Today we’d like to introduce you to John Harder.
Hi John, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was a communications major in college and did not know what I wanted to do. In my last semester, I ended up taking a photography course and fell in love with it. I knew that is what I wanted to do with my life. I started my journey as a family and wedding photographer. Over the past 13+ years, my business has evolved and I have had experience photographing everything from families, weddings, engagements, real estate, headshots, and portraits. Over the past several years, my work has gravitated towards luxury portraits and branding and I absolutely love it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think as every entrepreneur knows, it’s rarely an easy road. There are so many ups and downs when it comes to owning your own business. You make mistakes, you don’t always follow through how you hoped, but you learn and adjust so that you can become the best in your business. The biggest struggle is that there is no off button. You have to make sure and create those boundaries for yourself or you will never take care of yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
While I have done a little bit of everything in the photography realm, my specialty is portrait work. I’m always so proud of taking a minimal surrounding and making it look totally different in the final image. Today I posted a photo that I’m really proud of that I took in a small one-bedroom apartment. You would never know looking at the photo. More than that though, what I am most proud of is when people who come into a session either nervous or self-conscious tell me afterward they weren’t nervous and they almost forgot they were having their photo taken at all. Putting my clients at that level of ease makes me very proud.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
There are so many resources that I could list that I love. As far as apps go, I love Planoly to help schedule my Instagram posts. I love audible because I can learn from some amazing business people while going for a walk. When it comes to learning editing and photography, I love sites like Phlearn and Creative Live.
Pricing:
- Headshots – $300
- Portraits – Starting at $500
- Branding – Starting at $600
Contact Info:
- Email: jmharder@jharderphotography.com
- Website: www.jharderphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/john_harder
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf2yQh_uPCLHf__QXfLjCCA
Image Credits
Models: Ulondia Tow, Larry Harder, Fred Hampton, Carmen Ramirez, Regina Grossenbacher, Case Munson, JT Hancock, Reid Thompson, Ashley Adele Makeup: Kara Olsen Styling: Paulie Gibson Locations: Chroma
