Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Benson.
Cody, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story in photography started because I needed help paying rent in all honesty. When I started, I was newly moved out from my parents and on my own while taking classes at Texas A&M University-Commerce where I currently am today. Being on my own for the first few months was great, I got to do what I wanted when I wanted without having to deal with anyone telling me no. It was a lot of freedom that gave me the ability to spend money that I didn’t have. After the 3rd or 4th month of being on my own, I was struggling to pay bills that were coming in and I was constantly in the paycheck to paycheck mentality. I knew something had to be changed and with the business mindset that I’ve always had I decided I needed to create a new side job that would help pay for living expenses. So, I used the last of the money I had in savings to buy a camera.
I decided that photography was a business that could become useful to me not just in my time not having any money, but one day it could help me in my future job. I started practicing and I got a few paying gigs at first that really helped me out financially. To those people that took a chance on me when I was starting out I can’t have thanked them enough, they are the ones that helped shape my business into what it is. I used those first few clients to mold my business into something that would be an actual business instead of just a side job.
After a few months of making changes to my business by creating my website and social media pages, I started to see more profit coming in so I decided to invest in my company further with new equipment to make my job easier instead of rigging the few assets I had to create the look I was after.
My photography has progressively changed over the past 2 years from something that I had to do to get by to something that I truly enjoy doing. I never thought growing up that I would have been where I am now. I used to believe that photography wasn’t for the small-town country guys that live on a ranch until I took the first step out of my comfort zone.
I would like to personally thank anyone who has given my company support since its launch 2 years ago. It hasn’t always been sunny days, but everyone who has taken a chance with me to help me grow and mold myself into the photographer I am today has all my gratitude. For anyone looking for a photographer I would like to say that with Cody Benson Photography you will never be let down.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been a few times where my path in photography became very problematic for me. For instance, just like any art form you have to pay your dues before you can really start to excel, the first 6 months I could go weeks without so much as an email about a possible job, it can be very discouraging for someone starting out. I have also had times where I had to really learn how to organize myself financially so that every penny I made wasn’t going straight back into the business. One of the business owners that believed in my business from the start told me that when running a business, you can’t poor everything you have back into your work, you must be able to allow yourself time and money to use for other things even if your work is something you love to do. I never really understood that until it hit me in the face that I had more expenses than revenue coming in. So, I reorganized and got interested in a few other hobbys in order to have something non-work related to do.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Cody Benson Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in wedding and engagement photography. I have always loved the idea of capturing the moment as it is instead of posing people in a specific way. I am lucky enough that I get to see the true love in complete strangers eyes on their wedding day which is a truly beautiful thing to witness. I am most proud of my business because of the way that I have built up everything I have through the profit made from the jobs I have done. I believe what sets me apart from other people in my industry is the price without loss of quality. I believe that photography shouldn’t be one of the higher budget items on a bride’s mind for a wedding. I think that in the planning of a wedding the photography should not cut into the budget for other key elements to the event.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck hasn’t played that dominant of a role in my business. I believe that It was by luck that I got into the business because going into college I would have never thought about picking up a camera and doing anything. I have had to work really hard for the accomplishments I have made and I am proud of it.
Pricing:
- Weddings – $700
- Engagement Pictures – $300
- Senior Pictures – $200
- Family Pictures – $200
Contact Info:
- Website: codybensonphotography.com
- Phone: 903-217-5991
- Email: codybenson94@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Cody Benson Photography
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