Daily Inspiration: Meet Genevieve Devries

Today we’d like to introduce you to Genevieve Devries.

Hi Genevieve, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It’s been a wild ride. I’ve always taken pictures of people, but jumping into it full-time was never in my plan. But in 2018, I needed to raise money for breast cancer research, so I offered family sessions for donations, and thats when my photography era began. We raised enough for our team to be one of the top 5 fundraising teams in Michigan & it changed my life.

Raising that much felt amazing in its own right, but the thing I still find so wild is that it flipped a switch in me. I fell in love with photography, and my clients fell in love with me. The whole thing was impossible to turn off. After that, I became obsessed with learning everything I could about being a photographer in Michigan. YouTube videos, online training, and trial and error. I needed to know about lenses and lighting, and editing. I was determined to get good at it. Not the kind of “good” that my audience loved, but work that I could be proud of. I faked it until I got there, but I got there.

The hard part was balancing between a creative career, building my own business, and a career in automotive tech. I was on my way to growing as a tech professional, but photography filled a hole. In 2020, I decided to take some time to be at home with my littles because, well… the pandemic happened. My client base grew by 40% in 3 months. I booked more clients during the last week at my “tech job” than I had all year. It was like someone was SLAPPING me in the face. Like a door was opening, and all I had to do was run through it. As scarry as that may have been.

Ever since then, this business has been more successful than I ever imagined possible. I’ve won several industry awards as I continued to grow, and the path forward feels like it’s powered by something greater than myself.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Believing in myself and fighting that impostor syndrome took some work. Letting go of the financial goals I had for myself as a “career professional” was scary. You can make a lot of $$ in a corporate job, but it comes at a cost. I struggle with that still to this day. But I wanted to be there to support my boys while they were young. That’s a privilege that was worth sacrificing some luxuries for.

Counting on my husband to have my back financially as I transitioned and built my own business, ripped my floor out from under me. Not because I couldn’t, but because I promised myself to never count on someone else for financial stability a loooong time ago. It is a very vulnerable place for me to be, especially as a female. I don’t like it there. I can’t live there.

Lastly, it’s SOOOO much work. SO, SO much. I like to work, so sometimes, the workaholic in me comes out and I need a check because I DO NOT have boundaries. I’m working on that.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a photographer nestled between Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan. I specialize in weddings, corporate events, family portraits, newborns, families, and seniors. I don’t want to do it any other way.

Everyone told me that I would have to specialize in ONE genre of photography to be successful. I say, rules are made to be broken. I like to photograph all different types of events and people, and I think it’s made me a better photographer. Plus, it keeps things interesting.

My clients can trust that I can work with all types of people and situations with constant professionalism and with my heart right on my sleeve. I’m proud of that.

I’ve built a reputation for being able to make a genuine connection with all types of clients. I’ve done that while staying 100% true to myself. That’s empowering.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Wow, this is a hard one. I love the seasons in Michigan. I even like the hibernation phase of winter, it’s like a rebirth every spring. I wish we had mountains on our horizon. I don’t like how flat it is where I am.

Pricing:

• Weddings Start at $3,500
• Newborns start at $450
• Seniors start at $450
• Family starts ar $450
• Coporate and commercial are custom

Contact Info:

• Website: https://genevievedevries.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genevieve_devries_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gdevriesphoto
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve-devries-917a9bba/