Beverly Hills Wedding Photographer Jen OSullivan » Beginnings

On Becoming a Wedding Photographer

Jen — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:31:01 +0000

In 1992 I began my education in Graphic Design at Saddleback Community College and then headed to Cal State Fullerton to finish my degree. In 1996 I took an upper term elective in photography and it changed the way I saw the world, literally. I was hooked. I had found my passion and all I could do was stop and move forward. What I mean by stop, is change majors. I was one semester away from graduating but since I was essentially paying for my own education if I graduated I would not be eligible for certain grants that I knew I would need if I was going to start over. That is exactly what I had to do: start over. I built up a portfolio over the next semester taking only photography classes. I put together a portfolio of my best work and headed over to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California to apply. To give you some back history, my entire family went to Art Center. Mom, Dad, sister, even my now brother-in-law. It was in the cards from the beginning of my Graphic Design career that I was to go there too, however I, being the black sheep of the family, was determined to NOT go to Art Center. The irony was that now that I found what I really wanted to do with my life and after researching every possible school out there for photography, Art Center was the clear choice for top photography schools in the nation. While Cal State Fullerton was great at giving me a foundation, I was having a hard time with the “happy accidents” of photography. You know, when you get a REALLY great shot, and you think you are all cool because you are like soooo good at photography now and then you go to recreate it and you are totally stumped. I hated that! I HAD to know how to do what I knew I wanted to do but couldn’t. Super frustrating! I knew Art Center would give me the absolute best education hands down. Blah! I was mad, but again determined and I figured that my education was more important than my pride. Needless to say my entire family was thrilled! So, when I got accepted with my first portfolio, I hunkered down for the next 4 years and studied my ass off. I was pretty much one of the least popular people in school because I never partied and always worked. I was, however, the first person anyone went to when they needed class notes or wanted help with the assignment instructions. Those were some of the most intense years of my life. I actually had a nervous break down and cried once a week like clock work. But coming out the other end and having the knowledge under my belt that I do now, I would never trade a second!
In 1998 I did freelance photography part time while working my way through school and in 2001 when I graduated from Art Center and opened Jen Queener Photography full time (Queener is my maiden name.) I worked mainly in the advertising world shooting annual reports, marketing materials, and benefits for Huntington Memorial Hospital, Nokia Mobile Phones, Vertu, the YMCA, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and the Mayfield Schools to name a few. I became a full time wedding photographer in 2004 after getting married to Tim O’Sullivan, my High School sweetheart and Junior High crush. (Yes, we went to prom together.) I quickly left the commercial business behind after having such a hard time finding just the right photographer for my own wedding and knowing I could do a better job. Talk about crazy confidence with something I knew hardly anything at all about. (Art Center is adamant about NOT teaching 35mm on camera flash private sector photography.) There was no understanding anyone’s pricing structure and everything looked the same. There was no one who was shooting in the style I wanted because it seemed like everyone was doing photo journalism. Coming from the advertising world it was all a bit too sloppy. I say that with utter respect for photo journalists, but there was just something missing. I decided to try to change the way Wedding Photography is offered to brides and grooms. Now it is called Portrait Journalism or basically a mix between traditional and journalism with an editorial flair. My work has always been clean, clear, crisp, and unadulterated. I am not into crazy post production with filters and textures. I like my work to have a timeless feel to it but to be vivid and colorful. As for pricing, I have an open door, open book policy which no other photographer offers to my knowledge. Everyone I met with before my wedding only confused me more. There was no apples to apples comparisons. There was no easy to understand pricing structures. It was all way too illusive for me. So, because of this, I make sure my clients know exactly what they are paying for. They can take things out, add things in, move things around, and it is all the same to me. Everything is in plain English and black and white. I think that is the teacher in me, but so far it works for my business and my clients seem to appreciate it.
An interesting side note about my Art Center education: I was told by several instructors that I could not be a successful female photographer AND be a mom. Okay, I agree with them in terms of being a commercial photographer, however because of those “warnings” from well-meaning instructors I was stubbornly determined to have my cake and eat it too. (sorry for the pun.) And that is exactly what I am able to do as a wedding photographer. I have the best life I could ever have even dreamed of asking for. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my husband, am enamored with my son, am inspired by my students, and am filled with a sense of awe when I see one of my brides walk down the isle. My life is pretty great, so forgive me for bragging but we go to Disneyland once a week, the Zoo once a week, I have a date day with both of my men on separate days, and I own 1 successful photography business (Jen O’Sullivan Photography), 1 successful network organization (Wedding And Event Specialists), and 2 successful schools (ASAP Mentoring & Little Book Bindery.) I honestly do not know how I do it all sometimes however I do know that what keeps me going is my pure love for every part of my life. God had given me so much and I thank Him every morning when I wake up and every evening when I go to sleep (evening meaning 2am and morning meaning 10am.) okay, so I have a jacked up schedule, but it works for me. And by the way, my commercial photography education and experience give me a wonderful edge when shooting weddings. I get to use ALL my skills: product shooting, food, architecture, portraiture, fashion, automotive, table top. You name it, and I get to cover it in weddings. That is what I love about weddings; they are so eclectic. There is never a lack of inspiration and diversity.
So, here is me in under 30 seconds:
I am a wedding photographer. I absolutely LOVE what I do for a living. I am blessed beyond what I could have ever imagined. Think about it: I go to work and end up at a party; my clients are the most insanely happy people on the planet; AND I get to eat cake! Can you think of a better job?

