Today we’d like to introduce you to Gia Pepe.
Hi Gia, 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.
Hi, my name is Gia I’m a local South Florida photographer, I service the tri-county of Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach County. I originally started photography because I’ve always had a love for taking pictures and having big dreams.
It all started as a teenager I would walk around with my digital camera and have thousands of Dropbox and photo booth albums, I still wish I could remember those passwords to see them now. As I got older and had children It was always very important for me to take images and print them in photo books for them like my family did for me.
Fast forward to now, I was tired of the robotic 9-5 job. I wanted to do something with my life where I had more freedom, I knew if I set my mind to something I wouldn’t stop until It became my reality. After saving up for my professional camera and equipment, that’s when Better Together Creative Media was born.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it has been the easiest to get to where I’m at now, but it is possible and I still have a long way to go to get to where I want to be in my career. Life is a cycle of growth so that means there is always something new to learn and I take each day as a stepping stone.
Some of my biggest obstacles I would say would be, marketing myself enough to be seen and recognized by new clientele. I had to realize that photographers have slow seasons and that is ok, those are the times to brand yourself further and educate yourself more.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in lifestyle photography, including families, couples, events, milestones, elopements, and more. Working mostly outdoors at our beautiful beaches and greenery state parks. Nothing gives a better scenery than nature, it also helps to tell a story of where you were at that time in your life. Whether you were on vacation or wanted to upgrade outdated images.
If I had to say one thing I’m known for it would be my personality, I get told by my clients how comfortable I made their experience and how good I am with children. To get a further idea of what I mean, photoshoots can be a little uncomfortable or awkward for people at times.
Children get shy, adults don’t always know how to pose and half my clients have never met me before so they’re walking into a stranger. I always do my best to be very personable, I am a mother myself so I know what kids need, and that’s normally being silly and playing around. I pride my brand on “ let the kids be kids “ during my photoshoots.
For adults, posing them and giving them prompts to help them get involved and interact with the camera, and because of my high energy and likable personality those clients who were once strangers become repeat customers and give amazing word-of-mouth referrals to friends and family. Half of my clients I consider friends now and that feeling is powerful.
What sets me aside from most businesses would have to be my expectations, because I am very self-driven and motivated I do not give up even on bad days. I see it as an opportunity to do more and I think having that trait will bring me very far in life.
What were you like growing up?
I laugh while reading this question, growing up, I was a goofy kid. I was always playing around and being silly, typically doing something I shouldn’t have been doing.
I always remember myself being somewhat of a leader, I had my path and that characteristic had followed me in life. I grew up doing a lot of sports because that mindset of being competitive was my type of motivation at the time to work harder and do better.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @bettertogether_ftlphotography
Image Credits
Better Together Creative Media
