Today’s episode is with our very own social media manager and photographer, Courtney Clark. She is an amazing photographer who mostly does weddings and branding photography, but for some reason, she runs my social media and she absolutely crushes it every single time. I’m so excited to have this conversation with her. We always end up yapping for most of our content creation time, and we’re somehow cousins. So, welcome to Utah! But without any further ado, let’s get into the episode.

Well, welcome to the show. I’m so excited to have you. We always end up having great conversations, so I’m glad that we’re finally getting it recorded.

Thanks for having me. I’m so excited to be here, Courtney said.

Yeah, introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about your business, yourself, all the things.

Yeah, so I’m Courtney, and I’ve been doing wedding photography for about six years now, about five years full-time. It’s really stemmed into a lot of different things. I started doing social media pretty consistently for a whole bunch of wedding vendor-specific clients. If you want to know personal stuff, I travel a lot and am rarely home. I love traveling, love photography, and am really big into hiking and anything outdoors, and just spending time with family.

And you’ve started doing some content creation too, right? For Airbnbs and hotels? Tell us about that.

It’s super random, Courtney explained. Because I travel so often and I pay so much for hotels, I figured there’s a way to monetize this, enjoy it, and get to know new people. So, we’ve started doing photo and video content for Airbnbs, and they’ve been loving it. It’s been great.

Yeah, your content always looks so good. Thank you, it always is amazing. So, we were talking the other day about how we’re both in industries where it could easily feel like the market is oversaturated. How do you deal with that? Especially since you’ve been in photography for a while and are pretty established. But with content creation and traveling, that’s something where, as an outsider, I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s no way I could get my foot in the door.’ It seems established, it’s done, no one’s going to be looking for someone new. So I guess, where does that confidence come from? How do you manage that? Hopefully, that makes sense.

Yeah, I’ll take that in a couple of different areas, Courtney began. I’ll start with one of my things for 2024. I don’t really set New Year’s resolutions, but I set mantras or goals. Mine for 2024 was to just say yes—say yes to every opportunity that I can. Then, 2025 is to just ask. The power of asking has been huge for me and opened so many doors. With Airbnbs specifically, I just started messaging people on Instagram, saying, ‘Hey, I would love to document your Airbnb.’ Of course, I got a bunch of no’s, but it’s the four yeses that start getting the ball rolling. Everything does compound, and word of mouth is everything.

As for the oversaturation point, that’s something I hear all the time, specifically as a photographer mainly based in Utah where it feels like everyone and their mom is a photographer. I think it comes down to just deciding that it’s not oversaturated. It’s really not. If you think about the number of couples that get married every year in Utah, it’s actually absurd. Everyone has someone they’re looking for. So, I think focusing more on what you can hone and do better at, and what your niche is, rather than trying to compete, is where it’s at. I don’t think oversaturation is really a thing because there are so many people in the world. But what’s your opinion on that?

Yeah, I agree. I think that people connect with you on a personal level, and I don’t think they’re necessarily shopping around as much as it feels like, the host replied. One thing that I do find interesting as a business owner in today’s age is that you’re compared against millions of people through social media. It’s not like my dad’s generation. He’s an entrepreneur who owns a concrete company, which is location-specific and a little different from what you and I do. He started when he was 18 or 19, and one thing just led to another; he didn’t just wake up one day and decide to run the business, it just evolved. I think about what his competition would have been like—it would have been people that he probably knew in our small town. I don’t think that takes away from his success by any means, but it’s just interesting, the mental load that it is to be up against so many people instead of just your hometown.

Definitely, and even just the amount of people that we know now is wild, Courtney added.

It is crazy, the host agreed. I’m just like, this is so different than even 30 or 40 years ago when people didn’t move as much. I use the word dystopian to describe it because sometimes I’ll run into someone in person, whether it’s a photographer or just someone I know through social media, and it’s so weird. You know way more people than you should.

We have a mutual friend we met through social media, Courtney mentioned. You’re like, ‘Oh yeah, so and so,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I think only through Instagram.’ It’s so weird, but we’re friends.

I know! the host exclaimed. And she has such a large following, but I know her from church, so my perception of her is so different than what someone’s perception would be if they only knew her from Instagram. And with how many people we know and follow, that’s something that’s super easy to get into comparison about.

