Meet Caitlyn Weathers | Wedding Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caitlyn Weathers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caitlyn, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My work-life balance has had some real and significant changes over my career as a wedding photographer. The most impactful adjustment that I have made to my balance is learning how much to say ‘yes’ to and when to say ‘no.’ I have learned to set my workload based on what I know I can accomplish, not what I think other professionals in my field are accomplishing. I have learned that I can handle a certain threshold and have worked hard to stay within the boundaries that I have set up for myself. I wear a lot more hats than I did when I was 22 so I know that to be successful in my business, with my family, and with my other responsibilities, I need to set my goals for where I am in life. For example, I sit down at the beginning of each year and decide on a number of bookings that I’ll take on based on that year’s projections. Setting these goals and then keeping to them has been crucial in preventing the overload that leads to burnout.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Anyone in the wedding industry knows that there are two wedding photographers around each corner. And it honestly took me a while to find what helped me stand out from the crowd. Soon after I started my business, I had become a first-time mom and I was working a full-time day job. So finding my niche within the wedding industry felt like an impossible idea when I was just trying to get myself established in the middle of the rest of my obligations. My time was spread thin. But as I continued to fine-tune my craft and learn and grow more in what it meant to not only be a photographer but to run a service-based small business, it started to become clear to me that what makes me stand out is my connection to the couples and families I work with. When I go back to reviews my clients leave, the word that comes up more than any other is ‘fun.’ And that connection and the ability to create a fun, enjoyable experience for my clients while capturing their wedding day (and engagement and boudoir sessions!) is so crucial to me. Those sweet and tender moments and the laughs they share is what really moves it from ‘having photos taken’ to giving a full and memorable experience. I launched Caitlyn Weathers Photography in 2013 after getting my feet wet throughout college with a handful of my friends’ weddings. As I mentioned before, I became a mom very soon after starting my business. So, by 2014 I had a newborn, a full-time job and a small business. And, thus, traction was very slow for me for a few years. I looked at other photographers who I knew personally or followed on social media and I felt like they just kept getting better and better in their craft and I was inching slowly along. On top of that, I hadn’t learned the techniques I know now to quicken my workflow so my days and my nights were long and I almost gave up my whole business more than once. But even as I struggled to get the foothold I needed, I loved what I was doing. Couples photography has always filled me with joy as I follow along with my clients through their engagement and capture their most treasured moments on their wedding day. So I continued to work those long nights and take courses from other photographers like Katelyn James. Over time, I was getting more traction in my business and more people were booking me. By the time my second child was 6 months old, it was possible for me to quit my office job and focus my attention toward my business. And, now, I have learned a workflow that works for me, I know how many weddings I can take on in a year to give the best client experience I’m able and I get plenty of time with my family!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love getting to take friends around the city when they come to visit! I grew up near Chicago, so if my best friend visited, we would be leaving our kids with our husbands and we would be hitting Ponce City Market for shopping and lunch. It’s one of my favorite places in the city and I can easily spend a full day there. I love stopping in at Archer Paper Goods first thing and never leave empty-handed. After that, we’d grab a flight at Jeni’s Ice Cream before heading to the Fox for a show! Outside a day right downtown, we love spending time outdoors. So we’d have to head to Sweetwater Creek outside the city for a good hike with all the kids or take the walk down from Grant Park to the zoo.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is dedicated to my husband, Jordan. He has been a constant champion for my success and my business. He was the one to buy me my first camera when we were still young college kids and his encouragement and support have been crucial to my ability to believe in myself to build my business.

Website: www.caitlynweathersphoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlynweathersphoto/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlynweathersphoto/