Meet Stephanie Bryant of Light of Dusk Photography in East Dallas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Bryant.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Stephanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started taking pictures for fun when I was just starting high school. I would take nature photos, do a lot of photos shoots with my friends, and post them on Instagram. One day someone saw my photos on Instagram and really liked them, and so they paid me to take pictures of their family. So all throughout high school, I would get little gigs here and there from family and friends, and I did that for a while. It was so much fun. I also did my own creative photography on my Instagram page, and I got a lot of great feedback from other professional photographers which was so encouraging.

Once I graduated, my high school sweetheart proposed to me a year later, and we got married at the ages of 19 and 21. After that, I kept getting more and more offers to take people’s photos. So then I decided that I need to become a business since I was getting so many offers and great encouragement from other professionals. I decided to put myself out there; I made a Facebook Photography page called Light of Dusk Photography. I chose the name because I love to shoot outside during that beautiful golden hour of dusk; it’s magical.

I even reached out to local Dallas professional wedding photographers to see if I could work as a second shooter for them, which is how I met Shelley, from Shelley Foster Photography. She is an AMAZING photographer who has so much experience and is so nice. I look up to her as a mentor for sure. She taught me a lot about wedding photography and other little tips and tricks. I also decided to take some photography classes at my community college to help me better understand the technical side of my camera and of photography. I also practice, practice, practice, it does wonder. I also watch a lot of photography related YouTube videos.

All of these things really boosted my knowledge and experience in photography, and I am so glad I pushed myself to do them. Around this time my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first child!! After our first beautiful daughter was born, 13 months later we had another beautiful little girl, and then, yes you’re hearing me right, 17 months later we had another baby, our first son! We are currently living in East Dallas with our three beautiful babies: Scarlett, age 2, Eleanora, age 1, and Ike, 1-month-old. We are so happy and so blessed by God.

Through the three years of being pregnant and having babies, I was still accepting photography gigs here and there, even some of my first weddings! But the kids sure have put a hold on my career from growing even further, but in many ways, I can say they helped my career! I have been able to practice newborn photography and child photography with my kids which has been a huge help and advancement in exploring different fields of photography.

They also have taught me many valuable life lessons and made me grow up a little which I count as a win. I am currently still working on expanding my business while on maternity leave and am excited for what God has in store for me!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have definitely faced some little bumps in the road here and there, but that is to be expected right? I think my biggest struggle has been trying to build my business. With all these kids so fast I have not really had the time to dig in deep, but it definitely keeps me on my toes. I am always juggling photoshoots and kids and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have photographed two weddings being pregnant!!

There are also the small struggles that I think every photographer has dealt with at least one time; for example one time I forgot a memory card when I showed up to a photoshoot, and then just figuring out the technical side of the camera can be frustrating. But I believe you learn best from mistakes and from challenges, and they only help you grow even stronger.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Light of Dusk Photography – what should we know?
I am the photographer in a small business that is called Light of Dusk Photography. I am just starting to grow. I mostly get my business right now from family, friends, and friends of friends. My advertisement is basically by word of mouth, but it sure does bring in the clients! I am hoping to really get my business up and running soon.

When I take a picture, I have in my mind that this picture is what my clients are going to look back on and remember forever. So I want that moment to be a good one, not a posed, unnatural, uncomfortable moment. Which is why I specialize in taking candid, natural photographs. Pictures that are fully in the moment to create a wonderful memory for my clients. I like to have fun at my photoshoots, and I hope my clients do too! I also always, always, always, photograph outside. The light from the sun is incomparable to any other light, it is just so pretty.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First off I can only thank the Lord my God for giving me the ability and the talent that I have. All that I have comes from Him.

Secondly, I’ve got to give credit to my Instagram community. When I was first starting out it was a great place for me to post my pictures and get some really great feedback from professional photographers. It was also a great place for me to be inspired and easily chat with people who inspired me. Through social media, I met Shelley Foster who I considered as my mentor. Shelley hired me as a second shooter at some weddings she was photographing. It was SO helpful to be able to work right under a professional and just observe and soak it all in.

And lastly a huge shout out to my amazing husband and family who are always extremely supportive, loving, and some of the best babysitters!!

Pricing:

• $175 Mini Photoshoot Session: 30 Minutes on location, 10 edited digital files given on a USB
• $250 Standard Photoshoot Session: 1 hour on location, all edited digital files given on a USB

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lightofduskphotography.myportfolio.com
• Email: thelightofduskphoto@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelightofdusk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelightofdusk/

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