This is kind of a sidebar, Courtney continued, but it’s crazy how I remember, at the beginning of my career, starting at the exact same place as some other photographers I knew. We had the same number of followers and everything. Then, some of them will have reels that just take off and get millions of views, and suddenly they’re sitting at 12k followers. That automatically makes them seem ‘better’ in the eyes of a crowd. It’s weird how numbers give people visibility and credibility, sometimes without them even backing it up. They may not be the best at what they do, but because of that number… isn’t that weird?

I think about that a lot, actually, the host admitted. When I see another photographer or web designer, exactly what you’re saying. If they have 12k followers versus 400, I automatically think the 12k person is better. It’s so strange. If I let it, I would let that eat at my confidence before a new client call, but it’s just so not accurate. Just this morning, I had someone from Instagram decide to book with me, and I’m like, ‘Huh, so weird.’ What makes someone book with you from Instagram? But the reality is, it is still about personal relationships. This circles back to what we were originally saying: people aren’t actually shopping around as much as it seems. You’re not actually being compared against everyone in the world because, like you’ve said before, you’re the secret sauce in your business. It is still a personal connection.

Absolutely, Courtney agreed. Especially with photography, you have to be comfortable with the person. It shows in the photos. On that point, that’s something I tell all of my friends, especially when I’ve done mentorships and now working with social media clients: being the face of your business is so important. At the end of the day, a potential client may be looking at only two or three different vendors. Someone can know every single technique you have, they can have your editing style, etc., but you are the only difference. The more you show up authentically and just be you, the more you sell yourself to your clients.

It’s interesting how, over the years, all of my clients now kind of fit in this box. They’re all unique in their own way, but they have similarities in interests, like national parks and being outdoorsy. You attract people by sharing your own personality, and they resonate with you rather than just a style. They like you personally, and I think that’s the key to beating that mindset of, ‘Okay, I don’t have as many followers.’ It’s about having the confidence behind what you do, standing your ground in what you know and love. So, definitely, showing up as you is super important in creating a brand identity.

Do you find it easy to have your social media be an extension of your personality and share your story? Or are there parts you keep off-limits? How do you infuse your story and yourself into your social media? the host asked.

That’s a great question, and it’s something I’ve learned over time, Courtney responded. I grew up in the public eye in the sense that I had Instagram pretty young, and my personal account was pretty big at one point. I would overshare a lot, which is kind of a deep-rooted issue from my childhood. It helped me build a following and be very relatable, but this last year, I really learned to dial that back. I had made my account private for a while, but now I’m back in the phase of sharing more again and just understanding what should and shouldn’t be shared. I do think when I share more about myself, I get more inquiries, which is really weird. I think people just relate to you and want to see the real you, not a curated highlight reel. Navigating that can be tricky, but at the end of the day, I love it when I’m at a session and clients are like, ‘Oh my gosh, tell me about this,’ or ‘I saw you did that.’ It’s fun that they can relate to you and feel like they know you better than they do.

It continues the conversation, the host added. Especially with the price point and the investment someone’s making with you, and the same with myself, I think them feeling like they’re still talking to you gives them peace of mind in their purchasing decision.

Absolutely, Courtney said. That’s something interesting I have learned from my photographer friends about my business: I stay friends with my clients for years. I talk to them very consistently through Instagram; they’ll respond to my stories, or they’re having their second or third kid. Most of my core people in my life have come from photography, which is weird too. But you just get to know each other on such an intimate level. You were there for one of the most important days of their life, so they’re going to remember you. That’s been such a rewarding part of it, showing up for them in that way and capturing such a major moment. They need to trust you and feel like you’re going to do it in the right way.

I think, too, with photography, it’s trending more towards a documentary style, the host observed. You do a really good job of capturing the couple and their love story, versus just posed portraits. So for your photography style, it makes so much sense that your Instagram would be real and not posed.

Thank you, that’s very kind, Courtney said. I think that’s one thing I always say on my client calls, verbatim: ‘This is one of the most important days of your life. I’m not going to be a stranger that just shows up. I want to know you guys.’ That is reflected in my work—that I actually know things about them, like their birthdays and their dog’s names. I just care. I think that’s what it comes down to. If you want to do well in your business, just care. That’s something that can’t be replaced or replicated. That’s something only you can do.

There’s a million photographers, there’s a million designers, but there’s still space for all of us, which I think is cool, the host reflected. To small business owners out there: don’t let that bug you. Be delusional, post whatever you want to post, show up for yourself, and invest in yourself because you’ll never regret it. I started about six years ago, working a horrible job, just paycheck to paycheck, always feeling like I couldn’t get an upper hand on life. But the second you decide to not be embarrassed and not be your biggest critic, as you and I can both attest, now we get to work from home in cute little coffee shops and live the little girl-boss dream.

I know you know more than anyone that I’m very critical of pretty much everything, and myself is not an exception, the host continued. For me to post a reel, it takes like three hours. I posted a reel the other day that was one clip with text over it, and I swear it took me two hours to write the caption, re-watch it a million times, and get approval from people. And you know what? I posted it, and nothing happened. The world did not burn down, which is crazy. So I’m so grateful to have you posting my reels because you help me stay consistent without me having to tear myself apart. I feel like that is genuinely the best investment I can make in my business because it helps me personally and professionally.

I think that people are scared to show their face or post on social media because they are scared of what people they actually know will say or think, the host added. I have a friend who is in the music industry, and he’s trying to make it and build up his presence. He said something to me the other day like, ‘Oh, you know, I need to post dumb reels,’ and I’m like, ‘I will never be the one to make fun of you for that. Just do it. We’re all trying to make it.’ I’ve never seen someone post a reel and then thought, ‘Wow, that’s embarrassing.’ Have you had that experience? Has anyone ever said anything negative to you?

Unfortunately, yes, Courtney admitted. It happened a long time ago, in high school. One of my videos was supposed to be sent to a group chat, and this girl had accidentally sent it to me with a message like, ‘How embarrassing’ or something crazy like that. I took the high road and was like, ‘Hey, I don’t think this was meant for me,’ and said something nice back. She was profusely apologizing, but you know, you might be embarrassing, you might be cringey, but it’s okay. I’m sitting here doing what I love. I might have been cringey or embarrassing at the beginning, I may not have been the best photographer at times, but there’s nothing wrong with showing up and just trying. They’ll laugh until they see you making millions, and then they’re like, ‘Oh, how’d she do it?’ So it’s pretty full circle.

High school is tough, the host commiserated. I definitely faced that in high school as well. People can be mean, and being in a smaller, tight-knit community, you get judged. But again, oh well. Let people think what they want to think. It’s usually people that are on the outside; it’s not usually people that genuinely know you or genuinely care. In my experience, my actual close friends and family are applauding me. But I definitely had that happen in high school where a couple of girls just tore me apart in the comments of my own post.

I had that, too. I’m like, what is happening? Courtney shared. I think I ended up deleting it. But there’s something to be said about people who do that. This is something my mom would always say: they’re insecure. And I think it does come down to that. We’re willing to be courageous and put ourselves out there and try something new. Honestly, some of that might be envy, some of that might be insecurity. But at the end of the day, at least we’re doing what we love. And you know, they can work their nine-to-five forever. It’s okay.

I was scrolling through my camera roll the other day and found this picture from when I had a blog in middle school, the host recalled. I’m like, man, I wish that I hadn’t let people tear me down. I was actually doing something pretty similar to what I’m doing now at such a young age. I was selling pencil pouches and making DIY popsicle recipes and coasters. I made these clay coasters, and they’re in my sister’s baby’s nursery now.

How have you held on to those all these years? That’s so cute! Courtney exclaimed.

I’m just glad to be out of that season where people’s opinions matter so much that it hinders your creativity, the host continued. But it’s also cool to look back and think, ‘Oh, I’m actually doing what that version of me wanted to do.’

Absolutely. Did you use Blogspot or Weebly? Courtney asked.

I think it was on Weebly.

Mine was on Blogspot, the original bloggers! Courtney laughed. No, I think that’s so true. And kind of like you were saying, with delegating your social media to me, I think that’s helpful because then you’re able to show up authentically and do what you love without creatively draining yourself by trying to fit into this social box. I hear the same from a lot of my clients. It’s so nice to get inquiries and do things, and I just have to be in front of the camera for an hour once a month for content creation. It’s just nice to do what you love and not drain yourself.

