Focused Photographers Podcast Brand Building: Focusing on What Fulfills You, Serves Your Clients, and Avoids Burnout with Joshua Dwain
Joshua Dwain is a Brooklyn based Wedding, Portrait, and Fashion photographer. He and his wife have been traveling together all over the world for nearly a decade photography at some amazing locations.
Early in Josh’s career as he was exploring and expanding his talents through workshops, several interactions with well known photographers had an impact on him. At one workshop with Magnum Photographer David Allan Harvey, Josh remembers seeing photographers of all skill levels, some who were very new and not technically proficient. It was mind blowing to Josh that Harvey saw past the technical skills, or lack there of, and commented on the photographers vision or what the photographer was trying to say. As a technical photographer that showed me a more emotional side. In an encounter with another photographer, Josh remembers them telling him not to show details of shoes, the dress, and wedding decor. Which after some thought didn’t make sense to him because “the look” of the wedding is what is so vastly important to the demographic that Josh serves. He said I know my black brides are all about how everything looks and the experience that has on their guests. I have to show those things if I want my couples to be happy.
In this slow burn of an episode, Josh and I take a deep dive into the tangled web of finding your vision amidst feedback from other photographers, seeing your clients and what they truly want, and doing what fulfills you so you don’t get burnt out.
I’m paraphrasing here but one of my favorite sentiments from Josh is later in the episode as we turn to how easy it is to get burnt out in the wedding photography world because you’re constantly managing other peoples expectations and doing things for them. If you don’t have a brand that’s built on trust and doing what you enjoy, you’ll head down a burn out path pretty quickly.
Grab a pen and paper because Josh drops some really important lessons for photographers navigating their way through trying to find their vision and build a business that feels authentic to them.
CONNECT WITH JOSHUA DWAINWebsite: WWW.JOSHDWAIN.COM
Instagram: @JOSHUA_DWAIN
LINKS & RESOURCESDavid Alan Harvey – Photographer & Workshops: WWW.DAVIDALANHARVEY.COM