Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Wyrick.
Hi Samantha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was always really interested in photography. In high school, I was on the yearbook staff and loved taking photos. I didn’t really think it would become a career or a business for me. Then, in 2011, a friend needed a wedding photographer, and I thought I would be up the challenge. So, I bought a point-and-shoot digital camera and shot her wedding. I had no clue what I was doing but I loved it. I spent about two years playing with my camera and editing. In 2013, I started taking more photos and learning more about photography. Samantha Wyrick Photography became a business in 2017. I’ve photographed weddings all over Tennessee and Kentucky and once in Pennsylvania. I offer services for weddings and portrait sessions. Memphis is one of my favorite places to work. I can remember vividly the day I knew I was in love with Memphis. So, I come down and shoot there every chance I get.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As much as I would like to say it has been smooth, it has not. I started out wrong. No one should start out with a wedding. That’s wild! I would also suggest learning how to do whatever it is you want to do before your start doing it. For photographers, that means a lot of things but the most important is knowing your gear and how to use it correctly.
Once at wedding, I was embarrassed by a fellow photographer because she figured out that I didn’t know how to shoot in Manual mode. I decided that night that I would give myself one year to learn photography the right way and learn how to run a business. If not, I would quit. I didn’t quit. Through trial, error and YouTube, I figured it out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional photographer. I specialize in weddings and couples, but I offer just about any type of photo session from high school seniors to boudoir. I am known for random, sometimes questionable locations. If there’s a creek nearby, we’re going! When it comes to weddings, I think my level of service stands out. I really do want to do as much as possible to help a wedding day go smoothly. I make myself available for couples from day one for questions about their timeline, vendor recommendations, or whatever they need. One the wedding day, I will do more than just take photos. I have applied false lashes, set up a dessert table, and helped with dresses among many other things.
What am I most proud of? That would probably be the relationships I have established with so many of my clients. They aren’t clients anymore. They’re friends and family now.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
You have to take risks in life. It’s just part of it. How boring would it be if we just accepted what came our way and didn’t step out and learn something new or take on a new adventure? We have one shot to make the most out of this life. We may as well take a few risks to get the most out of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.samanthawyrickphotography.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samantha.wyrick.photography
