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Contagious Victories is a community for individuals to share positive perspectives, artistic endeavors and miraculous moments with others. Whether it is through storytelling, art, music or word, the members of Contagious Victories create space for vulnerability and act as an audience for support in creative works. We all have something to courageously celebrate- and even small victories are contagious!
Welcome to the Contagious Victory's podcast. Each week, we talk inspiration, explore possibilities, and share insights from creative creative perspectives. I'm Tori Blackmon, and I'm here to remind you that your purpose in life is to celebrate the victories because victories are contagious. Hi there, and welcome back to the Contagious Victories podcast. My name is Victoria B. Glass, and I am so incredibly grateful to have you tuning in and listening to the show today.
Victoria B. Glass:Now I am going to get into a really wonderful conversation that I had with a friend by the name of Adrianna Webb. She's known by her friends as Aj. But before I do, I just want to take a minute to truly say thank you. Yeah. Thank you, You, who is listening to this podcast right now, whether you are tuning in in the car, on the way to somewhere important, like a meeting, or to the coffee shop, or you who is out working out at the gym, or walking their sweet pet around the neighborhood.
Victoria B. Glass:However, you have invited me into the moment. I really appreciate you giving me your ear. The thing is I've been feeling super grateful lately because I have been connecting with more people through the show. New guests, new listeners, and it still just amazes me when someone shares the show or tags me in a post on their Instagram. It inspires me, and it makes me want to continue to show up and to add value to your life in bigger ways and to be a better person myself by bringing you these episodes of Contagious Victories. These stories by real people that I've been inspired by and that I hope inspire you to be better too.
Victoria B. Glass:So thank you, truly. Alright. Like I mentioned before, I am talking with my friend Aj today. Like many of you who are listening, Aj is the founder of a creative business. She made her childhood dream of becoming a photographer true with her business, Adriana Joy Photography.
Victoria B. Glass:Aj is here to tell us all about what it's like to capture weddings and adventurous elopements. I don't wanna keep you waiting on this convo, so let's hear my conversation with Aj Webb.
Victoria B. Glass:I have another remarkable guest with me on the show today. I am speaking with Aj Webb, who is the founder of Adriana Joy Photography, and she serves the Midwest and anywhere with her adventurous elopement photography and couples photography. So I'm so excited to dive in to her victory story today. Aj, welcome to the show.
Aj Webb:Thank you for having me. I am so excited to be here.
Victoria B. Glass:So Aj, our story and friendship began a couple years back when we ran into each other, not just at a conference, but at Target out of all the places. And the reason you stood out, not just your business, but you stood out is because you were so incredibly kind, and you spoke up to me and my husband when we were shopping in Target, which we had no idea what we were there for or, like, what we were doing, but and you just said, hey. I know you. You're you're Tori. Right?
Victoria B. Glass:And I was like, yes. Hi. So just that courage that you showed just to reach out to a complete stranger in a city across from where you live, so because you were in a city in a Target that you probably didn't frequent very often. So, I knew right away that I would be keeping tabs with you, and hopefully, that was the beginning of a friendship and look at us.
Aj Webb:Mhmm.
Victoria B. Glass:Years later and here we are. Sure. Well, tell me more about yourself. What is the number one thing that you enjoy about being a photographer and a creative?
Aj Webb:Oh my goodness. I love basically everything about it. I love, being able to set my own schedule and have flexibility, and I love just being able to meet new people, even though sometimes, like, as an introvert, that can be kind of scary. I think it's super fun to just get to meet new people and get to, like, showcase who they are, as an individual and as a couple because everyone's so unique. So I just love getting to do that.
Aj Webb:And, obviously, also, because I do travel sometimes for my work, I love getting to do that, getting to go to new cities and new states and all of those things. It's really fun getting to, like, see different cultures and try new food and all that stuff too.
Victoria B. Glass:Oh, yeah. Well, on your website, when I was reading through it last night, I noticed in your bio that you said you've known for a really long time what you wanted to do with your life. Can you elaborate a little bit about that and just tell me what all you had to overcome to get to the place that you are in right now? And for all of our listeners, I just wanna elaborate a little bit more. You've been doing this for 10 years almost.
Victoria B. Glass:Right? I mean, a lot of my creative friends, they don't have that victory story. So I want you to tell me a little bit about, just all of the challenges that you've had to go through, but it started at a young age. At 11, you knew you wanted to be a creative. So let's go as far back as that if you don't mind.
Aj Webb:Yeah. Absolutely. I love talking about it. Yeah. So long story short, I was in, a very close family friend's wedding, when I was, yeah, 11 or 12, and I was a junior bridesmaid.
Aj Webb:And wedding on went on like normal, and, at the reception, which was at a family friend's house, I was playing with someone's DSLR camera. And I was taking photos, you know, of, like, the tables and whatever. And I was just thinking around in, like, this little corner that we were in, and the person whose camera it was looked at them and said that I had a great eye. And then later in the night, he actually gave me, like, a little, like, pocket camera. And that was my first camera that I ever got.
Aj Webb:And I took it with me pretty much everywhere. I always had it with me, and I had, like over the years, I had a ton of those little pocket cameras. And I took photos on family trips, school events, really anything and everything. I definitely documented, a lot. And so it kind of started there just like an interest in documenting my life.
Aj Webb:And it wasn't something that it was like, you know, I hadn't started like a blog. Like, it wasn't anything crazy like that, but it was just for myself to just even have those memories, which is super fun to be able to look back on now. So yeah. And then probably in, like, the later half of my high school years, a friend of mine and I, we would go out and, like, take photos of each other quite often. We would sometimes just do kind of portraits.
