Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Sack.
Rebecca, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I supposed my story started as that annoying friend who always had a camera growing up. Half the time, they were only cheap disposable cameras, but I became obsessed with capturing my memories and experiences. I was (and still am) one of those people who believe all moments are fleeting and precious which naturally drew me to photography since it allowed me to freeze and re-live time.
Fast forward a few more years, and I graduated college with a degree in Organizational & Leadership communication, with a minor in English and a second minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. I was still that annoying friend with a camera but had never dreamed of making my photography into anything close to a professional career. But, after I graduated in 2013, the job market was still recovering from the recession. The only thing I was being offered related to my degree were unpaid internships, so, I used this disappointment as an excuse to explore photography from a business sense. I thought if I was going to do work for free, I want it to be something that I absolutely love doing. I applied for an internship with an amazing established Chicago wedding photographer, and she revolutionized the way I looked at photography and transformed the way I approached it from a hobby to a career.
I quickly became determined to see if I could do it- if I could chase this crazy dream of owning my own photography business and do what I love as my full-time job. In the early winter of 2014, I made a Facebook Page, established myself as a DBA in the state of IL and worked as a nanny during the weekdays to finance my way through life and invest in the equipment I needed. As much as it was exciting to take such a leap of faith, it was hard. Really hard. While the rest of my friends were establishing their designated careers, I felt like I was going backward. I had a degree I wasn’t using, never-ending but why?’s from friends and family, a schedule that had me working 70+ hours a week, and a constantly depleting bank account.
All I can say is that it was worth it. I focused on the positive affirmations from clients who cried when they saw the photos I captured for them. I focused on the incredible high I would feel when I created art out of moments for other people the way I had always done for myself. I focused on the fact that I wanted to give everyone this gift and dedicate my life to doing so. And, holding onto those truths (sometimes by a thin thread), I have made it to today. I’ve made a full-time career out of my favorite hobby and give people the gift of memories as my job. Me and my art have grown in ways I never knew where possible, and I am beyond thankful.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think the phrases “smooth road” and “entrepreneurship” are polar opposite realities. It has been one hell of bumpy, curvy, barely paved road that I have gotten lost on multiple times. But, smooth roads never lead you anywhere new. New places take unpaved, untouched, and unfamiliar roads to get to. They take roads that nobody has a map for, roads that seem unsafe, and roads that take sacrifice.
Okay, “smooth road” analogy over (I’m a sucker for analogies, it’s the English Major in me). To answer the question more directly – no, it has not been a smooth road. Some of the struggles were typical of anyone starting a new business, like; how the hell do I do my taxes? What type of insurance do I need? Will I get enough business this month? But, when you create a career where your income is based on the art you create, the struggles become a bit more messy, like; what if people don’t like their pictures? How do I post on Instagram without feeling like I’m bragging about my work? Am I worthy of making money off of this?
While I’ve paved my road to being somewhat more smooth now, it still reminds me of the lovely roads we have in Chicago; full of potholes, the craziest stop lights, and bikers who come out of nowhere 😉
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Rebecca Haley Photography – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business name is Rebecca Haley Photography and I specialize in wedding and portrait photography! I specialize primarily in weddings and boudoir, but I also love to photograph families, engagements, branding, and proposals. I photograph almost exclusively with natural light and love creating photos that are soft, strong, light, natural, and real.
I think something that sets me apart from others is the emotional investment I put into my clients and the memories I capture for them. When I shoot a wedding, I almost always cry because I fall in love with my couples and their love. When I photograph boudoir, I listen to women tell me the parts of their body they wish were different and then work to prove and show them they are perfect just as they are. I photograph as though the people in front of my camera are my closest friends or family and hold their memories and experiences close to my heart.
The thing I am most proud of is having clients who love the photographs I capture for them. There is no better feeling in the world knowing that I have given them something that they will cherish and enjoy forever. I am incredibly thankful for their trust and could not be more proud to have had the honor of making such sweet souls happy by freezing their memories in time through my lens and perspective.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Oh! This is an easy answer. My favorite part of our city is our beauty of a neighbor, Lake Michigan. There is nothing quite like Chicago in the summertime, and the lake is a large reason for that!
The thing I like least about our city is how many amazing places there are to eat. Because I constantly feel like there are not enough hours or calories in the day to experience it all! And, also not a huge fan of Chicago winters – I hate the cold! 😉
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.rebeccahaleyphotography.com/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/rebeccahaleyphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rebeccahaleyphotography
Image Credit:
Rebecca Haley Photography
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