The woman on the call I was on this morning was saying something very similar, the host shared. I was telling her that it’s important to me that people can make small changes to their website after we hit publish. I take a lot of pride in educating my clients and giving them that confidence. But a lot of times, they’re like, ‘I don’t want anything to do with it.’ Her response was, ‘That’s great, but honestly, I don’t care. I don’t want to touch it. I’ve been trying to launch for four years, and I’m realizing that I just need to delegate this. I want so badly to do it all and have my hand in every single part of my business, but the reality is, I need to just pay someone.’

Honestly, that’s a quality that a lot of small business owners need to implement: just the release of letting something go, Courtney said. At the end of the day, you look at these big, successful corporations, and they have accountants, managers, social media people, and all these things. You don’t have to be everything. You can definitely outsource whatever you want, and I think there’s power in that as well.

Are there any parts of your business that you’ve outsourced? the host asked.

I think my biggest and most impactful one is a CPA for taxes. That is so nice, just to have that buffer of protection, too. Like, okay, I’m doing everything right, and if I were to get audited, they can help me. I think that’s my biggest one. Mainly tax stuff is what I outsource.

I think it’s scary when you’re dependent on yourself for how much you put in and how much you get out, to outsource something or trust someone else, the host reflected. But if you’re willing to take those risks, it can get you bringing in larger numbers faster, in my opinion.

One thing I’ll add to that, which I think is also super important in this conversation, is mental health and mental health hygiene, as a lot of therapists call it, Courtney said. I really struggled as a business owner before I figured out stuff on my end and became mentally healthy and stable. You really can’t do it all. The second you start taking care of yourself is the second you start taking care of your clients. Taking care of yourself physically and mentally helps you show up better. So I think that’s an important addition. If you’re feeling so overwhelmed and stressed, don’t be scared to reach out to a lifeline because that’s so needed. It’s hard.

No, that’s a really good point, the host agreed. It’s kind of like the maternal relationship. This is going to be a strange analogy, but when a mother works on herself, it benefits her children. In a way, we all view our businesses as our little babies. Your business is going to do better when you’re working on yourself. You’re the mom of your business. This little baby is going to have a much better life because you handled X, Y, and Z before they grew up.

Absolutely. And that’s one thing, too: energetics and money are huge. If you show up in this anxious state… sorry, we’re just taking so many sidebars.

This is good!

Okay, cool. But yeah, energy in your business is huge. If you’re showing up to a new client call and you’re kind of anxious and you’re like, ‘Yeah, like, you know, if you want to book…’ your clients can feel that. So I think showing up authentically as you and giving them the permission slip to buy, just being sure of yourself and your offerings, that comes off very well too.

I think having confidence in your business would be impossible without confidence in yourself first, especially as a service provider where it is so dependent on you and relational, the host said. I think you have to figure yourself out first in order for that to work well.

We’ve seen that since we’ve started working on social media together on your side, Courtney noted. How people are quicker to book when you’re showing up and your face is there more. It’s cool to see that direct correlation already and how that really does pay off.

You’ve taught me a lot about being consistent versus being perfect, the host said. I like things to be very curated and perfect, and not that you ever make things sloppy, but you do a really good job of saying, ‘Hey, no, you’ve got to just get this done.’ Just the other day when we were filming content, I was like, ‘Oh, but what about if we worded it like this instead of this?’ And you were just like, ‘Girl, we’re just gonna keep it simple.’ That’s something I struggle with, but it’s so refreshing to be able to bounce ideas off of you. I’m just so glad that we have each other.

Me too, because it really is fate that put us together. It’s kind of been crazy, Courtney said.

It is so wild because we literally met through Facebook. But honestly, you owe a lot to Meta because that’s also how you met Kessler, the host laughed.

Okay, now we have a whole other conversation, Courtney joked. Meta can’t go down because my life depends on it. No, but on a real note, it does. But that’s why we have websites and website design.

I cannot promise you that I will have you meet your future husband, but I can build you a website! the host quipped. So, Abby and I are cousins, basically.

