February’s Fabulous Females :: Scarlett Lillian

Meet Scarlett Lillian. She is today’s fabulous female. Scarlett is the fabulous female half of Scarlett and Stephen :: Wedding Photographers In Love – based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Last summer I came across Scarlett and Stephen’s blog and I have been hooked ever since. They are a husband and wife wedding photography team who have received numerous awards and recognitions for their work including being voted as a Best of 2010 Wedding Photographer by the Knot Florida, voted #1 Wedding Photographer 2009 by Jacksonville Bride Magazine and they can even be seen on TLC’s Wedding Day Makeover. They photograph weddings and families throughout the United States and internationally.

Chatting with Scarlett for this interview makes me wish she lived in Denver and that we could hang out on a regular basis! She is such a great woman and inspiration to so many other women. As photographers, we get so caught up in the busyness of running a business and it is easy to forget that we need to slow down. For me personally, slowing down and creating space in my life to stay connected with God is hugely important. Scarlett has spent the past 3 years crafting a devotional guide – PROSPER – that has been shaped by her own experiences and journey with God. Even better, it is written for photographers! I am more than excited to spend 40 days refocusing and using her devotional as part of my daily routine. You can read more about this exciting new adventure in Scarlett’s life below in the interview.

Check out Scarlett and Stephen’s great new promo video!

Scarlett & Stephen from Scarlett & Stephen on Vimeo.

1. I love your tagline – Wedding Photographers In Love. What is it like having your husband as your business partner? Who does what?

It’s been such a blessing. Before we got married, I had my own photography business in Florida, and he had his own photography business in California. We both carried the burden of doing everything ourselves when we were on our own. Now it’s nice to pull in both our strengths in different areas to delegate different roles in the business. He now handles all the post production and technical computer related things, and I handle all the customer service in building relationships with our clients. Plus it’s just fun to have your loved one there with you too on the wedding day as we shoot side by side. The girl in me is always shooting for those sappy emotional shots, and he brings a more artsy composed style creating cool off-camera lighting and stuff.

2. As a successful business woman, what is one piece of advice that you would give to photographers who are just starting on this business venture?

The best piece of advice my mom gave me in college when I was switching my major to something I didn’t think I could make a lot of money at, she said “Follow your heart and your passion, and you’ll figure out a way to make money at it.” I think though, a lot of times, we as artists feel guilty for charging what our art is worth because we love it so much. But whether you are selling a service or a tangible product, it has value. So I would probably advise to not undercut yourself. Charge what your talent and time involved are worth. And charge for your disc of images, don’t just give it away! It’s your art, and art has a value. Painters don’t just charge for the price of their canvas, they charge for the art on their canvas. Lastly, you have to remember, it’s going to be 80% running a business, 20% photography/fun creative stuff. Make sure to educate yourself on how to run a business and turn a true profit, otherwise, it’s just a really expensive hobby. We actually will be covering this a lot in our upcoming workshops this year, about how to maximize your profits even better!

3. As a newly married woman, what is one piece of advice that you would give to women who are engaged and about to take the next of walking down the aisle?

The best thing someone said to me in the beginning of my wedding planning process was, “The week before my wedding, despite all my planning, everything that could go wrong, went wrong, but you just have to remember, the bottomline is, you are marrying your best friend and that’s all that matters.”

4. How has following Jesus impacted the way you approach your business and/or marriage?

From the very beginning of my business, I have looked at photography as a creative gift the Lord has given me. From day 1, I gave my business to Him and told Him to do with it what He wanted, and I truly believe this is the reason I have had prosperity. A lot of times, people can have faith, but leave God out of their business trying to make their success happen on their own, and I learned quickly early on that the best business plan is to make God your CEO. God is the best agent we can have, He only requires 10%. He wants to exceed all your expectations! And for our marriage, Jesus is the foundation of everything we stand on. During our ceremony we braided a three strand cord together to symbolize my husband, myself and Jesus being brought together based on the Ecclesiastes 4:12 verse: “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

5. Tell us about PROSPER, your devotional guide for photographers.

I’m so excited for you to be one of the first to know about a special project dear to my hear that I have been working on the past 3 years. It’s called “Prosper: A 40-Day Prayer Journey to Seek God’s Will For Your Photography Business.” Through it, I challenge photographers to commit 40 days of seeking God first before they check email, Facebook, edit, or do anything business related. All they have to do as the first thing when they sit down at their desk is to read one short chapter a day, which is a devotional I’ve written, along with prayers I’ve written over time for my own business. Through giving the first part of their day to the Lord for 40 days, it’s about the journey they will be taken on to watch the Lord bless their own road of prosperity and success that He promises for His chosen ones in Joshua 1:8.

6. When will photographers be able to get their hands on this fantastic devotional?

I’m putting the finishing touches on it right now, and it will be available early March. Stay tuned to www.scarlettlovesstephen.com for the big announcement! And if you sign up for our newsletter on the site, you’ll be the first to be informed of the special pre-release for newsletter subscribers only!

7. Who are your role models? – either in the photography industry or in general.

Honestly, I love people like Tim Tebow who doesn’t care about how the world views him, instead he chooses to boldly live out his love for Jesus. I love creative people who think outside the box like Promise Tangeman who boldly rocks her sky high big hair, or Taylor Swift who says it’s ok to be a classy good girl. People who don’t blend in, and they embrace exactly who they are and from it, give other people permission to do the same. Photography wise, I’m going to say my husband, Stephen, is my role model. Sometimes I get so caught up in the business side of it, but he’s the one who actually went to school for photography, and keeps me reminded about the true love for the art side of it.

8. So many photographers struggle with finding balance between running a business and having a life outside of that. How do you find balance in your own life between being a new wife and running a thriving business?

It’s definitely been a transition because when I was single, it really was my life and I worked crazy late night hours. But with being married, we’ve had to discipline ourselves to not let work overtake our husband and wife quality time. So we have tried to set somewhat normal business hours, and when we shut the office door behind us for the night, we don’t go back in until the next business day. And one huge thing I did as a resolution for the new year was, I took business email off my iPhone. I finally realized what an idol it had become in my life, and a huge distraction during the quality time I would spend not only with my husband, but friends and other family too. When I had a corporate job, I never stressed about email outside my business hours, and I realized, it’s ok to give myself permission to do the same now as a business owner.

9. What is one fun fact that a lot of people might not know about you?

Back in my single girl days, I got called by ABC in Hollywood to be considered as their next “Bachelorette” for the whole angle of “wedding photographer looking for her own true love.” But after a few rounds of applications and video submissions, it went to Jillian Harris instead. As fun as it was to be called, and as addicted to that show as I am, I’m actually glad nothing came of it because I know it wouldn’t have been God’s best dating like 25 guys at once, ha! Plus, the week after they called, I ended up meeting Stephen, so it was all meant to be!

10. If you could shoot a wedding in a dream location anywhere in the world, where would that be?

Well, in May, we are heading to Australia to shoot a fabulous wedding there, so that’s a dream come true in itself. But I think deep down, I’m still waiting on a wedding in Paris. Be still my heart! J’adore Paris!

WEBSITE :: www.scarlettandsstephen.com
FACEBOOK :: www.facebook.com/scarlettandstephen
TWITTER :: twitter.com/scarlettlillian & twitter.com/stephenknuth

There are so many other great women lined up for the “February’s Fabulous Females” series. To to stay up to date on the latest scoop, as well as be entered into the monthly gift card giveaway, be sure to connect on the Laura Gravelle Photography Facebook page.