Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Palacio.
Hi Bryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Both my wife Samantha and I had been doing photography for years when we met back in 2015; I was doing nature and landscape photography for work, and Samantha previously won best in show her senior year in high school. I had always wanted us to start a photography business together, but we both had full-time jobs and careers which made it difficult. Finally, after years of trying, I was finally able to convince her to take the plunge in 2018. We didn’t originally do weddings though. We started out doing all kinds of jobs and events including family shoots, graduations, maternity shoots, even picnics. But after doing families and couples, we eventually got offers to do weddings. It was a blessing in disguise. We originally thought of weddings as stressful and -having full-time jobs- extremely time-consuming. But we really loved shooting them. They were beautiful, fun, and photos were always special. We have always focused on providing a great experience along with our photos, and weddings really allowed us to shine in both aspects.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! It’s felt like owning a business has been a struggle since the beginning. Everyone knows a photographer or five, so the competition alone makes it a struggle. Plus, most people want someone with a lot of wedding experience, so starting out when you aren’t already in the business was tough. We had to really grind it out, shooting everything from kid’s birthdays to graduations and we even did picnics to pay off our marketing costs for a while. We’ve had to take on debt, spend our only free time on weekends working, edit photos at nighttime in bed, and work for free while begging people to give us a chance. When we finally felt like we were in a good spot in 2020 with a lot of weddings, COVID hit and we lost all of our clients. We didn’t get a single wedding booked until 2021. We are just now finally ending the year with several weddings and have been able to pay things off. Even still, having full-time jobs, it’s hard to put the same effort as others. We don’t have the same time and even social media becomes difficult to keep up with. All the while though, we have been able to stay in business and still get plenty of clients. It hasn’t been easy, owning a business while working full time and getting through a pandemic has been a challenge. But being able to keep a successful business through it all has been one of the most meaningful accomplishments of our lives.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We own a photography business which specializes in wedding photography. We also do other shoots like maternity or family portraits as well. Our style is warm and moody with contrast and brightness. It is similar to styles out west or some areas along the Smoky Mountains. We focus on capturing intimacy and connections. We want people to *feel* our photos as well as see them. We feel that really sets us apart from many photographers in Miami.
What we are most proud of is our customer experience. We always keep in mind that although it is another “job” for us, it is often the most important moment in our clients’ lives. We make sure to do everything possible to make sure they have an amazing experience with us. As a result, many of our clients come back to us for other milestones or recommend us to their family and friends. Several clients have even become personal friends of ours. It speaks to the effort we put to make sure that everything is great, not just the photos.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
If we could offer one word of advice, it would be to work as a second shooter to any photographer who will take you. There are plenty of people on Instagram, Honeybook, and other networks looking for help. Networking and making a name for yourself in your industry is the most important factor in the business. Yes, many people are good photographers, but there are plenty of bad photographers who are able to still make a living. Get as much experience doing weddings and photography before going on your own, it will make all the difference in getting clientele. Also, never have too much pride to reach out to potential clients or work for free!
Pricing:
- Standard rate: $350/hr
- Elopement package: up to 3 hours $1,050
- Wedding Gold Package: up to 5 hours- $1,750
includes free engagement shoot, personalized gift box with USB, and second shooter - Wedding Platinum Package: up to 8 hours- $2,800
includes free engagement shoot, personalized gift box with USB, and second shooter
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@canvasandcanopy.photo
- Website: www.canvasandcanopy.photo
- Instagram: @canvasandcanopymedia
- Facebook: facebook.com/canvasandcanopymedia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDEUQYOhSrySuShzRsbybZQ
