryan Taylor