Today we’d like to introduce you to Glenna Richards.
Hi Glenna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Glenna Richards was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2006, she began her own photography company, Photos by Glenna, which focuses on weddings, portraits, and events. Photos by Glenna quickly took off and she traveled all over the United States, France, and the Caribbean, capturing weddings.
In 2012, Glenna received an opportunity to work with Google Street View and changed her focus to working with businesses by creating a sub-entity, PBG Virtual. As a Google Certified Photographer and a Partner with Google, Glenna helps businesses grow by leveraging Google’s online resources. Glenna is a level 8 Local Guide with over 5,000 Google-certified images with over 57 million views.
The boom of technology in the virtual tour industry continues to grow and Glenna is highly sought after by corporate entities that create high-quality virtual tours and imagery to immerse the viewer. Over a dozen corporate clients depend on Glenna to capture imagery for clients like Google, Hilton, Apartment Guide, Ruth’s Chris, and Vrbo. She travels the Southeastern US capturing imagery and receiving praise for her professionalism and precise execution of high-quality imagery.
Glenna continues to help large and small businesses grow through high-quality imagery and her Partnership with Google. Her passion is to assist local start-ups and small businesses and help them grow organically and affordably.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest part of my work is owning my own business. Photography is my passion, and I love what I do. People always light up and think my job is “so cool.” It is still a job. I work hard every day. Being a business owner doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want whenever you want it. You are literally working all the time. Yes, I set my schedule, and sometimes that means 15-hour days. Yes, I go on vacation, but I work while I’m away. Early on in my business, I found I needed some separation between work and personal life, but that line often blurs when I love what I do.
Everyone hits road bumps, and I have worked hard to take them in stride and learn from the experiences. I can’t think of a single bump that I wasn’t ready to pivot and make work for me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am detail-oriented, with a creative mathematical mind. I love a new challenge, and that my job changes every day. While architectural photography is my favorite, I would get bored with only 1 thing that I am shooting. For me it is always the adventure and making the shot look amazing.
I was raised in the hospitality industry, and there is a high level of professionalism while being personal that is expected. I naturally impliment that into my business and find that it sets me apart in my industry. Not all artists are able to run the business side of things.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
When I started with the Google Steetview program, I took a leap of faith into an amzing world of technology. Directly working with them and hotels really showed my talent and passion for photography. I have partnered with fantastic corporate photography companies like LCP Media that have expanded my creative repetoir and had the faith that I can create fantastic content in any situation. As the vice-president of the North Charleston Chamber of Commerce, I have grown into a business leader in my community by creating relationships and growing businesses. I have founf that very rewarding personally and professional to be part of such an amazing orginization.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://g-localmedia.com/work
