Dana Burress – What you need to know about me.
Dana Burress: Business Owner. Photographer. Mom. Wife. Decision-maker. Negotiator. Problem-solver. Creative Artist. Exercise Hater. Musical Lover.
I think the hardest thing to talk about is yourself. At the same time I can acknowledge that it is important for my clients to know a bit about me: Why I decided to open my business? Why I decided to work in the wedding industry? What makes my business different from all the other? How owning a business has changed my life?
Why I decided to open my business?
When I was a kid I always knew I wanted to be the BOSS. Of course I didn’t know that meant I was going to start my own business. I just knew I wouldn’t be happy if I settled on a job that meant I wasn’t part of the decision-making process.
As a young adult I took a couple of entry-level jobs. I was offered advancements and opportunities but part of me was left unfulfilled. I needed an outlet for my creative side because my heart just wasn’t into the cut-throat, competitiveness of the Sales and Corporate world. Why shouldn’t I be able to make money doing something I loved?
I was already working part time as a videography assistant and when the owner of that business decided it was time to move-on, I decided to take-over. It was the first stop of becoming my own boss. I didn’t really understand what it really meant to be a business owner, but I had a few clients and my goal was to make sure they were satisfied.
Why I decided to work in the Wedding Industry?
When you think about your wedding day you should remember it as a beautiful romantic day that was spent with the people you care about the most in order to celebrate the joining of two lives in a commitment of love and respect. Having been married for 16 years I know that a wedding day is truly a moment in your life that is unforgettable. At the time I’m sure I worried and fussed about the flowers, the music, the food, the decorations, and every little detail… but I still remember it for being one of the happiest days of my life. Even when the florist called and had to tell me that half the flowers we ordered died during shipping… I wouldn’t let it ruin the moment.
I want to be the calm to your hurricane. I know that wedding planning is crazy. But I also know that when you get through all the little details you will be able to reap the rewards. I had a dream-like fairy tale wedding day and I think every wedding can be that way if you have a team that is able to support you through the process.
What makes my business style different from others?
When working in the wedding industry your reputation is essential. My customers are hiring me to capture a once in a lifetime event and there aren’t any re-dos if something goes wrong. If you think this sounds like a lot of stress then you would be right and there are many photographer’s that won’t photograph a wedding for that reason. I have always been confident in my ability to work in unpredictable situations and tackle any changes with professional and flexible attitude. That is why my reputation is unblemished in 13 years of photographing weddings and events.
I like building a relationship with my clients that they can trust and rely on me to help them find beautiful and fun ways to enjoy their wedding day. I will take the photos that you will use to capture each essential memory, but I will also offer you all my experience and skill to guide you through the day so that you can relax and enjoy the moment. I try to connect to each event on an emotional level so that I can tell the story the way it was meant to be remembered. Each detail and relationship is essential to harnessing the memories of your wedding day. I want you to be able to relax and live life in the moment and worry less about what will happen next.
The photos I capture will be a piece of art from just one day in your life but it is a day you won’t want to forget. Your vision of your wedding is unique to your relationship and the art created from that day will show the impact of your love and commitment for the rest of your life.
How owning a business has changed my life?
Being a business owner is a ton of responsibility. There are financial risks and many hours of over-time. So why in the world would I want to be a business owner? I think it is inspiring to be able to help support my family and the life I want to live through a business that I have built and the customers that have trusted my expertise.
I believe I am setting a good example for my kids that hard work and passion do equal a rewarding career that can be used to support the life you choose. They know I make my decisions based on our values and what I believe to be right and ethical. I have made mistakes and seen some set-backs but I don’t have any regrets.
I built my business around the idea that I can use my experience to help people. For most of my customers that means I can make their wedding day a little less stressful and capture a unique moment in their lives in a way that has them believing in fairy tales. Telling their stories through my photographs is a way to help memorialize relationships and histories.
Even with all the risks that are involved I can’t imagine any of them stopping me from all the reasons I have to push forward with my dream. I don’t have a high-rise office or any employees but I get the freedom to make my own choices and there isn’t anything wrong with that.
