Today we’d like to introduce you to Barry Pack.
Hi Barry, 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?
I travel a lot for work to other countries including China, Thailand, South Africa, and all over Europe. On my first trip to Thailand in 2016, I visited many of the islands around Pattaya and took hundreds of photos. When I came back home and showed my family my photos, they didn’t look as good as I remembered. The photos were just dull and boring. I decided that night that I had to improve my ability, equipment, and knowledge of photography before my photos would improve. This desire to improve led to many, many online courses, local classes, and YouTube videos. Over the next couple of years my gear was upgraded, knowledge improved, and photography understanding got better. In 2018 after returning from a trip to Germany, I posted my first photo for sale on a stock photo site. About 6 months later and a couple hundred more photos posted, I sold my first photo for $250, This really gave me the courage to start a side business and see where it would take me. But first, I wanted to know everything about photography, from knowing everything about my camera to editing photos using Lightroom and Photoshop. I didn’t want to start a business until I knew how everything involved worked. I didn’t want to have to figure it out on the go. I wanted to be prepared for any surprises. I started posting photos on all the popular social media sites and people started contacting me about family photos, senior portraits, and prom photos. I shot several of these and in 2019 a fellow photographer friend asked if I would second shoot a wedding. Nervously, I agreed. After posting some of the wedding photos on Facebook, friends and family members started sharing my photos, and shortly thereafter I had booked my first wedding gig. This lead into more weddings and other photography jobs. I knew that I needed to officially start my business and take advantage of the perks of running a small business. I began selling calendars of photos I had taken during my travels and sold over 50 my first year. When Covid hit in 2020, as with everything else, the local school had to cancel activities including the prom. Many kids had already purchased prom dresses but without a prom to attend. My wife and I contacted our local town hall and was given permission to use one of the rooms to photograph anyone who wanted prom photos made. We contacted the high school and asked them to share this information and that it would be completely free. We had a lot of people sign up, but by the time of the actual shoot, Covid had gotten worse. We still had 14 young ladies show up. Of course, we went by all the Covid guidelines and even had the girls pose with Clorox and masks! Seeing how these young people and their families reacted was awesome. This led into a stronger passion for capturing life’s special moments.
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?
As with everything, Covid slowed things down. I had a few cancellations and rescheduling of photoshoots. Plus, the equipment shortages around the world, delayed some equipment upgrades. Also, trying to start a legal business on my on was quite the experience. I didn’t have someone I could get advice from and all the state websites seem to confuse me more.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My photography business is as busy as I want it to be since I still have a full-time job. I shoot weddings, senior photos, sport photos, family photos, engagement photos, and headshots. I make it affordable for my clients and I believe that is what makes me have repeat business. I am most proud of my landscape photos that appear on my yearly calendars. To know that people purchase my calendars and give them as Christmas gifts and hang them in their kitchens warms my heart.
What makes you happy?
When clients refer me to their friends and family makes me the happiest. Also, when someone purchases a landscape print for displaying in their home, reaffirms to me that all my hard work has paid off. I am also honored seeing my photos reposted on social media sites from a recent photo session.
Contact Info:
- Email: barrypackphotography@gmail.com
- Website: BarryPackPhotography.mypixiesite.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/barrypackphotography
- Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/BarryPackPhotography
- Other: https://barryandbeverlypack.myportfolio.com
