I’m going to step out on a limb here and climb onto my soap box for a minute. If you don’t want to hear the “negative” stuff, skip the next paragraph. Hang in there though, the encouraging stuff quickly follows.

I have noticed something in the last six years that I have been a photographer in the wedding industry that disappoints me, breaks my heart even. And that’s this “dog eat dog”, “scratch your way to the top” mentality that many wedding professionals have. It’s nothing new, I realize that. This type of attitude, dare I say, sin, has been around since the dawn of time. We’ve all fallen victim to it at least once. The root is envy, greed, and pride.

So you’re thinking to yourself, “I don’t want that to be me! How do I avoid hurting my colleagues as I try to improve my business?” There’s nothing wrong with growth, change, improvement, hard work, and achievements! But how do we avoid hurting others on our journey to grow our businesses?

Help each other. Plain and simple. If you’re a praying person, pray against the temptation to envy others’ successes and against the temptation to become prideful. Step in and help when needed, even if it’s inconvenient. Be a good friend and go the extra mile for each other. I promise that it will come back around to you! Even if the person you helped doesn’t choose to repay the favor, God has a way of rewarding the good you did in another avenue in your life. Eventually you will find friends in the industry who are like-minded and will bless your socks off as you bless them!

This is what I learned. I searched. And I prayed. I prayed for a friend. For another photographer in my area that is like-minded to me, in a similar stage in their businesses as I am, and close in age. God is good an answered my prayer! Guess what? He didn’t just give me ONE friend, He keeps sending them my way! I am so thankful to say that this year I have built strong friendships with five other LOCAL wedding photographers in similar stages of business with similar photography styles. I capitalized “local” because they all live within a 45 minute radius of me. What does that mean? They’re my COMPETITION. Yep.

Maybe you’re thinking, “how in the world can you be good friends with your competition, Jenna?!” I had to come to a point in my own life when I trusted The Lord fully to provide for me, for my family, and for my business (as long as He allows me to have it). Once I learned that, it was easy for me to befriend these other wonderful people because I’m not worried that they’re going to take anything from me. On the contrary, they’ve given me so much over the past year! And I am so grateful to each one.

I’d like to introduce you to one of these lovely friends of mine, Kirsten Smith of Kirsten Smith Photography. I had the pleasure of shooting alongside her as her assistant for two weddings this year! This gal. I think she’d get a chuckle out of how I’m about to describe her… we are so similar that she’s like a “hippy”, organic-eating version of me, ha ha! She’s completely okay with the “hippy” label in case you’re worried. Or maybe I’m the “non-organic” version of her? Whichever it is, you get my point ;) So how can two young ladies with very similar personalities and photography styles that are practically neighbors in a business sense, not treat each other as competition? We encourage each other, have a healthy view of ourselves, our limitations, and a desire to see each other succeed.

I want to stress that I am not writing this post to be boastful about my friendships and I apologize if it comes across that way at all. My sole purpose in writing this is to encourage other photographers, any age, any stage in business, that it is possible to help each other succeed and still succeed yourself.

And just think… How much better will it be for you at the top if you have friends there to enjoy it with?!

Please take a minute to go on over to Kirsten’s Blog Post  to see both of our photos from the Caldwell wedding in Fells Point. And leave her some love, why don’t ya?

*side note to assistants… the main photographer always loves having photos of them in action!

A shout out to Kirsten’s awesome hubby, Tyler… you rock for carrying my bag for me most of the day!!

Kirsten was so sweet to snap this of me and her bride and groom, Jillian and Kim. We had such a blast with them!

Thanks for snapping this of me Kirsten! For anyone who wonders what I wear when I shoot weddings… I keep it professional, simple, and practical.

Love ya Kirsten! Looking forward to years of friendship and working together! XoXo