Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan and Gabrielle Lewis.
Hi Evan and Gabrielle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began shooting weddings as an assistant to Olivia Griffin Photography during college. I immediately fell in love with the excitement of a wedding day and the work it takes behind the scenes to see a couple tie the knot. Through Olivia Griffin’s mentorship, a passion for people, and a love for photography, I have enjoyed several wedding seasons, documenting newly married couples in South Carolina and across the Southeast. Gabrielle’s background lies in dance, cinematography, and theatre arts. Because of her eye for detail and love for production, Gabrielle is a perfect fit for wedding day and all that is required. She graciously agreed to partner with me not long after we had our wedding and got married.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Things have been truly great – We are so grateful for the couples we have connected with, the vendors who partner with us at every wedding, and the colleagues and mentors who have guided us along the way. We wouldn’t enjoy our work half as much if it weren’t for them.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Gabrielle and I are wedding photographers, but first and foremost, we consider ourselves guests with cameras. It changes our approach to documenting your wedding and helps us step into the shoes of those closest to you, experiencing your wedding day like a friend or family member. Our style is documentary-forward, with a love for fine art and editorial. We don’t document your wedding day to create something that isn’t there but tell a version of the story that feels like you and elevates the beautiful parts of your day. We’re also big fans of dance parties and live music. Remember, a wedding is also a party. When we aren’t celebrating newly married couples, we love documenting families with photography and capturing the intimate moments surrounding motherhood, maternity, newborn photos, and daily life with their children.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am very calculated, and most choices I have made and will make include a lot of research and reflection. That being said, I still consider some of those choices risks because a successful outcome is not always guaranteed. I also think some people subconsciously equate risk with a “gamble,” which is unfortunate. Risk-taking involves forethought and weighing consequences and outcomes, which is gambling if you’re not willing to do that work before taking a risk.
The biggest and best risk I’ve taken was quitting my day job to shoot weddings full-time. I intentionally saved enough money for 6 months of complete unemployment, did my best to gather new clients and side income, and then put in my two weeks’ notice. There was no guarantee of weddings booked for the coming year. Still, the small income stream and money saved allowed me to build my business over 6 months and make more money the following year than my previous employment – not to mention the lifestyle change, time worked, freedom of daily life, etc. Not all risks, however, are financial; Most stereotypes around risk assume money is involved. Be willing to risk your time and pride to seek help or mentorship from a colleague who may not reply. Sometimes, investing in a relationship can be risky if the other side only takes it.
Conversely, some things are not worth taking a risk on – a client with clear red flags, but you tell yourself you need the money. Another example that comes to mind is risking the quality of your work to save time and money. It’s important to think hard about taking risks and if you consider yourself a risk-taker. In some ways, owning a small business must go hand-in-hand with taking risks.
Pricing:
- Weddings: start at $4,000
- Family Photos: start at $500
- Newborn and Motherhood: start at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://evantaylorstudio.com
- Instagram: @evantaylorstudio
Suggest a Story: SouthCarolinaVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
