Rule Creative Co | Virtual Assistant for Photographers
Let me introduce you to,
Samantha
Rule Creative Co
Why did you become a photographer?
I fell in love with connecting with people and capturing precious moments of their story.
Tell us your story? How you started until now?
I originally fell in love with photography in high school, taking some college level photography courses. It was a great start to learn the technical side of photography along with photo processing through editing and Photoshop. After I finished up a military enlistment, I wanted to find my purpose again. It was around this time that my husband and I were also considering starting a family.
Once our son was born, I fell back in love with the camera and (though it sounds cliché), freezing moments in time. It's been almost seven years since I took my very first client and I'm still in awe at all of the incredible places this journey has led me and all of the amazing people it's brought into my life. I could never have imagined that this would have been such a beautiful ride. I'm so grateful that God has gifted me with a way to share the gift His love with others, as I've grown to love serving people just as much as the actual taking of pictures. Now, my husband joins me in the majority of my wedding days and it's been such a beautiful thing to share in wedding days and serve people together. I can't even explain how much of a gift it is to me to be able to spend the day doing what I love with my favorite person.
Who is your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who wants fun, playful photos and isn't afraid to let loose (just a little) and trust the process. :)
What is your WHY... what keeps you going in business? And why are you passionate about it?
I'm truly passionate about serving others and making people feel seen, loved, and validated. I love providing a beautiful experience to others, not just photos. My "Why" is found in the amazing clients who reciprocate that feeling and make it a fun and memorable experience for everyone!
Tell me about how you manage your work/life balance as a small business owner?
As a homeschooling mom of two (almost three) with a homestead, gardening goals, and a lover of CrossFit and all things outdoors, I have many goals outside of my business that keep me busy. It's the love of my clients and serving people that has kept me wanting to continue my business. Yes, I go to bed beautifully exhausted daily (as most parents in general do), but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I try to keep my photography schedule throughout the year as streamlined as possible to allow for family time and time to work on those goals and I'm so grateful for the clients who are extra respectful to that!
Shooting or editing? Which one is your fav?
Shooting, BY FAR! That being said, I love the magic of editing. I've dabbled in AI editing services, but I feel like it takes the personal touch out of it, which is what I pride myself in. So ultimately, while I wish I could just shoot everything and not have to edit at all, a session or project doesn't truly feel complete in my heart until I get to export and deliver.
What do you listen to while you edit?
MUSIC
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger photographer-self, what would it be?
Not everyone is going to like your style or appreciate the way you do business. And that's OKAY! If one of your friends/acquaintances chooses to book with someone else, don't take it so personal. You don't have the capacity to serve every person you know anyway! And there are so many other incredibly talented photographers out there, too, that there's enough clients for everyone!
If you could give feedback to the photography community as a whole... what is one positive thing you'd say? And one constructive criticism?
Owning a photography business is SO much more than just taking photos. It's taking care of yourself and your clients so you can feel creatively inspired without burning out. Listen to your body, take breaks, treat yo'self, (and hire an incredible VA like The Focus Co) so you can remember why you fell in love with this in the first place.
If you had no obstacles (fear, money, mindset etc) - what would you do next?
For business, I'd go all-in on a few education courses so I can learn more about the few areas I want to improve in. I'd then launch a podcast and up my education game to continue to empower and uplift other moms/photographers/etc.
What is your favorite way to unwind/relax? (Yes, scrolling on tiktok is an acceptable answer haha)
Reading books with my kids, making recipes with my sourdough, going for a walk with the family, doing literally anything with my husband, "playing" in the garden, cooking or canning in the kitchen, reading a romance novel, or, yes, scrolling Tiktok.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Homemade sourdough pizza!
You're stranded on a desert island... what one item are you taking with you??
My husband (not that I'm calling him a tool, lol). There's nothing we can't accomplish together.
Where can we find you?
