The value of support systems and creative communities w/ Dawn Jarvis!

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Dawn Photo

In this episode of the Montana Diaries Podcast, we have one of my favorite photographers, I mean, one of my favorite people — she’s a badass business owner with the biggest heart, our twighlighty Myspace queen with a ridiculous amount of talent, and a super cool hang, Dawn Jarvis of Dawn Photo! This conversation went SO FAST you guys, we talked about so freaking much and I could have talked to this lady all day.

DAWN JARVIS

Dawn is an Oregon-based photographer who specializes in elopements and micro weddings in the Pacific Northwest annddd she’s freaking incredible. In this interview, Dawn and I talk about her journey from shooting fake weddings put on by her college sorority to becoming the badass business woman and photographer she is today. We talk growing in business, cultivating a community and support system, learning as you grow, creativity, and expanding into the education space. Dawn is an amazing educator and is super open, so this is a MUST listen!

Getting her start in college

Dawn went to school at Oregon State University and attributes Greek life to much of her early success with photography. Her heart was with working with people with special needs and horses, but then when her photography business took off, it was time to make a decision — she decided to dive full force into photography, knowing she could go back to her first passion later on in life. To me, this shows Dawn’s ability to follow her intuition.

The value of a support system & community

Dawn worked at a camera store throughout college, and credits social media and online education to helping her with the business side of photography. She was involved in a sorority and they supported her through the early days, even going as far as to put on fake weddings to help her portfolio build!

Fumbling through it

We chatted about the early days of photography, and how Dawn fumbled through the learning phase by doing. She joked that Myspace was her shit, and we bonded over the Twilight/Emo/Sepia filter photography days in the online space. “Learning by doing” connects Dawn to those going through the beginner state in their photography businesses — being able to relate to them helps her be a better educator.

Connecting with industry peers

Dawn and I both believe in the value of connecting with industry peers — we discussed how hashing out the insecurities we have in business, roadblocks we might be experiencing, and seeking out advice from friends can move the needle forward in business.

Shooting for story

Perhaps my favorite part of Dawn’s shooting style is how cognizant she is of capturing her clients’ experience — she talks about how she observes the way her couples experience the places she takes them to, what they take note of, and what intrigues when and she captures those things. Her galleries include a lot of landscapes and textures like close up photos of moss, leaves, and wood.

Moving into the education space

Dawn started putting on workshops in response to popular demand — her move into the education space is a good lesson for those looking to expand their offerings in that she responded to requests, so she knew their was a demand before launching. Her offerings also include gorgeous presets, an online client experience course, and a business coaching program.