Today we’d like to introduce you to Sierra Cochran.
Hi Sierra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2014, I joined the United States Army National Guard in Martinsville, VA and worked full-time in a call center. I married my husband, Jerry, in November of 2016 and immediately knew that we wanted to start a family. As we all know, sometimes children can change your perspective on life which can in turn alter your career course. Soon after my second child was born, I quickly realized that I wanted to do more with my career, so I made the hard decision to not renew my contract with the Army and pursue a civilian career in photography, photographing locals and their families. May 2020 came and I was officially honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and began my journey with my photography business. As I sat and thought of what I wanted to name my business, my girls came to mind. They were the driving force to changing my military career to owning my own photography business, so without a shadow of a doubt, Grace & Jade Photography was born. I took their middle names and used them to showcase my love for my children who have been a catalyst pushing me towards a childhood dream that I get to call my job. During my first year in business, I made way more than I ever thought I could have made working in the call center, or the Army. Since 2020, I have niched down to Adventure Elopements and Boudoir and have taken my little $5k first-year income to nearly $50k with the help of other amazing female entrepreneurs. In the last year, I have learned how to effectively manage money, and troubleshoot “numbers”, and I am on track to scale over $100k by this time next year. I have a range of multiple publications from small-town magazines, and online blogs of well-known companies, to the NY Times in 2023. My goal one day is to build our dream home in the mountains of Virginia and travel the United States with my family.
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?
Small business ownership is never easy. It takes dedication, relentless determination, and the willpower of an eagle in a storm to get through the waves of hardship to bank the shores of success. Over the years, other photographers have come and gone, but I have always stayed true to my heart and never steered from the course. I don’t follow trends, I have never majorly changed my moody editing style, and have always kept my brand true to myself. The major economic trends directly impact my business, so when there are decreases in consumers to live their daily lives, investing in high-quality photography services isn’t always at the top of the client’s list.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I quickly taught myself how to use my Canon 5D MarkIV, editing techniques, and posing people over the course of six weeks. I immediately stood out in the local photography world because my brand is edgy, moody, and bold. After year two in business, I realized that I did not want to photograph “everything” and wanted to capture the raw intimacy between two adults madly in love. Niching down to elopements and boudoir was a huge jump in my career, but it has been absolutely amazing to work with rad couples who are like-minded and have no interest in fitting into the cookie-cutter norms of society.
What sets me apart even more is that I have an entire team of talented ladies who work alongside me helping me offer a “one-stop-shop” for eloping couples creating a hands-off, enjoyable experience. My team includes Tia Silver- makeup, Cloy Roark- hair, Hunter Swinney- secondary photography and full-time assistant, and Marrisa Yi- videography. My photography brand is known for its edgy, moody, and dramatic flare that offers an inclusive experience to all of my clients. When couples book their elopements with us, it’s way more than just photos-it’s proof that they stood true to their unique values and prioritized their happiness. We help plan everything from locations, permits, travel and lodging suggestions, to gowns/suits, and florals, even when we travel across state lines or internationally.
I would have to say that being randomly selected to be featured in the NY Times newspaper is my proudest moment. I never expected it and my clients were so special.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Honestly, I don’t believe in luck. Sure, things happen randomly, but I have always been taught that life will go as it’s supposed to. Hard work, resiliency, and determination have such big roles in my life and business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.graceandjadephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_graceandjadephotography?igsh=OGR1cnRhaWgwcDRr&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graceandjadephotography
