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Life and Work with Becky Schwartz Nuttall

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Schwartz Nuttall.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In high school, I wanted to be an artist. I loved drawing and painting. My parents on the other hand, were not as keen to the idea of this being a profession as I was. They were worried I would end up a “starving artist.” I decided to find a loop hole, a solution to the “starving artist” problem.

As a determined 17 year old, I did my research and found that photography is quite a lucrative business. I presented my findings to my parents, and to my excitement, they were onboard! I made the decision that I would be an artist and my medium would be photography.

In 2005, I started my studies at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. I graduated in 2009 with a degree in professional photography, with my senior project and emphasis in food photography. My dream then was to work for Martha Stewart or Bon Appétit. Dreams don’t always end up the way you plan. In my case I am really thankful for the unintended direction my path took me.

All through college, I had been capturing weddings and stories of friends & family to help pay the bills. I am so glad those friends and family invited me into their moments. Those moments, lit a creative fire in me that has burned, refined and created a beautiful career 14 years in the making.

Has it been a smooth road?
Theodore Roosevelt said:
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain and difficulty.”

I have to agree with Teddy’s statement. Being a small business owner is not easy or for the faint of heart, but anything worth having will cost you something. The cost is where you have to make a decision. You must decide what you are willing to pay, and payment comes in all forms; time, energy and finances.

I am a wife and a mama to a one year old little boy. Becoming a mom has changed and challenged the ways I have always done things. My priorities changed, because they had to, but that didn’t mean that I quit. I simply adjusted, reevaluated and kept my eyes on the goal.

Change is inevitable and is usually a good thing, it is all about how you grow through the changes. Having a clear vision for the way you want to live and the place you see yourself and your business in five, ten or even twenty years is critical.

I ask myself often, am I reaching my goals for today, this month or this year? If not, I ask myself whether I am willing to make the sacrifices today in order to get there tomorrow. The end goal is what drives me through the days that feel downright painful.

My goals have shifted over the years. Currently I am in the middle of a very big shift. My husband, Aaron, and I are opening a new urban wedding venue in Downtown Colorado Springs called C L A Y venues. Opening a wedding venue is a goal that has been on my list for a long time, so I can say with confidence that the risk is worth the sacrifice.

I have no doubt that there will be many things down the road that will challenge me and cause me to shift how I do business, but my end goals keep me grounded and on track.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a fine art film wedding photographer for contemporary couples.
I am based in the mountains of Colorado but also shoot weddings in the Santa Barbra area multiple times a year. I have had the honor of working with hundreds of couples from around the world and working with some of the best professionals in the wedding industry. I have been internationally published and recognized by Magnolia Rouge, Cottage Hill Magazine and more publications.

As a photographer and business owner, I believe in leveraging my talents and skills in photography, to create lasting stories and an experience that is memorable far beyond my couples wedding day.

As I step into a new role in the wedding industry as a venue owner, I desire to leverage the skills I have gained through photographing weddings to create the same lasting experience at C L A Y for couples who decide to celebrate with us.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Be humble, and ask a lot of questions! Find someone to mentor you and find a community of like-minded business professionals and ask them how they do things. Be okay with being wrong. Be okay with failure. As hard as it is, failure is where we learn and grow the most.

Ask for feedback and critiques on your work. We are often too blind in our own shortcomings to see where we need to grow, without someone holding up a mirror for us to look into.

Be yourself. Let your art or your product be inspired by others but don’t copy them, work hard, it’s worth it, the journey may be difficult but enjoy the process, don’t be afraid to experiment, don’t be afraid to take risks!

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Personal Photo McKenzie Coyle, all other images myself b. schwartz photography

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