Noelle Neff is a specialist in wedding and travel photography and is best known as the Founder of the Miami based Noelle Neff Photography. The strategically located studio also offers portrait photography, fine art photography, sports photography and architectural photography. Clients who frequent the studio include young professionals, newlyweds and Baby boomers. Neff’s scope of wedding themed photography can be traced to various themes, namely; classical, artistic, lifestyle and documentary titles.
Classical wedding photography services allow her to explore inner artistic senses by retracing time without losing focus of the current realities. Neff’s works have won numerous accolades, with a good number appearing in local and national galleries and various advertising campaigns. The travel photography potion of the business has taken Neff to several locations around the world, from Europe to South America. The love for the outdoors has also seen Neff study several foreign languages as part of her career progression. Noelle Neff graduated from the University of Miami, Florida.
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
I was a big fan of English, science and the arts while in high school. The freedom to use different mediums to express my imagination most likely drew me closer to the arts. I followed up my interest in English at the college level. This interest was sparked by love for creative writing and reading literature.
Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
Photography has many faces and is appreciated by people from all walks of life. At the beginning, I received a request from family members and friends to do wedding shoots. I did my best to get the best shots under the sun in spite of having limited resources. Word soon went around, and I began receiving requests for wedding shots from all kinds of quarters.
How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
From a humble gig, my photography picked up into a serious line of business. When I established Noelle Neff Photography, my first clients were drawn to my portfolio. I built an impressive photo collection as a result of networking with wedding vendors, taking advantage of friendly referrals, advertising my studio and taking cue from lead photographers
How do you keep yourself motivated?
I have a few tips that often help me stay motivated; these include keeping an inspirational journal and trying as much as possible to shoot early, before lunch time in order to capture the morning light when it is at its best. I keep my journal in a small camera bag. It helps me jot down important things like themes that can be explored; best shooting locations and Ideas for advancing my career.
What kind of business ideas excites you most?
I can quickly suggest consultancy work, editorial services and accountancy, all of which require training, experience and licensing. I will, however, vouch for photography. With a startup capital of $2000 you can set up a modest photography business and chose your areas of specialization i.e. family photography, commercial photography, glamour photography, wedding photography and so forth.
Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
I am a little reserved when it comes to business strategies and prefer techniques that are tested and proven. The marketing techniques that have worked for me include networking, building a customer database, partnering with charities and taking advantage of the referral program.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
As a professional wedding and travel photographer, I spend a lot of time booking new clients and implementing sound strategies to grow the business. Over the course of my career, I have received numerous industry accolades and community mentions. Being an alumnus of the University of Miami, I have also received several invites from various faculties.
What wisdom you would have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
Riding on a host of achievements today, I would encourage anyone interested in photography to find a great mentor. When I was starting out, I took the trouble to sharpen my people skills because photography is a people business. The whole process entails improving interpersonal communication, enhancing the referral program and guaranteeing excellent client experience.