Aj Webb:Sometimes we would do themed little shoots and things like that just for fun. And we just, like, took them of each other just kind of to practice. Once it was, you know, getting to the end of high school and you're kind of having to decide, like, what you're gonna do next, I knew that I wanted to stay in Dubuque where I'm from, and the reason for that was because my family was going through, an adoption process at the time, actually, for my youngest brother, Lincoln. So he, at the time when I was graduating, was not home yet. And so, I didn't really want to move away and have it be a situation where once he was home, he didn't know me or wasn't super familiar because I would only be home, you know, maybe on the weekend or maybe for holidays and things like that.
Aj Webb:And so I had decided to, stay close to home so that I could actually be a part of his life and actually feel like a sister and not feel, just like some random person in his life who is in and out. And so-
Victoria B. Glass:Now is this the brother that recently, I think, turned 16?
Victoria B. Glass:Just for the timeline.
Aj Webb:Yep, Yeah. So I decided to stay close to home, and I ended up just going to a local community college. Mainly, honestly, because I just at the time, I felt the pressures of going to college. I don't know that I really felt in my soul that it was, like, the right choice for me, especially because I knew that I wanted to do photography. And I really had no idea what that was gonna look like.
Aj Webb:I just knew that I like taking photos. I didn't really, like, think of the business part of it at all. And so I just went to this community college for 2 years for their business program. And I don't necessarily regret going, but I definitely don't think that it was, like, necessary to go, especially because the business program absolutely was just geared towards, like, corporate businesses, where they have, you know, like, 500 employees or something. And it really had, like, nothing to do with small businesses, and there wasn't really much that I could take away from those.
Aj Webb:Like, one of the examples that I always give is they taught you how to, like, you know, do the math of figuring out, like, how many staples you need for, like, the corporation of 500 people. And I'm like, yeah. I don't need to know that because, like, I'm one person. Like, I'm gonna be able to keep track of, like, those little expenses a lot easier for myself than if I was obviously, you know, having to keep, like, a locker full of, like, all of these supplies and things like that. So, anyway, after that, I was just, yeah, doing photography as more just like a side gig.
Aj Webb:Throughout college, I was working, part time at a local grocery store.
Victoria B. Glass:Okay.
Aj Webb:But I had officially, like, started my business, quote, unquote, very late, 2013, so the same year that I had graduated high school. And I just started doing sessions, you know, for, like, $50. They were awful. They were so bad, but I'm so thankful that people, you know, took a chance on me. I did back then, like, anything and everything.
Aj Webb:So I think my first couple of sessions were, like, family sessions and, like, a gender reveal and, like, things like that. Just, like, things that I don't typically do anymore.
Victoria B. Glass:Well, how fun was that though? Like, if you can think back to what you felt like in that first year, just, like, people giving you your money to do do your creative passion. Like Yeah. Can you elaborate a little bit about, like, how you were feeling that 1st year?
Aj Webb:Yeah. Yeah. I think every time that someone booked me, I think I was just so excited that someone was, like, willing to book me when I virtually had no no experience in that way. I mean, I had been taking photos, like I said, for years, but, like, obviously, documenting, like, your school's, like, basketball basketball game is very different than taking, like, family portraits that might be hung on someone's wall. So I think I just felt super lucky.
Aj Webb:And honestly, like, I still feel that way. Like, honestly, every time I get booked, like, I literally just, like, say praise God, and I'm just so thankful that I get booked because, like, I do I do I feel so lucky even over 10 years now later. So, yeah, I think it was just like a wild ride. I think I like I said, I just really had no idea what I was doing besides taking photos So I was really learning as I went. That's the way to go.
Victoria B. Glass:And that's wonderful. That's thethe best part.
Aj Webb:I think I'm a very hands on person in that way, so not that I couldn't have gone to school for photography specifically. But I think, learning as I have gone on, like, is something that I'm very proud of. I yeah. Like, I I just know, like, I'm the one who put in all of the work for what I did, and, like, I've been the one to, like, yeah, I don't know, learn and grow throughout, and it wasn't, like, handed to me.
Aj Webb:So, yeah, like, I'm very proud of that. But yeah. Anyway, so, like, things like that. My friend who had been, her and I had been, like, exchanging shoots, like, she helped me learn how to edit in Lightroom and, like, things like that that I just literally had no idea, like, how to do anything in there. And she kind of gave me a couple of pointers and that it was just a lot of trial and error from there.
Aj Webb:And then, continuing on, I got married myself in 2015. Did not have, the best experience photography wise for my wedding. Long story short, the photographer we had booked ended up backing out 2 weeks before. We had to find someone last minute. That person ended up being way better than the original person was going to be, but it was still, like, a hot mess.
Aj Webb:And so I've taken my mistakes that I made at my own wedding when I was very young, and I've applied that to, helping my own couples to, like, not make the same mistake and just kind of showing them the value of having solid vendors who know what they're doing, and things like that. And so, yeah. Anyway and then in, late 2017, I, officially became an LLC with the state of Iowa, which was very exciting. It felt like a really, really big step to become, like, a legal business. But I had been, you know, dabbling in it for a couple of years at that point, so I felt like it was kind of, time to do that.
Aj Webb:I highly recommend, you know, if you're a newer photographer starting out listening to this that you become an LLC, earlier rather than later. The sooner that you can legally back yourself up, the better. Again, I was just very uneducated, so I just didn't know. I just was, you know, doing things as I learned them.
Victoria B. Glass:To cut in, a lot of times, just depending on where you are, it's it sounds a lot scarier to become an LLC just because you've heard other businesses your whole life with that little, you know, LLC, those letters behind their name. But it's really just a Google search and you'll be off, you know, stepping in the right direction towards making that legal step. So, yes, if you're listening to this and you're like, okay. I know I need to, but I haven't yet, then it's actually a lot easier done than waiting. So
Aj Webb:Mhmm.
