BABE #340: APRIL RUSSELL, Photographer
April is the co-owner of April and Paul Photography, a wife and husband duo capturing the special moments in their client’s lives. In addition to handling administrative and creative needs for the business, she’s also a social media manager and resells high-end vintage clothing—all while homeschooling her four kiddos. In short, April is one heck of a BWH who’s unexpected love of photography transformed into a successful, full-time biz. She’s living proof that our talents aren’t always obvious to us—sometimes all it takes is one simple spark of curiosity to change our hustle (and our world).
The Basics:
Hometown: Cotton Valley, Louisiana
Current city: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Alma mater: Jones College
Degree: Practical nursing
Very first job: Waitress at a 50s diner, poodle skirt and all
Hustle: Wedding Photographer; Homeschool mom
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
So hard to pick just one! Probably would have to say Bridget Prater. She’s such an amazing inspiration and total boss babe.
How do you spend your free time?
Oh gosh. I always insist I’m the most boring person I know. I’m usually hanging out with my four kiddos, being inspired by my sweet friends, and squeezing in a date night with my gorgeous co-photographer and hubby. Recently I’ve been trying out new hobbies, like tennis.
Go-to coffee order and/or adult beverage?
Coffee and a little creamer at home on my back porch, or a blondie latte from my favorite local coffee shop, Mulvis.
What would you eat for your very last meal?
Sushi and Hershey’s chocolate.
What’s something you want to learn or master?
I’d love to master humble confidence. I’ve grown up having to overcome a lot of junk and confidence is difficult for me.
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world, who would it be?
I would probably have to say my Mawmaw. She was the cutest and most chill person I know. There’s nothing better I can think of right now than slowing down over a cup of coffee with her and hearing that adorable little laugh.
What’s something most don’t know about you?
I’m on my second marriage. My first was abusive and I’m so thankful it’s something I was able to move past.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
I am the co-owner of April and Paul Photography. I handle the emails, editing, social media, plus shooting for our company. I also handle social media for a local company, and I resell high-end and vintage clothing; it’s a side passion of mine. I’m also a mom to four kiddos (who we also homeschool). Does cleaning count, too?
What does your typical workday look like?
Wake up later than I’d like, because I’m a groggy morning person. Take about 30 minutes to drink my coffee on the back porch. Check emails and catch up on my to-do list. I typically stop for some cleaning and preparing lunch for six. We’ve recently moved to 11 acres in the country, so going outside is a must during the day. My boys adore Fortnite, so I typically take the time they’re playing to catch up on editing and more emails! Most days I take 30 minutes to an hour to nap or catch up on my current Netflix show, Lucifer. After the kiddos are bathed and all tucked in, the hubby and I catch up on work or spend some much-needed time hanging out. Some days are more productive than others!
Have you always had a passion for photography?
Honestly, no. We were living in Jacksonville, Florida, while my husband worked insurance claims. One day he came home with a DSLR. I immediately started shooting and loved it so much. I pretty much didn’t stop. We moved to Perdido Key not long after, and that’s when I really stepped back and started learning my camera. I wanted to know it inside and out, really know what it could do. My husband has naturally always been a gadget guru. We talked one night and decided to start a wedding photography business out of the blue. We started working on branding and advertising back home in Mississippi. We had some amazing and kind photographers refer us in the beginning, which was a huge help! I think the biggest thing that sets us apart is us. There’s no one else like us, and together we’re a pretty great team. Me, the creative and spontaneous dreamer, and Paul the organized and analytical guru. We shoot differently, giving our clients multiple perspectives of their day. We also are Christians above anything else. This fuels us to truly care about our couples and their day. We love serving others on a wedding day in ways other than just photography.
What is it like to work with your husband?
It’s amazing and difficult at the same time. We never dreamed we’d see each other all day (but never really spend quality time together). Being intentional with time away from work is really, really hard. We are also super different types. I could talk about work all day and what I want to do better. Paul would rather have a strict line on when and where those things happen. We’re still working on this after 10 years of working together; we’ll let you know when we get it all figured out.
What’s your approach to running and growing a successful business?
Research. I always tend to go in head-first with very little thought. In the end, that will be a much longer journey. Learn from those who are successful, invest in yourself and your craft, and take your time doing it right. I have unfortunately seen so many people fail in the photography industry because they don’t really know the ins and outs of running a business.
Tell us about your relationships with your clients.
Our favorite clients are the ones who choose moments over details; the ones who throw the list out the window and trust us to capture the reality of their day. We also love when our clients choose to listen to themselves rather than family or Pinterest, staying true to who they are as a couple. We love communicating with our clients! It’s one of the most important parts of what we do. I love giving brides my personal phone number. Nothing makes me happier than when they text me with outfit opinions or questions about the wedding day.
How has being a woman affected your professional experience?
It’s hard to say what comes from being a woman and what comes from character. At times I feel I am more emotional about things, which can be a great thing in some instances and a bad thing in some. I think the world just needs more women as business owners encouraging one another. The world is full of jealousy, and we need less of it.
What are some common misconceptions about your job?
A huge misconception is that it’s always fun and we get a lot of money for doing what we love. Although photography is my passion, there are so many things that go into owning a business that I don’t always enjoy. A lot of days I have to say “no” to my kids and work through the day to get caught up. My husband and I also spend lots of nights watching “The Office” reruns and working side-by-side on the couch. A lot of people think you can just pick up a camera and make a lot of money. That’s far from the truth. I’ve spent so much time investing in this industry and literally keep doing so on a daily basis. Even social media changes constantly. We have to keep up with so many things in this digital world if we want to make it.
How do you balance the responsibilities of your business with your role as a mom?
I used to have a super-unhealthy approach to this, literally working all night and barely sleeping. Taking two half-days during the week to get a sitter and go to a coffee shop has made a tremendous difference. It’s amazing how much work you can get done outside of your home! We are really good about offering to take the kids to do something fun if the other person is behind on work. That goes a long way, too.
What does success look like, to you?
It used to mean getting famous or being known. I’ve realized it’s more about being happy with my life and giving my all to what I choose to do. I try to keep myself inspired by doing some shoots for myself that truly reflect me. A friend and I are starting an online community and photography workshop soon; I would love to see that grow so I can inspire and teach other women in the industry.
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
India Earl, Catherine Masters, Meredith Maloney, Rendy Taylor, Kate Dearman, April Loyle, Moriah Sutton, Maria Newman, and Anni Graham.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
There will be good days and there will be bad days. Allow yourself to turn on some sad tunes and stay in bed once in a while; it makes the awesome days feel even better. You don’t have to always have it together. There’s no such thing as a wrong decision. I choose not to regret anything I’ve done or been through. It’s all growth to me. You’re amazing.
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