Some of my first weddings from 2002 to 2004 along with some of my earliest photography work from 1998 to 2001 under Jen Queener Photography.

Some of my earliest work before I started shooting people.

Some of my work from 2000-2001 when I started shooting people.

My first wedding of good friends Joel and Colleen in 2002. I was in the wedding and got to take them on a private shoot right after the reception.

My first destination wedding in Hawaii using my very first digital camera in 2002.

My first full paying wedding ($1,000 woohoo!) in a Pasadena garden setting. Shot mostly with film and some digital. The above is digital.

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Copyright © 2010 by Jen O’Sullivan http://www.jenosullivan.com
Beverly Hills Wedding Photographer, Jen O’Sullivan is a boutique wedding photographer who specializes in portrait journalism.
Jen O’Sullivan Boutique Wedding Photography | 357 South Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California, 90211 | 310-494-6547

10 Steps to Successful Branding

Jen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:33:04 +0000

Here I am at this Sunday’s Unveiled Event on Melrose Place where I continued to brand myself and met tons of great new people I can’t wait to bring into my personal community.

One of my brand missions is to give back whenever I can. Plainly said, I like to help people. Often too much. You would be surprised at the number of people who think I have some ulterior motive behind my helping. Well I do! I never got any help from other photographers when I started my wedding photography business and I thought it was kind of sad. In the commercial industry where I started my photography career in 1998, I had mentors and teachers willing to give their time to me. When I left all that behind and opened my wedding photography business 6 years ago no one, and I mean no one would even go to lunch with me. I called so many people but for whatever reason they would not help me out. I vowed that I would never run my business that way and ever since I have become known for my open book, open door policy. Don’t get me wrong, I do not have time to help everyone ALL the time because, after all, I am a business owner and my clients come first. But if ever there is someone in need, my heart cannot help but want to help. That being said, I want you to make a mark in your industry. Here are 10 steps to successful branding. I want you to take this seriously. Do the work. Don’t read it and think “That is nice. I should do some of this.” and then shelve it. I want you to DO IT! Make this happen. You will not regret it. I have given you an action item at the end of each step sort of like homework. Sorry, yes, you still have homework. Some of it will take your time and some will take your money, but in the end you need to create your own memorable and trustworthy brand that clients will come back for and refer to their friends. Are you ready? Here we go…

(To listen to this as a live lecture, go HERE. Only good for the next 30 days.)

10 Steps to Successful Branding

1. You are What You Eat.
Ask yourself the following questions: What is your current brand? Are you married to it? Who are You? What service or product are you selling? How do you benefit the purchaser? What problem are you solving for them? Does your personal brand match up with your corporate brand? How are you positioned. Are you memorable? Do your clients refer you and use your services again and again?
Action: Create a Brand Vision. Write down your vision for your business. Answer the above questions.

2. Who is your Target?
EXACTLY! Down to the specific demographics.
Action: Write down your ideal client. Who are they? Be as specific as you can.