Basically, Courtney agreed. Yeah, Abby and I did meet through a Facebook group. I love Facebook groups.

Same! Oh, such an untapped market for photography. I get so many clients from Facebook, the host said.

It’s so crazy, Courtney added. But yeah, we met through Facebook and then found out that our partners are related, so we’re kind of cousins now. We hopped on a call and I went, ‘I’m pretty sure your wedding invitation is on my boyfriend’s dad’s fridge.’

And I’m like, ‘What?’ It was pretty quick that you brought it up, too, the host remembered.

Yeah. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I need to disclaim this, but I know who you are. I know where you’re getting married and when. I saw the invitation. I’m pretty sure I have a call with her on Monday.’ And then, sure enough.

And you knew who we were even when people that we invited didn’t, the host laughed. There were invites we sent out where people were like, ‘I don’t know who this is.’ But I think… cut that part out.

I like it! It’s real, Courtney insisted. So, yeah, Facebook is kind of an untapped resource, our lifeline. Are there any other random, niche things like that for finding clients that you’ve found?

I think my… so on my inquiry form, I have how people found me, and the top is usually Facebook, Courtney shared. I always recommend small business owners to join local groups. I have different Instagram accounts, like one that’s literally ‘Moab Wedding Photographer’ or the handle is ‘Zion Wedding Photographer,’ and that brings in people. And obviously, optimizing your website with keywords is huge.

I recently heard SEO described as ‘Search Everywhere Optimization’ instead of ‘Search Engine Optimization,’ the host said. I think instead of it being so overwhelming, like ‘Oh, I need to be on every platform,’ it’s about thinking where your clients are searching for you. A bride, where is she going to be searching for a wedding photographer? And how can you utilize the platforms she would be on? That’s why I spend a lot of time on Pinterest. I think people go to Pinterest for web design inspiration. My thinking is, because Pinterest is so aspirational, you don’t actually think you’re going to find what you’re looking for. It’s more to get a mood. So my thinking with Pinterest is that someone’s going to go on there, think this is just an idea they could never actually have, and then when they realize they can, it’s an amazing moment. So I like to showcase my work on Pinterest and hope people get that feeling.

And you do a really good job at making accounts searchable, Courtney added. I’ve had three or four clients now say that they found me through Instagram because they searched for ‘web designer’ and my account pops up, even though I only have a couple hundred followers. Being searchable is the key.

On that, Pinterest is such an untapped resource as well, Courtney continued. I get a crazy amount of views from Pinterest. They have a feature where you can connect your Instagram, so I don’t do anything, it just connects it. It’s crazy what random pins will pop off. At the end of the day, visibility is always king. Maybe don’t chase virality, but one thing I’ve learned from you is building what you call a validation tool.

Yeah, that’s what my websites are for a lot of clients, a validation tool, the host clarified. It helps them look reputable. It’s more of a relationship builder than pulling in a bunch of new leads. With my Instagram content specifically, I don’t necessarily want to close a lead, I just want to continue the conversation.

So, just for reference, Courtney said, I’m looking at my inquiries, and the last seven of them have come from Facebook, all for Colorado weddings because I’m in a Colorado brides Facebook group. So again, join some Facebook groups. You’re going to get clients so easily, and it’s free. Instead of scrolling, why don’t you just throw this in a Facebook group?

Or paying for ads that you don’t see results from, the host added. I think people are kind of over paid ads too. I scroll past any ad. I get so irritated with them. I can’t see myself converting from a paid ad.

I take a different approach where I would rather they feel like it’s their decision and not me selling something, the host explained. It’s about showing the value, showing who I am, showing they can trust me. To me, that is more valuable than just being like, ‘Now’s the time to buy because the price is about to go up.’ I don’t want people to feel rushed with a scarcity mindset.

So, how did you get into photography? Is this the life that you pictured for yourself? the host asked.

The long story is, I was working a normal job while in college, Courtney began. I had class from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and then I worked from 3 to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Super busy. One day, I had an extra $700 in my paycheck and I was like, ‘I’m finally going to buy a camera.’ I went and bought a Canon T6, one of the most basic models ever, and just started shooting friends for fun. I got that in August or September, and then I got my first paid client for $50 in November and felt so excited. The next year, I did a wedding in March, and it just really started spiraling from there.

