Betsy Botsford shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Betsy, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
If you know me you know that the death of two people close to me in 2016 and 2017 fueled me to start pursuing my dreams of photography. I now am running a successful landscape photography business and a successful elopement photography business. This in no way was an overnight success. What nobody sees is the tremendous amount of hours building a social media following, processing pictures, scheduling shows, paying booth fees, the hard labor of setting up the booth and getting ready for an art show etc. The behind the scenes to create a successful business is neither glamourous or exciting but is always a requirement.
But what I am most proud of it that people are inspired by my journey so far and by the small successes I’ve managed to accomplish. I have friends who are now working towards becoming portrait photographers themselves, friends who are now realizing their dream of becoming painters. Friends entering art shows and art competitions, friends who are now selling their artwork and seeing their own small success.
My idea about life is that we are all here to help each other, to support one another and to cheer each other on. If anything that I’ve done helps others than I count that as success.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Betsy Botsford. I am the owner of Point of Light Photo and Betsy J. Photography. I have been a photographer for about 8 years consistently but have always been obsessed with the beauty of the still image. I was inspired by the photography of David Muench and Ansel Adams. I actually began in college at the University of Arizona with Photography 101. I started way back in the day on film but have graduated to digital now.
Point of Light Photo is my landscape photography business and is also my philanthropic endeavor. I love capturing all the sublime beauty of Colorado, the high deserts of Arizona and the landscapes that I find as I travel. I have recently been to Scotland and Greenland. Profit from the sale of the prints through Point of Light Photo go to organizations involved in housing and feeding the homeless, organizations involved in rescuing abused and neglected animals. As I said before, I think our main job in this life is to care for one another. I try to give a voice to those that are invisible and underserved through the donation of my profits. It gives my life meaning and I think adds a little kindness in a world that can be unkind. If my work can ease some suffering I am fulfilled.
Betsy J. Photography is my elopement photography business. I remember when I was young and getting married myself, I was in love with the beauty of wedding photography. I went to a bridal fair and scoped out every photographer’s booth. I was mesmerized. I dreamed of doing it myself. I found that elopements were the perfect way for me to blend my love of the landscape and light with the romance of wedding photography. It is such a personal experience to share with a bride and groom. Often it is only me the bride, the groom and their dog. I get to share in this very intimate moment in their life and capture the memories for them that will live forever. What a gift to be able to be part of that!
I focus my attention on serving bridal couples that want to elope in the mountains of western Colorado including Ridgway, Telluride, Ouray, Grand Junction, and the deserts of Utah around Moab.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
I have so many people to mention.
First my dad. He has worked his whole life. He is now 83 and works harder than most anyone I know. his parents made it through the Great Depression by working hard and being frugal. His father was a lobster fisherman. He never made very much money but they did well for themselves through hard work. My dad exemplifies this frugality and hard working ethic which he passed to me. This has served me well to help me build both my businesses.
Second my mom. She was the most loving person I ever met. She never saw skin color, or judged anyone on the clothes they wore or the house they lived in. My mother could see right through to your soul and always found something beautiful in every person she met. And people did become beautiful around my mother as they always felt seen and felt heard. My mother taught me to love people which is hard at time but helps me serve the people I photograph. My mother taught me to value philanthropy which is now a driving force for me with my photography.
Third my friend Mina Mousavi taught me that we should cheer each other on and celebrate the accomplishments of our friends, colleagues or people in our community. This mindset allows me to never feel like I am in competition with someone else but rather that there is success all around and enough room for everyone to be successful.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
One day in my life was very defining. I was 15 years old. My family was on vacation in Seattle. We were down at the waterfront having a very decadent lunch. I had the most delicious shrimp salad. I still remember it today, so yummy. It was an expensive lunch but worth it. When we stepped out of the restaurant there was a homeless man laying in the gutter right in front of the restaurant. People were walking by, completely ignoring him. I was young and didn’t understand the complexities of what causes someone to become homeless. All I knew was there was a person suffering and nobody seemed to care. A sadness opened up inside of me. I vowed when I was older I was going to do something about this.
Now I’m older and Point of Light Photo is my answer. The profits I make from the sale of my photography go to organizations that help feed and clothe the homeless. It never is a large contribution but this is how I give back. This is how I try to solve the situation in my own way. I wish so much that more people would pull together. If we all did a little something, each of our small lights could become a 1000 points of light. Imagine the world we could create together if we all did something small.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Jimmy Carter. What an example he set for all of us. He was leader of the most powerful country in the world but when people speak of him what they remember is his humanity, his strength of character and his ability to live a life that was in line with this character.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I’m not sure other people don’t understand this but, what I do understand is that life is short. So very short. My boyfriend Nick Shockley died at 33 years old in a motorcycle accident. Four months later my mother died from an auto-immune illness that stole her life from her. These 2 deaths just fueled me to live as much as I can in every way I can. I don’t think people realize the fine line between life and death. It is really just a hairlines distance. No day is ever promised. Some people don’t get “someday.” The time is now. The world is not within the four walls of your house. It is out there and it is gorgeous. Today is the day to go pursue your dream, not tomorrow, not someday. Now. The urgency and beauty of this lifetime is essential. Life is not always going to be given, each day is a gift, so go live it. Go chase your dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pointoflightphoto.com and https://betsyjphotography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: @pointoflightphoto_ and @betsyj.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pointoflightphoto.CO and https://www.facebook.com/BetsyJ.Photography.CO