3. What’s in a Name?
Name recognition is so important. Consistency is key.
Don’t abbreviate your name in your website or when you answer the phone. Keep it all the same across the board.
Action: Make it easy and go with your name or brainstorm like mad and ask some mentors for help. Base it off of your Brand Vision.

4. Image is Everything.
Color + Consistency + Language + Font + Design = Trust.
Do your research. Don’t copy what everyone else is doing. Stand out. Your logo can help with this.
This is so important. Don’t do this step by yourself. Hire an expert. Logos need to work well small and in black and white. Simple is better.
Action: Hire a PROFESSIONAL. Here is one I recommend all the time: Cindi Garabedian

5. Narrow your playing field.
Have you narrowed your focus? What do you do? Don’t do everything, specialize. It will help people know what you do.
Consider Levi’s. They used to be the leader in denim. Now are they? Not at all. Why? They now sell everything from cheap jeans at JCPenney to high end jeans in Japan to shirts, hats, scarves. They have generalized and it has hurt them. Stand out by being a specialist not a generalist.
Action: What is the one thing you love most about all the facets of your business? Do JUST THAT.

6. Community is King.
Network, keep track of people you meet, and follow up. This helps build your brand as someone they will know, like, and trust.
Action: Go to a local trade show or network group in your area. Collect the business cards and start a Community File.

7. Know your Competition.
Who IS your competition. Do you have any? Do not fly blind. Position yourself in your area as the leader.
Action 1: Do some research. Find out who is doing what you want to be doing.
Action 2: Proctor and Gamble’s template for positioning. For (your audience) (your name) is a (category) which provides (main benefit) unlike (primary competitor) which provides (competitor’s main benefit.) For an engaged couple, Jen O’Sullivan is a Boutique Wedding Photographer who provides a vip wedding experience from the first meeting to the wedding day to the first baby photos unlike most photographers who stop at just the wedding day.
or here is one from Marty Neumeier: Our (product or service offering) is the only (category) that (benefit). Jen O’Sullivan is the only wedding photographer that you will want to be at every life event from the wedding day on.

8. How Catchy is your Catch Phrase?
What is a catch phrase? Making Memories out of Moments. Simple. Flowey. Boring! Obvious.
This should be fun, out of the ordinary, and… get this… CATCHY. Hmm. ?
Do you have an elevator speech? What is an elevator? Something to bring you up quickly and effortlessly. What do you say when someone asks you what you do for a living? Do you explain too short? Too long? Do they get inspired or trail off into a daydream while you babble on.
Action: Create your own Catch Phrase and Elevator Speech. Click HERE for instructions.

9. Consistency is King.
Some of you change a lot. You bounce back and forth on everything you design. You could not tell me what font you use and you seem to design something new every time you put out a new brochure. This is death to your brand. You need to figure it out AND STICK WITH IT!
Action: Pull up your website or sites on the same screen and lay out ALL your marketing materials in front of the computer. Now take a look at it all. Does it look like it goes together or are there inconsistencies. Work it out!

10. Look Up.
Often finding a mentor is the best thing you could do. Coaching is where it is at for new entrepreneurs. Do you ever see a pro team without a coach, or an Olympic athlete without a coach. Why are you without a coach? They inspire you. Tell you to get back on your feet when you are down and out. They help you through hard times and give you a push when you need it. They can give you much needed insight into the area you are working towards.
Action: Consider asking a few people in your industry that you look up to if they coach or mentor?

If you are a wedding photographer I have one of the most incredible coaching and mentoring programs available. Why is it the MOST incredible? Well, most photo mentorship programs or workshops will run you $300-$400 per class. I have seen some 2-3 day workshops going for $1000 on up. I have also seen some that are $3,500. They can get pretty pricey. I am not saying they are not worth it, however most people when they are just starting out do not have that kind of disposable cash. You NEED to invest in your business but you also need to be smart about every single dollar you spend. My mentorship program is only $400 for 4 whole months. This will include 4 live sessions with me along with access to me throughout the 4 months through email to help with anything you need. I do not know of anyone else who offers this kind of help at this price. I only allow 12 students in and we are almost full. I hope to see you in my program. Email me for more info. jen@jenosullivan.com You will thank yourself in August!