Victoria B. Glass:Yes. Go ahead and Yeah. And Google that. So
Aj Webb:Yeah. Highly recommend. Yeah.
Victoria B. Glass:Yeah.
Aj Webb:Yeah. And then I guess jumping back one step. So in 2016, I started taking on weddings, and that was not something that I really, like, planned on. I'm not one of those people who necessarily could say, like, oh, because I had the experience that I had with my wedding photographer, that's what made me want to get into weddings. I think that definitely became a reason that has pushed me forward in weddings, but I think it initially really started, just because someone asked.
Aj Webb:There was actually 2 different couples at the church that my husband and I go to who asked if I would do their wedding. And I'd only second shot, like, a couple of weddings at that point. So I really had no idea, what I was doing for weddings since they're a whole different ballgame. But, thankfully, those two couples and then actually a third couple, ended up booking me for that year, which was wonderful. And the growth from the first wedding to the third wedding itself even was crazy.
Aj Webb:And so I'm so thankful that especially those early days couples that they, yeah, took a chance on me because, like, it could've, I think, been a lot worse than it was. So I'm really glad that those experiences, like, went the way that they did. And I learned, like, so much at each one. And so from there, I kind of just was like, alright. I'm just gonna, like, keep doing weddings.
Aj Webb:Like, I really like this. This is a lot of fun. And so, yeah, I've been shooting weddings since then. I think this year will be my 9th year shooting weddings.
Victoria B. Glass:Oh, okay.
Aj Webb:Which is wild. It feels really exciting to get close to being, 10 years into doing, weddings. I've done, tons of different kinds of weddings. I've done, you know, courthouse ones. I've done ones that are in a barn.
Aj Webb:I've done, yeah, ones where I have to, like, fly across the country. Like, I've done a lot of different types of weddings. And I've found over the years that the smaller, more intimate weddings where it's, you know, 25 to 50 people at most type of weddings, whether it's in, you know, a backyard or it's at, like, a national park. Those are definitely the type of weddings that light my soul on fire. I love getting to do those weddings for various reasons, but I think mainly it's just because the day is just so it's a lot slower.
Aj Webb:It's more intentional, which I love that. I love that we're not necessarily, like, rushing around trying to get, you know, x, y, and z covered in this day. And then I think I think it's nice too to just see, like, the couple enjoy themselves, and they're not necessarily, like, exhausted or, like, bogged down by feeling like there's a 1000000 people that they have to talk to and a 1000000 things they have to do. So those are the days that I definitely really enjoy, doing. And I've loved all of the weddings that I've done, so it's not to talk down on any of those.
Aj Webb:It's just No. These are definitely, like, the favorite ones that I like to do. So, yeah, that's kind of where I'm at right now. Just continuing on shooting, smaller weddings and a couple of adventurous elopements and things like that.
Victoria B. Glass:Can you elaborate a little bit about what all that entails? I think it's so rad because it really does it seems like just all around the bride, the photographer, the family. Like, it really checks all the boxes as far as getting those beautiful photos that, you know, can be on your wall or on your Instagram or wherever. You know, they're beautiful, and they're just so know, there there's just so much drama in them and I would love it. Yeah.
Victoria B. Glass:And then also, like, as a bride, you get to have that special, like you said, intimate moment with just your husband in a kinda like a honeymoon setting already in some cases. Yeah. And then just I don't know. I think they're so cool. Like, it's just it blows my mind that people get to do that as a job and then also for their wedding.
Aj Webb:It Yeah.
Victoria B. Glass:It's so new. I love how things have evolved.
Aj Webb:Yeah. That's super fun.
Victoria B. Glass:Are people really getting married, or is it kind of different each time?
Aj Webb:I think it obviously depends per wedding. So for instance, I have one coming up in a few months here where they actually had their wedding in Mexico, but with, all of the legalities of getting married somewhere else, they didn't technically get legally married, but they just had, you know, their traditional type wedding with their friends and family. And then they're hiring me for their quote, unquote elopement is what we're calling it, where they're, actually, like, legally signing the papers and having a small ceremony with basically just them and their officiant. And so I think it really depends. I think it depends on, like, where you're getting married.
Aj Webb:Sometimes it's just easier to do a more, quote, unquote, elopement, or maybe it doesn't end up with, you know, signed papers at the end of it, and you just do that once you get home. Yeah. But, yeah, most of the ones I think that I've done have been, like, legal ceremonies as well as I've done a lot of, basically, just bridal sessions where the couple will, you know, maybe have their ceremony at a courthouse, or maybe they'll have, like, a small backyard shindig or something like that. And then we will go off into, you know, the mountains or wherever they want to have their photos taken and do their elopement, like photos there where they're dressed up and all that. So it looks, you know, very much like a normal wedding day would be, but it might just not have all of the traditional, other extra things going on.
Victoria B. Glass:So Yeah. And the people and all the yeah. I love it. Yeah. Well, that was just something that popped up into my mind, and I was like, I've gotta ask her that.
Aj Webb:Yeah.
Victoria B. Glass:Then, another thing that I just thought of, so for these elopement weddings and these elopement sessions, what's all in your photography bag? Do you carry any extra, like, Tide to Go pins or anything like that that are specifically for the more adventurous sessions that you have?
Aj Webb:Sure. I feel like I actually almost in some ways pack less for my adventure weddings, than I do for my, like, local to more traditional weddings. I think mainly, I just have maybe, like, an extra pair of, like, socks or something on me. I think I also will have, rain gear. So I have, like, a thing that goes over my camera, and I sometimes will have, you know, maybe gloves or some something like that to help, you know, protect myself in case there were to be weather that we maybe weren't expecting, versus, like, a more traditional wedding where there might be, another, like, option of where we could be at.
Aj Webb:Yeah.
