We had the good fortune of connecting with Corinna Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Corinna, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I knew there was more to life than waking up from an alarm buzzer every morning, sitting in rush hour traffic, and then typing away at a computer until the clock struck 5pm. While I had some fun jobs with wonderful teams, I knew I was meant for more than the repetitive desk job life. Also, I’m definitely not a morning person so I was itching for a way to ditch the alarm clock for good. Entreupunership life appeared to be an attractive way to try to have it all- to be more in control of my life while still making money. My husband and I were planning to start a family, and it seemed like the perfect time to try to start a business so that I could work part-time while being a full-time stay-at-home mom.
I had a passion for photography and after discovering how much earning potential wedding photographers had, I threw myself head first into learning everything I could about the art & the business. After a year of hard work involving countless weekends spent second shooting in addition to endless nights staying up after work to try to launch my business- I was able to leave my day-job and pursue my business full time. Two months after that, I got pregnant with our first daughter- so the timing worked out perfectly. Even with canceling a few weddings due to my pregnancy, I was still able to book over 20 weddings and bring in over 80k my first official wedding season. I’m happy to report that I’ve been living an alarm clock free life now for about five years, and I’m never going back.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What’s funny is I actually do not think I am the most amazing photographer. I love the images I create for my clients, but I am fully aware that there are others much more talented out there than me. The area I think I really shine is instead how I treat my clients. Their experience with me is organized, stress-free, and kind. Seeing the positive impact I can have on my couples on their wedding day- not only in capturing these one-in-a-lifetime moments, but also keeping them calm and happy by being a source of knowledge and friendship is so rewarding. But ultimately, my goal for them is to have these lasting reminders of one of the best days of their lives. And it’s an honor to document that for them.

Getting to where I am today took hard work and determination. I’m not going to sugarcoat it- you got to have the hustle mentality in you in order to successfully run your own business. And you need to love what you do- otherwise, you’ll burn out even quicker than you started.
Keeping a roof over my head during the pandemic years when weddings were being canceled left and right was not easy. And the early days of launching my business meant working insane, life-consuming hours to do so. I’m in a profession that means very few summer weekends with my family- a time most of us love to travel, vacation, etc.
But I made the decision long ago that the sacrifices involved with running this business were worth the time I get to spend at home raising my daughters and the income I’ve been able to bring to my family.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned that I’d love to share with others is this phrase: “Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” If you don’t like something in your life- then change it. You don’t have to settle for your current situation. Dream big, make plans, take action.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m so in love with the Napa Valley area here in Northern California. This is where 90% of my weddings are, and I never grow tired of it. I’d recommend getting brunch with some mountain views at The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil, then head to Hall Winery for the best cabs you’ve ever tasted, followed by a stroll in downtown Napa.

And then, of course, you can’t come to Northern California without a trip to San Francisco. So go drive across the golden gate bridge, take a little stroll and selfie moment at Bakers Beach, check out some museums in Golden Gate Park, and enjoy some amazing vegan food with water views at Greens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I most certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of others. First and foremost, I need to thank Ditto Dianto for letting me tag along and learn from him the year I was launching my business. He gave me my first wedding lead, and I am forever grateful for that. Second, shoutout to the Amy & Jordan Demos courses. This is what gave me the basic knowledge and confidence to start my photography business, and I recommend these courses to all beginners with interest in photography.
Lastly, there are several books that have changed my life and are worth mentioning. I love The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, Atomic Habits by James Clear, Story Brand by Donald Miller, and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

Website: CorinnaRosePhotography.com

Instagram: @corinnarosephoto

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/corinnarosephotography/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.