Here is the schedule for the upcoming classes:

Tuesday April 6th Why Weddings? (An Introduction to the Wedding Series)
Tuesday April 13th How to NOT Keep Up With the Jones’s (Balancing Family and Career)
Tuesday April 20th (NO CLASS! It’s my anniversary!)
Tuesday April 27th Tips for a Great Engagement Portrait Session

Shootouts and Workshops included in the Mentoring program:

Saturday April 22nd 2:30-7:00pm Charity Engagement Shootout
Friday May 21st 2:30-3:30 Setting Up a Portrait Studio
Tuesday, June 8th 5:00-8:00pm Bridal Shootout
Tuesday, July 13th 4-9pm Benefit Moc Wedding

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How I Became a Wedding Photographer

Jen — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:55:00 +0000

I often get asked how I got started as a wedding photographer. So here you go:
My sister, Cindi got married 11 years ago and used the then fairly unknown wedding photographer, Joe Buissink for the unheard of price tag of $5,000. They got him just before his prices skyrocketed and he became practically untouchable by us mortals (price-wise). Joe is now a legend in the wedding photography industry pretty much doing celebrity and high high end weddings. At the time he, along with one of my Art Center instructors, Kathleen Clark were two of only a handful of documentary photographers shooting weddings. When I saw the outcome of his work at my sister’s wedding, I was in awe, but not yet hooked. I was studying at Art Center to join the ranks of the now dwindling advertising photographer crowd. Once out of school, armed with my trusty agent Lisa Ellison, I was out to conquer the photography world. It only took about 4 years to realize I absolutely DID NOT want to have anything to do with this world. It sucked the life right out of me and made me realize the type of life I wanted was down a different path. I was told at Art Center, that as a woman, if you wanted to be a successful photographer you would not be able to have kids (or at least I would not be able to be a normal mom). This always shocked me and anyone who knows me knows I am a “have it all, do it all” kind of gal. Then, in 2003 the marriage proposal came from my High School sweetheart (okay, Junior High School crush) Tim O’Sullivan and the search was on. As an advertising photographer (starving photographer is more like it) how could I find the right wedding photographer. All I found in my hundreds of hours of searching were a bunch of over priced, under qualified photographers who lacked any sense of artistry and passion. There were only two worthy wedding shooters I knew of: Joe Buissink and Isabel Lawrence Photographers, who are family friends. Joe was so off the charts for my sad little photo budget as were Isabel and Larry of Isabel Lawrence even WITH a friend discount. Then I stumbled on Laura Kleinhenz. She was also out of my budget but was willing to trade part of her fees in custom binding services for some of her high end clients. Although I do not do binding full time anymore, I still do the occasional custom book for brides who want it. (See Little Book Bindery for more info.) She was so great to work with and shot the entire wedding in film with more of an artistic photojournalistic style. Her work is very different from my own and she captures things in ways that are so deeply beautiful. After realizing there were not that many people doing any work that stood out I decided to jump into weddings full time. I had shot a few weddings for friends over the years since 2001 and knew I liked it so it seemed to be the perfect fit. Weddings on the weekends — wife, mother, teacher during the week. I started to steadily work myself out of advertising work keeping only the best clients doing (and still do) marketing materials and annual reports for Private Schools, and I opened up Save The Date Photo (now simply Jen O’Sullivan) in 2004 and never looked back. I can now say that those instructors at Art Center were dead wrong. While wedding photography is not looked on as a photography profession at Art Center, in my mind it encompasses everything I learned there. At every wedding I am able to photograph architecture, still life, editorial, fashion, portraiture, food, and even cars. I love how diverse it is and I do not have to deal with picky art directors telling me how to do my job (although I do get the occasional aunt or mother who likes to put their two cents in). My life is basically this: party with some of the happiest people on the planet, eat some cake, do what I love, and then hang out in my pajamas the rest of the week while archiving and playing with my husband and son. I do have it all and I am loving every second of it. Who knew work could be fun, rewarding, and pay the bills all at the same time.

A bit more about my background

EDUCATION
BFA in Photography with Honors, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena
Undergrad in Graphic Design, Cal State Fullerton

AWARDS
The Knot Best of Weddings 2008/2009 Pick
Wedding Wire 2009 Bride’s Choice Award
MyFOX LA 2008 Winner Best Wedding Photographer in Los Angeles