Today we’d like to introduce you to Ginny Duncan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started photography by chance. I had graduated from Clemson University with a Masters in a field that I was not happy in and in my mind, I was floundering through life. I had happiness in my home- wonderful children, an AMAZING husband, and loads of animals, but when it came to my career, I was miserable. My husband called me one day and said, “Hey there is a camera in a pawn shop that is for sale and I thought you might like it.” So he bought it for me and I started taking pictures. I WAS HOOKED! I took pictures of everyone and anything that moved. I wasn’t any good by any means, but it made me so happy. Then a friend of mine had a baby and said, you should take pictures of her and so I did and that was it! I became obsessed with everything newborn photography. I started studying every detail and refining my craft. I’ve made what started out as a happy distraction into a full-time business. Newborn photography is truly my passion. I love everything about it. It is such a challenging area of photography and I could do it all day long. I am still learning and probably always will be, but it is truly a labor of love.
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?
I think one of the biggest struggles that I face is negative thoughts about my work. It’s almost like an imposter syndrome. Some days I will look at my work and really like what I see and then the next day I think to myself, what are you doing making this into a business charging people? I think it is a common trend in the field of photography because, with social media, a comparison is so easy to do. What helps me to get through any negative thoughts is remembering that the reason why I do newborn photography is that I truly love it and as long as I have clients then I must be doing something right. 🙂
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have a background in art and have always loved creating. Most photographers (if not all) do. When I am designing a session for a client, I try and make each set unique to their tastes. I am sort of a mad scientist and don’t really have a plan, but when I am in a session, ideas will come to me and I will start constructing and building a workflow at the moment. Safety is always paramount with newborns and I have taken many workshops and continuing education courses to refine my technique. The hard work that I have put in is evident in the growth that I have had in the past two years since I started this journey. I think that is what I am most proud of. I can’t say that there is anything specific that sets me apart from others around me. I don’t really think like that. I know that one day you can be flying and the next day you could be crawling so I am just thankful to be here enjoying everyone’s company and appreciating all of the beautiful art in this field.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have actually only been taking photos for about 2 years. When my husband picked up that camera in the pawn shop is when I started taking pictures. I don’t feel like that is a bragging point by any means. I sometimes think that I wish I had found this field before I went and did 9 years of college. Who knows where I would be, but I do feel that the path that I have walked is the path that I was supposed to take to get to where I am today. Only God knows where it will lead from here!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ginnyduncanphotography.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/ginnyduncanphotographysc
- Facebook: Facebook.com/ginnyduncanphotography
- Twitter: @gdphotographysc
- TikTok: @ginnyduncanphotography
Image Credits
Emily T. Sheriff for the main photo.
