Conversations with the Inspiring Britni Girard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Britni Girard.

Britni, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
So I haven’t always been a professional photographer. But I’ve ALWAYS been involved in the arts. If we take it all the way back to the beginning, I started off dancing at the age of three and then began singing and acting shortly after that. The performing arts played a HUGE role in who I am today. They instilled self-confidence, improved my self-esteem and provided me with an outlet to express myself. After training for a while I went on to perform in touring groups for most of my youth. It was after graduating high school, I started a theater company called Up In Lights specifically to fill a need in our community to give youth an opportunity to experience the performing arts. It was so much fun and it was there that I had the opportunity to produce full-scale musicals and work as the Artistic Director & Choreographer. During all of that, I found a great need for strong marketing photos I could use to promote the shows.

So I started learning how to take headshots and then dance and production photos. There are the photos we would give to newspapers, provide in press releases and use for branding and marketing. When we decided to close the theater company, it was the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make, business-wise. But the season had come and gone and we no longer felt that we were called to fill that need in our community any longer. But what was interesting to me was how photography still followed me long after. Performers still wanted headshots, theater’s still wanted production photos, and performers I had built relationships with wanted me to take their engagement photos, family photos and even weddings. Through that, my husband and I found so much blessing on this “hobby” that we took the plunge and I went full time with Britni Girard Photography. I think the beauty of being an artist is you’re always looking for new ways to create. And even after the success of our theater company had come to and end, doors opened for us to continue operating within our love and passion.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’ve always strived for perfection. In my mind I thought that perfection was what would get me noticed and affirmed for the right reasons. I never wanted to put myself out there unless I knew that it was going to be, well, perfect. I was made fun of a lot growing up, and to be fair I can’t say it was more than any other kid, but I received it in a way that made me feel really embarrassed. If I misspoke in some way, I was mocked by friends, so I just stopped speaking up unless I knew with absolute certainty I would be right. I never wanted to look foolish unless it was on my terms. I think that’s why the performing arts was so empowering and still is to this day. But, I honestly still struggle with confidence, but I’m learning their’s beauty in allowing other’s to learn alongside you and see your flaws. I’m a work in progress, which is what I tell my oldest kiddo all the time when I have to humbly reveal that I’ve never been a parent to an eight years old before…and I don’t know what I’m doing. When I started my business I lived in absolute fear that I would be called out as an imposter. I realize this is a wildly popular topic lately, but I sincerely struggled with this my whole life. Even before the internet. I remember the day I joined an online group of photographers and was instantly scared they’d kick me out because I hadn’t been in business as long as them. I’d taken photos for over a decade but hadn’t had a “business” like they had. There were conversations about their dislike for amateur photogs saturating the market etc.

And I was terrified that they viewed me in that way. I never spoke up in the group till I felt confident in my own skin enough to put myself out there. I needed mentorship so desperately, but couldn’t find a safe place to ask questions without being viewed as an “amateur.” The reality was, I needed to find a group that had zero competitiveness. That supported each other’s businesses. That was all about SERVING each other more than gain. So the answer for me (someone who struggled with never wanting to feel competitive), was to find people who desired to build each other up. I found an online educator and went ALL IN on learning everything I could from her. The online community she built was one of the most empowering groups I’ve ever been a part of. And to this day we still lean on each other for advice, tips, guidance and emotional support. It has been the primary contributor to me building a profitable and successful photography business. It was taking the time to invest in my craft, invest in myself surround myself with like-minded women that made all the difference.

What should we know about Britni Girard Photography? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m a wedding and portrait photographer with a vibrant, romantic, timeless style. I work together with my husband, which is literally the best job in the world. We believe our husband/wife team really helps couples relate to us from the get go. And having two people who can connect with both the bride and the groom can really add to the experience. It’s a big reason why we include a complimentary engagement session in every collection we offer. We want to take time to get to know you more and break down any walls before the wedding day. We want our couples to know how much we care about them and want them to feel confident and care-free. We guide them every step of the way and also make room for being ridiculous.