I feel like this is very cliche, but I was exposed to it very young. The first camera I ever had was a $25 pink point-and-shoot from Toys ‘R’ Us that a friend gave me for my 10th birthday. It also helped that I had an uncle, a cousin, and my sister who had all done photography at one point. So I knew it was a possibility, but I didn’t think it would spiral to where it is now. This is always what I’ve wanted to do, and it’s what aligns with me most. I wouldn’t change anything.

So, what was your major in college?

Originally, I was in the pre-physical therapy program. I took a course in high school and loved it. I don’t remember what made me pivot, but at some point, I decided to major in Spanish because that was something I grew up with. I got my associate of arts, and around that time was when COVID hit, which upended all my plans. I told someone at the time that I wished I could make photography a full-time career, and an ex-partner told me, ‘That will never be a thing. You could never do that.’ Well, the spiteful feminine rage inside of me was like, ‘You know what? Whatever.’ That was the motivator. I made it happen. I was like, ‘Yeah, right, I could do anything I set my mind to,’ and that delusion just became a reality. So, I stopped school with my associate’s degree and just started doing photography. Why would I invest $10k in a degree when I could just invest that in my business?

Well, I’m glad that you did not listen to that, the host said. So what are your future plans? Do you have any new projects coming up?

That’s a great question. I don’t really think too far ahead because all of my previous goals, I’ve met. So now I’m kind of pivoting and figuring out what I want to do next. This year, I feel like probably 80% of my weddings are in Colorado, which will be a fun change of scenery. Goal-wise, I’m just really trying to travel and open myself to new opportunities. For me, my biggest goal is financial freedom. At the end of the day, that’s why I do what I do. I want to be free and have time. You have to make money, or it’s just a really expensive hobby.

Is there a type of work that you like the most right now? Branding, weddings, or travel content?

A little bit of all of it, Courtney replied. It depends seasonally. Some seasons I really love social media. The Airbnbs have been really fun because it’s different and creatively challenging. But at the end of the day, I love weddings and couples. Right now is the season to hop on a bunch of client calls and onboard new people, and I think that human connection is my favorite thing. A lot of people get burnt out on weddings, but I don’t because I actually find joy in it. I’d do it every day if I could. Photography still reigns as the king of what I love the most.

And you just started adding in film, and Kessler’s adding in video, right? How is that, working together with your partner?

It really depends. Kes is really good about setting that boundary of, ‘Okay, we’re not doing work stuff right now.’ We like to edit together and find time to do things together. It helps that he already has a photo and video background and is very knowledgeable and talented, so it’s been expansive to learn from his eye and the way he does things. It’s been really fun. He always travels with me anyway, so we’re like, ‘Hey, why don’t you just join, and then we can both get paid?’ It’s beneficial for both of us.

That’s super cool, the host commented. Clients are way more likely to book because it seems convenient for them. We actually went to dinner with some clients we have this coming year, and Kes and the groom hit it off. They’re like cute little besties, and we’re going to a concert with them later in the year. It’s fun to have that relationship, too. It’s a good balance to have male and female energy to be able to show up for your clients and make them more comfortable.

That’s a really good point, the host agreed. With weddings specifically, it all gets put on the bride. Having Kessler connect with the groom can make him feel special, too.

Yeah, so it’s been really fun. It’s nice because he’s built to travel just like I am, and so we’re always gone together, which I love, Courtney said.

Well, I’m so glad that we could have this conversation. Thank you for taking the time, the host said.

Yeah, thanks for having me. I’ll link all your socials and your website in the show notes so people can connect with you. What are you booking currently?

I’m booking into 2026 right now, up until about November of 2026, Courtney shared. My books are open, but I always have last-minute availability as well. And I travel everywhere—Utah, Colorado, Arizona, California, Texas, Washington, Oregon. It’s kind of insane now, they’re all over.

It’s so cool. So if you want me there, I’ll be there. Thank you for having me.

Yeah, of course. Not ready to say goodbye? Me neither. Follow along on Instagram at @flourish.foundry to stay connected day-to-day, or join my email list for freebies, new episode updates, fun links, and more.