Today we’d like to introduce you to Blair Russell.
Hi Blair, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been interested in photography. I started out participating in 4-H and taking photos of my friends and family and then shadowed a photographer in high school. After that, I started taking senior photos for people and started shadowing wedding photographers. I went to college and started off working for a two years degree for photography and graphic design but then switched schools and transitioned into a multi-media journalism degree.
My first job out of high school was an assistant volleyball coach for Kansas City Kansas Community College while I did wedding photography on the side, then I took the leap to go full time a year later.
I now service the greater Kansas City area as a wedding photographer primarily, but I also do families, seniors, and editorial work. It’s still my favorite thing to do even now that it’s my job!
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?
When I first took the leap to go “full time” I got two other part-time jobs to help supplement my income in case I wasn’t as successful as I’d hoped. So the first year of running my business was waking up at 4am and working 5-10am at a gym, I would come home take a nap and then work from 12-5pm on my business (website, marketing, scheduling, etc. Then four days a week, I would drive to Kansas City to coach two club volleyball teams from 6-10pm, and the other three days I did shoots or traveled for club volleyball tournaments for my team. It was pretty miserable with no free time, but it paid off because I was able to put all of my money I made from photographer right back into my business will using my other income to live!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say I am most known as a wedding photographer and I love photographing weddings. I think what sets me apart from other photographers is I still document the day as it is instead of just staging different parts of the day for pretty photographs. I make sure to capture all the little moments and take photos of the guests and things the couple getting married is not able to see, that way when they go back through their wedding photos they don’t feel like they missed anything and have a unique perspective of events they didn’t even know were going on.
I love editing with warm vibrant colors and contrast and using light in creative ways which also makes my work stand out!
In my editorial work, I love messing with different light and shadows, creating unique movements and concepts that really catch your eye and tell a story.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Invest in yourself and your gear. Take classes, go to workshops, never be complacent and continue to grow in your career!
Don’t copy people. It’s hard, but take inspiration and make it your own! You will stand out more and be so much more proud of your work!
Not everyone is going to like your work in a creative field. That can be hard sometimes, especially if you like pleasing people. But stick with your style and own it. Then you will attract the people who love your work and repel those who don’t (nothing is worse than trying to change your whole style for something someone wants and them not liking it in the end. It’s a waste of time!)
Pricing:
- Weddings $3000-$5000
- Seniors $300-$700
- Mini Sessions $200
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: blairjennifer.com
- Instagram: @blair_jennifer