Victoria B. Glass:That would be nice.
Aj Webb:Things like that. So, yeah, I think mainly just, yeah, like, my normal stuff. And I think, yeah, like I said, it's it's more actually my local weddings that I have my, like, go bag that has, yeah, like, a Tide type pen. I have, crochet hooks for helping get, like, you know, the rights, like, beat her getting speeded up, yeah, her buttoned up, things like that. So I have, like, you know, Band Aids.
Aj Webb:I have all that type of stuff in my normal bag. But because, typically, when I do adventure weddings, I'm, you know, flying, I can't necessarily bring all of that extra stuff. And, typically, we don't need it too because, typically in those situations, the couple is more than okay with, you know, maybe getting a little bit dirty. Usually, they're dressed, you know, the bottom, like, couple of inches might just be a little bit dirty from walking around. And so we don't really need, like, a thing like a Tide pen because they're just kind of go with the flow.
Aj Webb:They're like, if it gets dirty, it gets dirty. If it doesn't, that's fine too. So
Victoria B. Glass:It's so wonderful how the more kinda, like, extreme the landscape and, like, the area that you're, like, photographing, the kinda, like, less you need, and I love that because it just shows off the love even more. And in your photos, I was looking through them this morning, They are so gorgeous and the love just shines through, and I love the work that you do. You are so talented. And, another thing that I just remembered, I noticed a lot of black and white photos that you do. Is that a press preference, like a personal preference?
Victoria B. Glass:Tell me a little bit about that.
Aj Webb:Yeah. Yeah. It's definitely a personal preference. I think, obviously, every photographer does it differently. I don't do, like, a black and white copy for every photo.
Aj Webb:It's really just, like, vibes, basically. I just will go through and be like, that photo would look sick in black and white. And sometimes I'll also, like, add some grain to it to make it look more filmy. So, yeah, I think I don't know. I think sometimes black and white can just almost tell a little bit of a different story.
Aj Webb:And I think it makes it, sometimes more, like, romantic and things like that. I always give a color copy so that if they want a color copy, they have that as well. But, yeah, I just I I don't know. There's something about a black and white to me, and I just yeah. I love it.
Victoria B. Glass:So You made me like black and white again. Like, I fell in love with it all over again looking at those photos and Yeah. You're really good at it. You do know which ones are sick in black and white. Like, I like I like that.
Aj Webb:Yeah. Years ago, it wasn't super intentional, I think, initially. But years ago, I started doing black and white for every other photo on my Instagram feed. I don't know if you've noticed that, but I do a black and white and then a color and then a black and white and a color. And I've done that for years, and I think it's a mixture for me of it helps keep my Instagram feed very clean looking, but also, like yeah.
Aj Webb:Like I said, I do really love the black and white photos. I'm a sucker for them. So it helps me to be able to, like, show those off too.
Victoria B. Glass:It is another way that you stand out in a very authentic way that is Aj. So I really liked that. I wanted to ask about that. Alright. Well, tell me a little bit about, I guess, your example of your everyday work week. One of the things in the last couple weeks that we've been doing, and we've we've been having awesome little Zoom calls where we're just coworking and things like that.
Victoria B. Glass:Is that something you've always done to establish fun in your work week, or are there other things? Tell me a little bit about your work week.
Aj Webb:Yeah. Yeah. No. The Zoom calls, the coworking calls, I feel like that's been probably under a year that I've been doing that, and it just kind of started with, yeah, just wanting to, like, have some people to talk to every, you know, every now and then to, have some company while you work. And that's been super fun.
Aj Webb:I've really, enjoyed getting to cowork with, you know, friends all over the United States, and just get a lot of things checked off of our to do list as well. So, yeah, I as of right now, my work schedule typically is Monday through Friday. In my off season, I have been doing, a little bit more time off where I've been working, just Monday through Thursday just for the fact that in my busy season, sometimes I'm working 6 or 7 days a week. And so I just like to, when I have the opportunity, give myself, a little bit of extra time off, to prepare, you know, myself for the busy season. And, yeah, I think I just typically will, sit down and, just mainly look through my emails.
Aj Webb:That's how I start my day each day. And then I have worked really hard, recently on giving myself tasks per day so that I kind of have direction on what I'm going to do. So right now in my, off season, quote, unquote, an off season just means that I'm not out taking photos, like, every week, like I typically am when I'm in my busy season. I will do, tasks like working on guides for my clients or updating things on my back end, like my, you know, my emails or my website and things like that. So the last few months, I've been working really hard on getting a lot of those tasks done because, I'm about to enter a busy spurt here soon.
Aj Webb:And once I'm in that, then I'm mainly just gonna be, in my editing cave as I call it. And so once I have sessions to edit, that's pretty much what I focus mainly on other than, obviously, keeping up with client emails and things like that. So, yeah, my workdays are, like, pretty simple. I feel like they look the same pretty, you know, pretty much every day. I do like to schedule, if I can, like, a coworking call once a week or once every other week if possible, just because having that time where we can connect with, you know, each other is super fun, but also have that dedicated time to just zone in and really just, get, like, solid work done is super fun too.
Victoria B. Glass:It's helped me with just not being so lonely. Like, I have an editing cave too, and, even though we work on different types of photography and and videography and media and stuff, it can get really lonely. Even just like I love being in my house. I don't take it for granted. But sometimes it's like, I haven't seen anyone besides my husband in, like, days.
Victoria B. Glass:Yeah. So I, I've really enjoyed the coworking calls, and I'm looking forward to getting on to more. Sometimes I can make it, sometimes I can't, but if I'm if I'm available, I'm there. And Yeah. You've really just helped me in that way of, of being that kind friend.
