Conversations with the Inspiring Teresa Woodhull

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Woodhull.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Teresa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It’s a bit of a long story but I will try to keep in short! I am a Florida girl who traded the beach for the mountains! I’d always been the girl who had a camera on me – first with cheapy film kodaks, and then, on a study abroad trip in college, I picked up my first DSLR. From then on, I was hooked! In 2009, a week after graduating from college, I came out to the mountains of Colorado for a family reunion. One of the activities we did as a family was white water rafting. Since there was about 30 of us, we were split up, and my (now) husband was the raft guide for my sister’s boat! We exchanged numbers at the end of the rafting trip and I ended up moving out with my camera and a few belongings three weeks later (definitely the craziest thing I’ve ever done!). While out here, I worked as a photographer for two companies and in those first couples of years, I must have shot about 75-100 weddings with very little experience in the wedding industry (though by the end that certainly changed!). After that, I worked as a second shooter for some prominent photographers, shooting less but really defining my style and figuring out what was important to me as a wedding photographer. Then, about four years ago, I decided to go full time and solo, and it’s what I have been doing ever since!

Great, 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?
It hasn’t always been the smoothest, and it has definitely been a long one. Though I have learned a ton through various photography workshops/mentorships, I’m primarily self-taught, so navigating the waters by myself has been a challenge. It took a lot of research, reading, and practice, and I’m still learning, every day! What I have found to be the hardest thing is establishing a kinship with other photographers. Many of us work alone and from home, so you really have to put yourself out there to have those tight-knit relationships that form as the result of working in an office environment. My best advice would be to try not to go at it solo – I was stubborn for a long time and I was determined to figure things out on my own when it wasn’t necessary. Once I started making friends in the industry, it was easy to see that a lot of us have had the same hardships and that together, we could help each other and lift each other up when feeling alone or isolated.

What should we know about Teresa Woodhull Photography? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a Denver based traveling wedding and elopement photographer, who also photographs families, newborns, and boudoir! I specialize in weddings, and I would say that what sets me apart from others is that I strive to not impose my narrative on others, and really try to let a couple’s relationship speak for itself. It’s easy to pose people in a variety of ways to make them look at Pinterest/Instagram worthy, but is it really them? I strive to find the right balance between what looks good and what represents them as a couple.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I think the fact that I am rarely taken seriously is challenging. Most people consider what I do to be a hobby or side hustle, and don’t tend to believe me when I say it’s my full-time job. There is a common misconception with photographers where people think it’s just ‘click-click’ done. They don’t realize that as solo business owners we are also in charge of marketing, accounting, website development, client and social media management, editing and soooo much more. All too often people consider solo female business owners to be engaging in a frivolous hobby when it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Pricing:

• Weddings start at $3000 and include 6 Hours
• Elopements start at $2200 and include 3 hours and an album
• Engagement Sessions start at $475
• Family sessions start at $450

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teresawoodhull.com
• Phone: 7869724437
• Email: twoodhullphotography@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresawoodhull/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresawoodhullphoto/

Image Credit:
Teresa Woodhull Photography

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