Today, we’d like to introduce you to Haley Farmer.
Hi Haley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started being involved in the fine arts world in high school at the Fine Arts Center. I have always had an interest in art.
I loved drawing and painting and hadn’t had the opportunity to try much else out until that point. The Fine Arts Center introduced me to film photography. It was frustrating and difficult, and I loved it. From there, I went through the rigorous process of applying to the SC Governors School for the Arts and Humanities. I got in!
I learned more there in two years than in my four years in college. It opened me up to metal smithing, which I ended up majoring in. I was unsure if I wanted to do metalsmithing or photography in college, but ultimately, photography had my heart. I studied and experimented, and even though I graduated, that has never stopped.
I feel so lucky to be able to apply all of that education to my wedding photography. I shot my very first wedding about 12 years ago, and I haven’t stopped since. Though my images and editing look vastly different than they did in the beginning (thank goodness for growth!) I have never changed my love for weddings.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh gosh, of course not! There are always ups and downs. COVID-19 was a huge downer for everyone in the business. We tried porch photography, longer lenses (so we could shoot from further away), and anything else to keep my clients safe.
Cameras break, and things go wrong, but I’ve learned from everything along the way. As the saying goes, if there is no struggle, there is no progress. Getting into the photography world isn’t easy. We are in an oversaturated market where you see businesses go in and out of business within 2 years FREQUENTLY.
You have to persevere and learn to have a community-over-competition mindset. It doesn’t help anyone to compare yourself to others. There’s plenty of business for everyone, and my ideal client likely isn’t yours and vice versa.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a photographer! I primarily photograph weddings, couples, and families.
I specialize in weddings more than anything else, but I love it all. Regarding the things I don’t shoot, I know a few great photographers who do. I’m most proud of the comfort I bring on my wedding day.
When things are crazy and up in the air, and this is your first (and hopefully only) time doing this, it pays to have someone there who has been to and shot 100+ weddings. I think (hope?) I’ve seen it all at this point!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I will NEVER risk your wedding day. That being said – I LOVE experimenting with new techniques!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Haleydfarmer.com
- Instagram: @haleyfarmerphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleyfarmerphotography?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Haley Farmer Photography