Victoria B. Glass:Like, you didn't target that one time. Yeah. Yeah. Well, speaking of editing caves, what do you do you keep anything special in yours to keep it nice when you are in that that zone? You got, like, a candle or anything like, you know, that?
Aj Webb:No. It's not cute. I have blackout curtains, and so I just keep those. And, because I prefer to have it as dark as possible so I can see my screen better. And so I can see my screen better.
Victoria B. Glass:Oh, ok.
Aj Webb:It's definitely not, like aesthetic by any means, but, yeah, I close the curtains and typically I just have, like, a drink or 2 next to me to help keep me, like, hydrated and, like, also just give me energy. And, yeah, I really just kind of, you know, zone out into that. I'll typically, listen to, like, music or a podcast, or I'll put on, like, a show or something on my phone, so that I am, you know, somewhat entertained while I'm working. Yeah. And it just helps me to stay, locked in while I do it.
Aj Webb:And I just I I always laugh when I call my editing cave just because, yeah, if you come over and you see it and it's just black, people sometimes think it's kinda funny. But it really helps me to, yeah, like, see my screen, like I said. And I've had years where I'll mainly edit, like, in the evening, because it is darker. So I've had times like that where, I'm not really feeling, like, the editing you know, in the editing zone during the day. So maybe sometimes I'll take, like, the afternoon off, and then I'll work the evening so that, one, so it's darker, but also sometimes I do I do just work, better in the evening.
Aj Webb:So, yeah, I'll just be in my editing cave,
Victoria B. Glass:which is That's a good tip.
Aj Webb:Funny because I love it.
Victoria B. Glass:No. I like that. And I love having my little area where I know that is my work zone. Just like mentally, it seems like a spot that I, like, park myself in because that's where I go to to I mean, this is it right here.
Victoria B. Glass:Yeah. But one of the things that I do kinda find myself getting annoyed with is the reflection of this wall or this window on my screen. And I also don't want, you know, to move my room around, so I need to get some blackout curtains.
Aj Webb:Amazon, man. They're great.
Victoria B. Glass:Yeah. I mean, I thought about it for sleep,
Victoria B. Glass:but I've never thought about it for editing.
Aj Webb:yea
Victoria B. Glass:that's good.
Aj Webb:Yeah. It's super helpful. It definitely, like, transforms the streams. Like, right now, the sun is coming through the windows in my office, which is great. I love it.
Aj Webb:But, yeah, when I'm trying to edit and trying to see, you know, my photos really clearly, it makes it harder. So, yeah, I like to shut the curtains and be able to, yeah, turn up my brightness on my computer and just zone into that. So yeah.
Victoria B. Glass:Hey. Everyone knows themselves and how they work, and I love exchanging tips because sometimes you might be looking for that little that one little hack or that one little tip, and it's like, oh, this is what I do, and, you know, just tossing those back and forth, is what I feel like you find your groove, and that's how you start to improve and and make progress with with your working styles and Yeah. that's neat.
Victoria B. Glass:I'm glad you shared that. So we still had a lot of 2024 left. Mhmm. Do you have any enlopements or weddings booked in anywhere, like, anywhere fun?
Aj Webb:I do. Yeah. I'm very excited. Yeah. My first wedding of the year will be in Rochester, Minnesota, and I'm very excited to go there for, a different reason than I've ever been.
Aj Webb:I've only ever been there, for my brother's, hospital visits. And so I'm very excited to go up there and have it be for, like, a happier reason, so I'm excited for that. And then, yeah, the next weekend, I will be, in Tennessee for a wedding, and I am, like, so so excited for that wedding. They're having, I think, around, like, 50 people. It's gonna be at this beautiful Airbnb with this back deck that definitely hosts elopements.
Aj Webb:And, yeah, I'm just super excited about that. The couple, is wonderful. The bride is, a big Swiftie like myself. She was actually at the Eras tour show that I went to last year, and she was so amazing. She actually saved my butt and let me use her, battery charger for my phone because I brought 2, but I brought the wrong cord on accident.
Aj Webb:So I was just using my phone, like, oh, I have 2 battery packs. I'm gonna be able to use this all night long. And then it got down to, like, 30%, and I was like, oh my end. I am screwed. And so I knew that she was at the show, and so I messaged her and she, crazy enough, was in the same section as me.
Aj Webb:And so she met me at the top, and we I got that from her, and then we said, you know, hi. And then after the show, I got to, like, officially, like, meet her in person.
Victoria B. Glass:Wait - That was the first time ya'll had met?
Aj Webb:Yeah! We'd talked over zoom, but that was the first time we'd met, she like met me at the top. And was like, here you go. And I grabbed it, and then we ran back down to our seats so that we could keep watching the concert.
Victoria B. Glass:Oh my gosh, that's so cool!!
Aj Webb:And then at the end, I gave it back to her, and we talked for a few minutes. But, yeah, that was the first time that I met her, which was so crazy. But, yeah, I was so thankful that she was there, and she was able to, help me with my phone battery. So Yeah. Yeah.
Aj Webb:So, yeah, I'm super excited to see her again.
Victoria B. Glass:That's a good story. And, yeah, did you go to see the ARRIS tour in Nashville, or where did you see it?
Aj Webb:No. No. We were both at the, Kansas City, show. We were actually so we weren't there for the speak now, announcement or, when it came out and when Taylor Lautner was there, which was very unfortunate. No.
Aj Webb:We were there the next day, so Kansas City night too. But I feel very special about that because that was my 28th birthday. So that was, like, a super, like, great way to spend my birthday. But now that we know that they're together, that was the night that Travis was there, and that was the infamous night that he wanted to give her the bracelet with his number and wasn't able to. So, yeah, I feel really special that I was at the show that he was at.
Victoria B. Glass:Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Aj Webb:And I was idea at the time, but
Victoria B. Glass:yeah. But still special. I mean, that's the one that stands out to Taylor. So Right. Right?
