We’re looking forward to introducing you to Whitney Boyd. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Whitney, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day in the life as a mom of 4 with 2 jobs looks exactly how you imagine it – busy! Lately, I’ve been starting my day with an exercise walk. I’m writing this from my vacation at my sister’s house in Georgia and recently this walk involves HILLS! If you aren’t familiar with hills, they are inclines in the road, going up steeply and then down again. They make for sore calves and the inability to have a conversation while walking. These morning walks are a new vacation habit, so I’m hoping it sticks when we get back home. I’ve been listening to podcasts or audiobooks while I stroll, which has been a game changer. Then during the day, I work from 8-5 on photography or hematology (I’m a Physician Assistant as well). And my evenings are mostly little league and wrestling kids into bed. My favorite places to work on photography are the coffee shop. It’s just the right amount of distraction and bustle, but I know I’m there to get a job done, so I can’t be sucked into folding laundry or other household tasks.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey there! Whitney Boyd here, your family, senior, maternity and headshot photographer.
Someone asked me recently why I do photography. I started with the obvious answer “I love capturing memories for people.”
But, why…
Well because they are important.
But, why…
She kept asking to peel back deeper and deeper layers.
I started to think back to almost one year ago. When hurricane Helene hit and my parents took in 5 feet of water, everything the water touched was thrown out. It was salt water and sewage and we didn’t try to save anything….except the pictures. I had washed sheets several times and when they still smelled, I offered to buy them new sheets. But you can’t buy new memories. I spent hours soaking and dabbing trying to rescue what we could. I even pulled a maggot off my sister’s face. Because memories matter.
But, why…
Because photographs are a way to go back – To revisit that moment or person or feeling or season in life that might otherwise be gone. They connect us to each other and to our history.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Recently I was listening to a podcast that said “Anxiety is a byproduct of self reliance.” In our culture, self reliance is a good thing. Hustle is considered a good thing. We make things happen for ourselves, because people can let us down. But I actually believe we are supposed to rely on God for the big and small in our lives. Any skill that we have, He provided, and we are simply stewards of that talent. Anxiety comes from trying to control things that we have no business controlling. So I’m in the process of changing how I think about the world and how I make decisions. Instead of simply weighing pros and cons list, and worrying about every possible outcome, I will rest in the fact that God is good and in control and I will seek Him in my day to day.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering teaches a lot – how to persevere and try new things. It gives you perspective and compassion for others. If everything was easy, it might not be worth doing!
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
One cultural value that I try to uphold is authenticity. It’s one of the reasons that I can’t bring myself to use social media for my business. For a photographer, Instagram seems like an obvious requirement for our industry. It’s a very visual platform, and we have loads of beautiful pictures to share. But for some reason I’m hesitant. I worry that I will feel pressure to keep up with the ever changing algorithm and ‘what to share’ will always be on my mind. I worry that I’ll use my children for the gram, asking them to pose for pictures or do the latest trend or perform in some way. I worry that posting beautiful pictures all the time, which are refined and edited, can contribute to insecurity in others. So even though it’s costing me when it comes to marketing my business, I’m going to hold off on social media for now. I use instagram to share a few cute things of my kids here and there, but I haven’t committed to going all in.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
There are tons of photographers out there, at every level from beginning to expert, from cheap to pricy. If I retired tomorrow, there would still be options for people to have their photos taken. My clients would miss laughing through a photoshoot. We have fun and get really natural smiles and connections as a result. My clients also rave about how simple my process is – booking is streamlined, I have guides to prep for photos, and my gallery/shop is a breeze! I prepare people to look their best and get the most from their photos. The system I’ve set up make is really painless to have family photos made.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://whitneyboydphotography.com
- Instagram: whitneyboydphoto
Image Credits
Whitney Boyd Photography
