Meet Veronica Armstead of Side of Inspiration Photography in Goodyear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Armstead.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Veronica. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
About nine years ago, my aunt handed my cousin’s DSLR camera to me & asked me to take some photos during his championship football game. I instantly fell in love! And by in love, I mean obsessed!!! One year later, my husband and I were off on our honeymoon to Egypt, but before we left my aunt gifted me a camera of my own. That’s where I really became hooked. Every year, I started taking my own family photos & once I had my first son, my love for the camera just grew. About six years ago, a good friend of mine insisted that I take her family photos, I gave in even though I was nervous to take them for anyone but family. It was the biggest starting point of my photography career!

A couple years later, I dipped my feet into the wedding photography game & things changed in ways I never could have imaged. Capturing a wedding is pure bliss for me. I literally smile the whole entire time & find myself tearing up through the ceremony. When I was planning my own wedding, I didn’t even know where to start when it came to photography & made the biggest mistake of hiring someone who had zero experience. I regret that more than anything, because I don’t have any photos that I truly cherish from one of the most important days of my life. I wanted to be able to give couples something that I never had. I worked really hard for years & have been able to get to where I am today because of such amazing friends and family. I connected with everyone I could, attended workshops, volunteered with local charities, became an apprentice & did everything I possibly could to learn all I know.

I really pride myself on how hard I sank myself into it all. The pay off was that everything about weddings is just a dream come true for me. I love all the details, happiness, family time, & mostly the love. I feel like every client I’ve worked with has become a friend of mine. The best part of it all is that it never feels like a job to me. I always hear people say that you should do what you love & I honestly never knew how to find that passion. Photography is something that found me & I know without a doubt that I was meant to capture these precious moments for people. I love each & every second I spend behind the camera!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say that it’s been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t say that it’s been a bumpy one either. I fit somewhere in the middle. Honestly, I would say that there are two struggles that I’ve hard. The first being that camera gear is super expensive. I never knew how much it all was & everything that I needed. It also is a mini obsession, especially when new things come out. You want it all & think you need it all! Ha! Luckily my business has taken off that I’ve been able to get some amazing equipment & my family has also been a huge help. Birthdays & Christmas time always mean fun new camera gear & accessories! The second biggest struggle that I have had would be that there are so many amazing photographers out there, so there are tons of options for couples to choose from. I really pride myself on making a lasting connection with my clients. I feel like if we can sit down & connect on a personal level then it really helps me show them what my art is worth. I’ve worked insanely hard getting where I am today & I know all the long nights are totally worth it. The upside to all the photographers out there is that I’ve met some awesome people that I’m able to chat with & learn from. I’ve made several photographer friends along my journey & it’s nice knowing that there is a community of support out there.

Side of Inspiration Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business, Side of Inspiration Photography, specializes in wedding photography, but I love capturing all memories. The thing that I would have to say I am the proudest of is my ability to connect with my clients on a personal level. I want them to know that every detail & every moment is just as special to me as it is to them. I know how important it is to be able to look back at your photos & be able to smile. I want my clients to know that I capture their photos because I truly love to. I love seeing people smile & I love knowing that I created something that will last them a lifetime!

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career can’t really be defined in one way. When I think of being proud I think of all the feedback that I have received from my clients. It makes my heart so happy when I know that someone loves their photos. I work with a lot of the same families year after year because they trust me & love my work. When I know that a family will come back to me every year for family photos or I get to captured a wedding of a client I’ve worked with multiple times, then that’s when I know I’m doing something right. Just this past year, I’ve worked with brides that I either captured their sibling’s, friend’s or cousin’s wedding. Moments like that make me insanely proud of all that I have achieved.

Pricing:

• Wedding Package Pricing Ranges from $825-$2750
• Standard Session Pricing Ranges from $175-300

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Sideofinspiration.com
• Phone: 602-531-2253
• Email: Sideofinspiration@hotmail.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sideofinspiration
• Other: www.theknot.com/marketplace/side-of-inspiration-photography-goodyear-az-869734

Image Credit:
Side of Inspiration Photography

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