Victoria B. Glass:I mean
Aj Webb:The start of it all.
Victoria B. Glass:Yeah. And then I bet the vibe just post the the like, prior to the night before or, you know, the night before, was really fun, just interactively and stuff. And I've been watching them all online. And Oh, yeah.
Aj Webb:Me too.
Victoria B. Glass:That's cool. And that's great that Yeah. For this upcoming 2024 wedding that you have, that you have such great memories with the bride. Yeah. I'm so happy I'm so happy for you.
Aj Webb:Yeah. We're super excited. We're already planning on jamming out to some Taylor Swift at her reception. So, yeah, it's gonna be super fun.
Victoria B. Glass:Oh, cool. So, AJ, tell me a little bit about what you had to overcome to get where you are right now.
Aj Webb:Yeah. Absolutely. I feel like I've had to overcome, my own, but also other people's, judgment of working for yourself. That was, something that had come up a couple of times from people in my life. I had, you know, someone ask me, you know, how is your photography business going with air quotes?
Aj Webb:And that was really painful because it just gave, you know, like, the connotation that it wasn't a real thing and that it was just this, like, little side thing that I did, but, like, it wasn't legitimate. And, of course, I knew at the end of the day that it was legitimate. But, comments like that are asking, you know, when are you gonna get, like, a quote, unquote real job aka one that I'm not working for myself, things like that. I've had a couple of those comments over the years, and those were really painful at the time, but I've just had to take a step back and just focus on what I know and what my, like, closest loved ones know, and they, all know how hard I work and that I, you know, make an actual income. So, yeah, when I've, like, really taken a step back and looked back at my, like, history every year, whether that's, with how much I've made or the types of sessions that I've done, every single year, there's been growth in one way or another.
Aj Webb:And so when I just look at those, like, stats on my own, I just have to, like, just sit in that fact and just know, like, hey. I am a legitimate business. And like I said, I do contribute to my family and things like that. And so, I've just had to let those comments kind of go to the wayside. I think the world has changed a lot, especially, since 2020.
Aj Webb:I think so many more people now are small business owners, in so many different aspects. And so I think it's becoming a lot more, a lot bigger of a thing, and it's becoming a lot more accepted. So I think that narrative is probably changing a lot already. But I think just yeah. At the end of the day, just remembering, you know what?
Aj Webb:I'm helping my husband pay the bills, and he knows that. And at the end of the day, that's all that matters. So if, you know, so and so doesn't think that I'm working a legitimate job, they can think what they want. But, you know, they're not in my shoes. And so, I think also yeah.
Aj Webb:Just just really trying to remind myself to just put my head down and not worry about possibly what people think, because I know, like, without a shadow of a doubt that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. That has never been a question, for my business. I have always known from day 1 that this is what I'm supposed to do. I think I also have always felt very lucky that I've known what I was going to do for so long. I don't think it's super common for, you know, a high schooler to know, like I mean, I knew probably from, like, freshman, sophomore year that that was the path that I was gonna go down, and then I just, you know, started more heavily pursuing it in my later high school years.
Aj Webb:And I don't think that that's, like, a super common thing. I think it's very common for, high schoolers and people even in college and beyond to not quite know what they wanna do. So I think I've just always had to rely on the fact that the Lord has always made it very clear to me that this has met the path that I'm supposed to be on. And so, again, at the end of the day, if people, you know, may not agree with that or if they think that it's not legitimate at the end of the day, like, I know that this is the path that the Lord wants me on, and so I'm just going to stand firm in that.
Victoria B. Glass:I hear that. Amen. I was just talking to Dylan this morning about sometimes the hardest part is listening to God, like, when he speaks directly to you. And I think that a lot of high schoolers and sophomores and even college students, they do know what the Lord has put on their heart, but they listen to everyone else. They listen to the people who doubt them and who don't think it they can legitimately make a life or business for themselves.
Victoria B. Glass:And it's like, who are they, like, to say that? No. Listen listen to what God's put on your heart. Follow the talents and passions that he gave you, and just run with it. Don't listen to anyone else.
Victoria B. Glass:And when you do, then you're gonna be celebrating just like AJ is.
Aj Webb:Mhmm.
Victoria B. Glass:Looking back and saying, it's it's normal, I feel like, to have that on your heart. It's not normal to stay focused and to listen and actually follow through with it.
Aj Webb:So
Victoria B. Glass:that's the part that everyone could do, but no one does, and it sets you apart when you do. I hope that was the right way to explain it because what you said was right, and, and it was right for you. And so that's that's what we're here doing and celebrating.
Aj Webb:Yeah. Absolutely.
Victoria B. Glass:So, AJ, this has been a wonderful conversation. I've really enjoyed it, and I know that all of the listeners who are creatives themselves or might be just on the brink of starting their own creative business, they're gonna get a lot out of this conversation too. Is there anything else you wanna leave them with or leave me with or any recommendations that you might have just, before we wrap up the episode?
Aj Webb:Yeah. Yeah. If you're considering starting a business, whether it's photography or not, or you're new into having your business, like we mentioned earlier, I think getting, legally backed is super important. So research that. And like we said, it's not very complicated, but I think that's definitely, like, a great way to start.
Aj Webb:And then if you are specifically in photography, I highly recommend, second shooting. I did not do a lot of that, and I kinda wish that I had. I think it would have given me a lot of, knowledge earlier on in my business, that I had to learn on my own, which is totally fine, but I think I could have made bigger strides in my business, if I had done some more second shooting. So I think whether it's, you know, weddings or whatever type of session, you can totally ask people who are local to you to second shoot, and just kind of watch what they do and kind of absorb that. And I think that's super great.
