Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Wheeler.
Hi Jordan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
While studying theatre and working a summer job at Clemson University in 2018, I decided to use some of my savings to buy a little hobbyist camera. It was a cheap little camera with a few kit lenses and useless photography trinkets, but I was so excited to finally own my own camera! My dad had a Nikon DSLR when I was growing up, and when I was in high school, my friends and I would take the camera out and take photos for our social media. In my early college years, I rented cameras from the library and did the same. It was always a fun little pastime that I really enjoyed, but I never considered trying to make a career out of it.
Once my new camera was delivered, I brought it with me everywhere and took pictures of everyone. I was very curious about understanding the mechanics behind my gear, so I started researching how to use the camera manually. I practiced every day and eventually, someone asked me to take their engagement photos. I was shocked that anyone could like my work that much as I knew very little and was just starting out, but I accepted the job and had the best time! They paid me with an Olive Garden gift card, and honestly, the rest is history.
One by one people started asking me how much I charged for photo sessions and I was like, “Wait, people want to pay me to do this?” I was blown away! I started out charging $25 or $50, just enough to start saving to upgrade my kit lenses to a more professional one. Once I did that, my photos really started to improve and I was able to gain a deeper understanding of shooting in manual. Friends and family asked me to photograph their graduations, engagements, headshots, and eventually even weddings. I took any and every client who came my way and rapidly started to build a portfolio. I graduated college in May of 2019 and took my first job teaching high school art full-time at a school in Lexington, SC. I had upgraded my cheap beginner camera to a professional level full-frame camera and even purchased a few new lenses; not that nice gear defines your work by any means, but it definitely makes the job a little easier and the photo resolution does increase as well.
I taught high school for 2 years before finally making the decision to go full-time just recently in June of 2021. I was taking jobs on the side while teaching and had invested lots of time and resources into advertising on social media, to my students, and through word of mouth. I knew it was time to pursue it full time when 1. I surpassed my monthly salary in bookings even though I was only part-time in photography (which is unfortunately not too difficult for an educator), 2. I started seeing regular growth following my marketing and social media strategies, and 3. I was getting regular clients who were finding me online, not just friends-of-friends or things of that nature. I wanted to make sure I was growing enough that I was confident I would continue to book clients regularly after I quit my 9 to 5.
So now, here we are! In just three months of being full-time, I’ve doubled (and sometimes tripled) my monthly income, I’ve booked more weddings already for 2022 than I will have shot by the end of 2021, and most of all I just feel at peace. I never intended to make it to this point, but looking back I can see all of the things that had to fall into place to purposely put me in this position. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
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?
I think, just like any business owner, there are some hiccups along the way. The biggest one is self-doubt, though. Periods of feeling like your work isn’t worth it can really inhibit drive, which when you run a business by yourself is the only thing that keeps the business alive.
I’ve learned to be patient with myself, though, and adapt to whatever it is that myself and my business need at the time, even if that means forcing myself to take a break or being quiet on social media for a few days.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
This question is a challenging one to answer as I have a very hard time perceiving myself. I know what I hope to provide and what my intention is, but whether or not I achieve that is up to my clients.
I love warm, neutral tones: colors like rust, tan, beige, cream, olive green, etc. I also love fall colors such as deep mustard yellow, cinnamon, and burgundy. If I ever use the color blue it is a light, dusty blue with slight teal undertones, and I pretty much avoid the color purple like the plague (Don’t ask me why; I do not know). Those are the colors I hope to reflect the most in my work, not that I won’t take a client who has purple as their main color; I will work with anyone regardless of their preferences.
In terms of shooting style, I describe myself to my clients as a movement-based photographer. We play games, we laugh a whole lot, and unless you’re booking a maternity session with me, we run around too! Movement and activities, I’ve found, are essential for getting photos where my clients are laughing and smiling naturally, or so distracted by completing a task that they forget they’re in front of the camera and are left just enjoying the moment.
I take many different types of clients, but my specialties are couples, weddings, and young families. Those are my favorites and they provide the most opportunity to continue working with people for multiple years.
I strive to make The Wheeler Photo a place that is open, inviting and welcoming: full of positivity, authenticity, and kindness. Fully being myself online and during my sessions is something that I value very highly. I truly care about and want to form relationships with the people I’m photographing; it’s become one of my favorite aspects of the job.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
There are two options for this that have worked really well for me. The first is being active and intentional about your social media.
Follow creators whose work you admire and appreciate; oftentimes, those people offer service to help you learn and grow, and sometimes they even offer in-person training or zoom training. Many people in my field also post helpful, educational reels and have email subscriptions where they send free resources in order to improve your business.
The second is specific to photographers, particularly couples and wedding photographers. I know there tends to be a lot of controversy about them, but attend styled shoots and content days. You get to build a portfolio with really beautiful content and network with other creatives. It’s also a great opportunity to learn from other people’s styles and posing.
Contact Info:
- Email: thewheelerphoto@gmail.com
- Website: thewheelerphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewheelerphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewheelerphoto
Image Credits
The Wheeler Photo