The thing we hear time and time again is how much fun we are. It feels so weird to say that about ourselves… but I do know one thing… We love to laugh. It was in our marriage vows to make each other laugh every day. And we take that vow very seriously. I think ultimately this is what we are most known for. The fun and joy we bring to the experience.

We work closely with our couples to know what’s important to them, to create a timeline that makes photography a priority and builds trust that only a close friend can have.

Aside from weddings, we also spend a lot of our year working with youth. Senior photos for me are about more than a yearbook photo. I look at it as an amazing opportunity to make someone feel valuable, real and worthy. I’ve spent the last 20 years working with youth on building self-confidence. And photography is a beautiful way for me to gift them with a platform to be authentically themselves. To rejoice in their uniqueness and celebrate their achievements (big and small). I care about their story, which is why I invest so much time in getting to know them before we ever start planning their session. My seniors get the opportunity to design a photo experience that’s creative and editorial in style. It’s not often you’re told that you get to have a photoshoot that’s all about you. So we take full advantage and learn as much as we can to create an empowering experience for them. When they look back on their senior year, I want them to think, I can do anything. I’m only limited by what I’m unwilling to dream. I think my heart for this generation is what makes it hard to ever go exclusively to shooting weddings. It means too much to me and to the youth I get to connect with.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I grew up with a hard-working single mom and super strong grandma. So I was never lacking in female examples. My family has always had entrepreneurs who built incredible businesses, so for me it was a given. I had zero reservations about starting a business at the age of 18.

And it’s funny, when I started my theater company, I wasn’t in a really saturated market where I felt like I was perceived as anything other than a young business owner. I heard more comments on my age than I did being female. So gender never played a role in what I was able to achieve. But I also never allowed it to be a factor. I kept my eyes on my goals and worked really really hard to achieve them. As I mentioned before, I wanted to be the authority in the room to know everything I could so I never showed my weaknesses. (This was good for building a business, by bad for my emotional well-being and honestly for relationships).

I think the hardest thing for me was when we started having kids, I was faced with so much mommy guilt. Not only was I told I didn’t care about my kid’s well-being when I chose to work. But I also couldn’t find it cost-effective to pay for childcare and also work full-time. The number didn’t add up. So slowly walking away from things that I loved so deeply was incredibly hard. I didn’t realize how much of my identity was wrapped up in what I was able to accomplish. And yet, these kids I had prayed so hard for were finally here and I had given into the lie that I needed to be able to have a career and be a rockstar mom. That just about killed me. Saying goodbye to theater so I could be all in with my babies has been the greatest decision I’ve ever made. And when the door opened to create a business in photography… one that I could dictate my hours, time commitment, etc. That’s been such a gift. I get to be at home with my kids and be a part of their lives while also getting to be an adult and talk to big people and employ my passions as the same time. We can’t do everything as women. We need to ask ourselves at what cost do we strive? Who are we trying to prove things to? Where is our identity wrapped up. Everything is for a season and nothing is forever. Life is what we make it. And if a stay-at-home mom can make an online business to feed her family and keep her sanity… so can I.

Fast-forward to now owning a very successful photography business. Man… what a different industry. I remember being out on NUMEROUS photoshoots a few years back, all in urban area’s. And having men walk up to me, take my camera out of my hands and tell me how to use it better. I was AMAZED by the gull. It was completely unfamiliar territory for me. I honestly could only laugh it off and move on, but even my clients were like, did he seriously just do that? But what I’ve learned is that there is a generation of photographers who are uncomfortable with females in the industry. I’m a natural light photographer and so having men walk up to me and tell me my photos will never turn out was infuriating. But they have no idea what I’m creating. I suppose for me, I am taking it as ignorance and recognizing that we all do things in our own unique way. But that’s the beauty of the arts. We get to discover who we are in the process.

Pricing:

• Weddings Collections start at $2200
• Senior Collections start at $400

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BritniGirardPhotography.com
• Phone: 970-691-4297
• Email: britni@britnigirard.com
• Instagram: BritniGirardPhoto
• Facebook: BritniGirardPhoto

Image Credit:
Britni Girard Photography

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