Aj Webb:As well as, again, if you're photography specific, I highly recommend, the virtually and in person, learn from them multiple times. So I'm virtually and in person learn from them multiple times. So I highly recommend looking into, what they offer because it is worth every single penny and more. I've invested a lot of money into their education, so I do not say it lately that I recommend them. Yeah.
Aj Webb:I recommend just, I don't know, don't be afraid to fail. I think that was something that I also learned at this last conference was don't be afraid to fail and make mistakes. Obviously, always try your hardest, but you're going to learn more from those mistakes than you are probably anything else. So I know for myself, the wedding days that had some hiccups in them, things like that, I have then taken those experiences and turn them into ways that I can serve my clients better in the future. So one of the weddings that I shot, like, over 7 years ago, you know, the groom went off to find this aunt, and then the aunt showed up, but the groom didn't.
Aj Webb:And then so and so went to go find the groom, and then the groom showed up. And it was just like this hot mess. And so I've just really implemented with my couples, making sure you have a list of what photos you want ahead of time, making sure that the people who know that they're gonna be in those photos that you make them aware that, hey, photos are at this time. So things like that are just, examples of ways that I've just taken experiences that didn't necessarily go perfectly, and that I'm able to then, you know, hopefully, turn that around into, like, a positive thing for my future couples. So, yeah, I think just, like, don't be afraid of those moments because they're bound to happen.
Aj Webb:I mean, even the most, you know, elite photographers that we all look up to, I mean, they were where we were, at one point, and they also, I'm sure, have their own hiccups and mistakes that they're still making. So just don't be afraid of that. Just allow yourself to learn from, like, every situation that you're in because I think there's so much, to learn and, like, there's always ways to grow. And, obviously, just life in general, but I think especially as business owners. Yeah.
Aj Webb:So just doing that, I think, will, get you a long way.
Victoria B. Glass:That's all really, really good advice, and you're so right. And I couldn't agree more about the just being able to see that the mistakes aren't really mistakes. They might be in the moment, but when you look back on them and you reflect on them, then those are the moments that literally point to change and how to get better. It's like if you wanna get better as a creative, as a photographer, as a person, as a business owner, then don't be afraid of failure and reflect back on those moments where you might have messed up and don't look at them as mess ups, looking Yeah. Look at them as answers as how to get better.
Victoria B. Glass:So Yes. Absolutely. Yeah. And you said something earlier that I I made a little mental note about and I wanted to bring it back around. And, you know, sometimes when you do something, in the moment, you're like, I might be so silly for doing this.
Victoria B. Glass:But then when you hear someone else do it too, you're like, okay. Actually, maybe maybe that's good. That's like, you know, I'm on the right track. So earlier, you mentioned that every single time you get a booking, you say a little prayer and you say thank you, God. Mhmm.
Victoria B. Glass:Dylan and I do that with cacti palm. And we literally, if we're in the moment, if we're alone, I hear them sometimes in the other room. It'll ding on our phone. Thank you, God. So like, if you really, really are worried about getting started and you're like, I have this creative idea, but like, what if no one takes that first chance on me?
Victoria B. Glass:What if no one's willing to pay me? Then here's something that you can do right now that costs you absolutely nothing. 1, pray about it. 2, imagine that first booking coming in and you say in a prayer of thank you and of gratitude and just go ahead and right now, like, feel feel grateful for that first client. And then every moment after that, when you do get booked, because I believe in you that much, I do.
Victoria B. Glass:I really do say a prayer, say thank you. And never like, don't ever take it for granted, whether it's the first booking or whether it's the a thousand millionth bazillionth booking. Like No. Always be grateful. So that obviously shines off of you, AJ, and with your business, Adriana Joy Photography.
Victoria B. Glass:And all of the people that you serve, I know that they feel that when they get their their pictures back. So Mhmm. I just wanted to recognize that in your in you and, also point it out, like, hey. I noticed something that I'm I might be doing that's actually working and and also acknowledging those two things so that we can share them with you, our listeners, our listeners right now, who might want a little bit of, advice on how to how to get started and yeah.
Aj Webb:So Absolutely. Yeah. That's something that I definitely, try really hard to practice just in my everyday life, but especially in my business because, yeah, like, I know that I am very lucky to get to do what I do. I know that everyone doesn't have the opportunity to work from themselves, especially because it can be so scary to, yeah, have, like, income to support yourself. So I am very thankful that I'm in the position that I am.
Aj Webb:I'm very thankful every time. I mean, I think, it's a very common thing in the creative world, I think, just to feel feel imposter syndrome and just feel like, why me? Like, why would you trust me to do this? But I think I've been really trying to just, I don't know, just grasp the fact that I have been doing this for a long time, and I have learned a lot, And I always have more room to grow, but I think I just have to remember, like, I do have a lot of history behind me. I have years years years of taking photos in many different circumstances, locations, different types of sessions, things like that.
Aj Webb:And so when I really, have a reality check with myself, I just have to, remember that. And that's not in a prideful way. That's not in a I'm better than anyone else's way. It's just a reality of I'm I'm getting booked for a reason. Like, people aren't just paying me money for no reason.
Aj Webb:Like, I have, you know, the backing behind it. So I think that's something that I can also encourage people who are just starting out. I think in a lot of ways, just put your head down. Put your head down. Focus on what you're doing.
Aj Webb:That's something that I feel like I'm still learning myself. But I think when I just focus on what I'm doing and knowing that I'm going down the path that the Lord wants me to go down, I think it's so much better than, you know, looking to the left and to the right. And, oh, so and so is doing this thing, and, oh, they just launched this thing. And, oh, man, maybe I should do that. You know?
