Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Benson.
Hi Denise, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My career in photography began in 2009 when I took an intro to photography course at a local tech college just to learn a new hobby. I was working at the insurance agency that I co-own with my father full time and needed a fun, creative outlet. I began to take photos of friends and would post them to my Facebook account and suddenly I began to receive inquiries about my services. I was blown away because I never saw this as a side hustle. I only wanted a creative outlet, but two years later in April 2011 I officially turned my hobby into a side hustle. Over the years I captured everything from sporting events to families to birthday parties. And now I have niched down to focus primarily on personal branding photography. In January 2022, I stepped down from my insurance agency’s daily operations to pursue photography full time and I’m so excited to see where it leads!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Because I never saw myself going full time with photography the road has been fairly smooth. My only goal was to make a little extra money on the side to pay debts off early or to take nice vacations. As business picked up, I did have to navigate operating what was essentially two full-time jobs and how to manage my work/life balance which wasn’t always easy. But over time I found a schedule that worked for me, set clear boundaries, and am now able to fully enjoy working on my craft full time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a personal branding photographer based in the Charlotte Metro Area. I love working with fellow entrepreneurs and creatives to help them bring their brand to life through their visuals. My branding sessions allow my clients to show their audience who they are, what they do and helps them to connect with their ideal clients. Being an entrepreneur, my entire adult life has made me truly appreciate others that step out on faith to follow their own dreams. I’m passionate about working with fellow business owners and love being able to play a small role in their success.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a child, I always leaned into my creative side. From an early age, I loved fashion, drawing, writing, etc. I carried those things with me into adulthood as I went away to college to pursue a degree in Fashion Merchandising. This led me to intern with Essence Magazine in their fashion and beauty department which allowed me to attend major photoshoots with high fashion models and celebrities. I truly believe this is where my love of photography stemmed from.
Contact Info:
- Email: denisebensonphotos@gmail.com
- Website: denisebensonphotography.com
- Instagram: @denisebensonphotography
- Facebook: Denise Benson Photography
- Twitter: DBensonPhotos
Image Credits
Headshot: K Marie Photography