Aj Webb:And I think that's so easy to fall into. But at the end of the day, like, we're all called to do different different things, and we might not all be called to do the same thing, and that's okay. So, yeah, I just encourage you to just put your head down and just really focus on what you wanna do because every single person, as well as every single business is so unique, and that's, like, the beauty of it.
Victoria B. Glass:Yes. Standing ovation. Like, you nailed it. That that's it. I don't know how to how to wrap it up any better than that.
Victoria B. Glass:That that's so right on. Well, thank you, AJ, for everything, for being kind to me from the very start, for coming on today and just talking about what you love, and for getting the little groups together for the Zoom calls and the co working space so that people like me continue to move on and move forward in in their journey too. So just thank you for it all. I'm really grateful for our friendship, for this conversation, and it's been such a blessing to have you on the show.
Aj Webb:Yeah. You're welcome. Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed getting to know you better since we, yeah, met at the conference and then ran into each other at Target and things like that. I'm, yeah, just so thankful for, all of the people that the Lord has, like, put into my life, specifically with my business because, yeah, like you've mentioned, like, it can be very lonely, working from home.
Aj Webb:I'm literally alone all day every day. And so, yeah, it's super, amazing when, like, the Lord places really special people in your life for, yeah, companions in this journey of small businesses.
Victoria B. Glass:And I just I wanna take one more second too and just say, like, isn't it such a cool time? Like, we would not have ever connected if it wasn't for podcast and hearing both of us hearing's Heart and Hustle podcast. I know that gets, like, really macro. I'm a macro view right now, but, like, it's like, it's mind boggling, and I'm so grateful for it. So, like, I hope I hope that comes through.
Aj Webb:So, yeah, I'm very thankful that, I'm not just, you know, constricted to the area that I'm in. I think I've been able to grow so much more because I've been able to meet people online, and I do think it's, always funny. I have way more friends across the United States and, you know, the photography world than I do in, my own town. And it's not something that I mind. Like, I think it's very fun because then it opens up the opportunity to, you know, fly across the country to go see each other to work on a project or something.
Aj Webb:Yeah. But, yeah, the online world can be really beautiful if you, let it. So, yeah, I love it.
Victoria B. Glass:That's that's the whole reason I brought it up is because I I have that little friendship bracelet you gave me, and I think about it all the time about how, like, there's people out there, real people in real time, and it's the Internet that, like, brings everybody together. But, you know, the physicality of having something like a like a bracelet reminds you that people are real people out there, and, and we're all in it for just for the the long haul of it.
Aj Webb:Yeah. I'm very much like an advocate for people to follow their dreams and, like, what the Lord has placed on their hearts. And I think very much, again, the world is changing a lot. I think, going to college and doing the traditional thing like that has become, not necessarily rare by any means, but I think it's not necessarily the path that everyone goes down. So I think if you're kind of in that stage, you know, really evaluating that for yourself.
Aj Webb:And obviously, there's definitely a lot of careers that you have to go to college for. And that's great. It's not a negative thing against college. It's just it doesn't have to be the path that you go down. As well as if you're, you know, in your thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, and there's this dream that you've always known that you were supposed to do.
Aj Webb:Like, I don't think it's ever too late. Like, I know plenty of people who went back to college or changed careers or things like that, and they started it later, and I think there's no harm in doing that. I think there's, yeah, a lot of beauty in kind of stepping into what the Lord wants you to do and taping taking that leap of faith. Obviously, it can be very scary, to do those things, but I think when you just fully trust, that the Lord laid something on your heart for a reason and you just go after it, he is going to reward you for that. And on the same note too, though, if you pursue a dream and something that the Lord has for you, and then a couple years into it, you, you know, decide to not pursue it anymore or the Lord changes your heart, that doesn't necessarily mean it was a failure.
Aj Webb:I think everything is for a season, even my own business. Like, I absolutely love my job, and I really don't see myself doing anything else, and I have no plans of stopping anytime soon. But I also know that I'm probably not gonna be taking, you know, wedding photos when I am, like, 56 years old. And so I think there's also, a piece of that where you can just, be encouraged that sometimes the Lord maybe only calls you to something for a couple of years. Yeah.
Aj Webb:And that's okay because maybe the next thing is gonna be even bigger and better, and you won't know until you try.
Victoria B. Glass:Amen. And I love that we're all in progress. That gives it gives me hope. It really does because Yeah.
Aj Webb:Absolutely.
Victoria B. Glass:You can say, I've come a long way, and I still have a long way to go. But Mhmm. With God, I'm not alone, and I'm here for the journey. And in the journey, you find the joy. So Mhmm.
Aj Webb:Absolutely.
Victoria B. Glass:Well, AJ, where can we find out more about you and your business and find out just if we wanted to work with you, how to do that?
Aj Webb:Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. If you're interested in checking out some of my work and, inquiring with me, my website is adrianna joy photography. And then my Instagram is missus adrianna webb.
Aj Webb:And all of that is also linked on my website too.
Victoria B. Glass:And I'll have it in the show notes. If you want to scroll down to the bottom, she'll be just a click away. So I'm so happy to get to talk to you and can't wait to have more wonderful conversations. Thanks for coming on and letting this one be recorded for the Contagious Victory's listeners. I know they got a lot of value out of it.
Victoria B. Glass:So thank you, AJ.
Aj Webb:Yeah. Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. This was so fun to get to chat today.
Victoria B. Glass:Alright. Bye.
Aj Webb:Bye.
Victoria B. Glass:Thanks for joining us for this week's episode of the Contagious Victory podcast. If the show inspired you to share your own victory story, I'm here to tell you the world deserves to hear it. Submit it to me online at toriblackmon.com. Review and subscribe if that feels right. Telling your friends about the show helps contagious victories to grow.
Victoria B. Glass:Plus, we all appreciate a little sunshine. I'm Tori B. Thanks for listening. I'll catch you soon.