Meet Sydney Browning | Owner of Sydney B Photography LLC

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

Hi Sydney, how do you think about risk?
My whole business is one big risk. When I bought my camera, the business did not come with it. And I truly believe that risk is an essential part of life. I believe risk is where we are able to apply faith and hope and it’s very uncomfortable but it tends to be a catalyst for growth and isn’t that what life is about? Growth? I can’t imagine just staying as I am for the rest of my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This is always a hard question to answer because I don’t feel that my story is all the unique. When you get down to the root of it all, I wanted change in my life so I took a risk to implement the change I was looking for. It was definitely NOT easy. I was plagued with imposter syndrome for so, so long. There were times I wouldn’t dare bring up my business because saying the words, “I’m a photographer” felt so wrong. I still struggle with it sometime, especially when people talk about photography gear, but I’m mostly over it. I overcame it with a little bit of false confidence as funny as that sounds. I faked my confidence and it eventually grew into real confidence. Actually just this last weekend I had a fake-it-til-you-make-it moment (and I’ve been in business over 5 years now). I was at the Raleigh Wedding Expo and I had no idea how to put together a booth. My poor booth was so small and underwhelming compared to all the big booths with TVs and fun gifts for the people there. But I put on a smile and did what I do best which is talking to people. The fake confidence grew into real confidence and I’ve already booked 2 weddings with a few more in the works.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Most people that come out to visit me are from Utah and are truly visiting to see how/where we live so what we love might be a little strange to people from around here. First thing’s first, Bo-Berry biscuits are for breakfast. We love those things! Then there’s always a beach trip or two, Top Sail, Carolina Beach and Myrtle being some of our favorites. We always have to take people to experience Cookout and Waffle House at some point and we like to drive them around town to show them how small it is (we are in Lillington). On Friday nights we take people to County Seat to eat and watch others do karaoke (not brave enough yet to try ourselves) and occasionally we’ll float the Cape Fear river. We typically enjoy sitting on our back deck and catch up in the mornings and the evenings when the weather is just right. One time my friend came out for a hurricane and we just “enjoyed” the weather while she was here. It’s strange but we love where we live and introducing people to our more laid back life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Holy cow there are so many people that deserve a shoutout! I would be NOWHERE without my husband, first off. My photography business was his idea and without his encouragement I would have never thought it possible. Nor would I have taken the risk. Jenny Dunton is another that comes to mind. She was one of my first clients when I moved to NC and she spread my name like wildfire. She was so encouraging of my business and her encouragement alone helped boost my confidence tenfold. Then there’s some of my best friends, Taylor LaMay and Natalie Campbell, and my mom. Taylor has helped with website design, brand design and given me ideas when I ask (from 2000 miles away no less). Natalie is brilliant and has believed in my business since before I believed in myself. She was one of my first clients ever- paying full price even though I never would have asked her to. My mom, well she’s a mom. She has a great artistic eye and the day my photos received praise from her I knew I made it! I have to shoutout Keri Taylor and her husband too. Keri and I were both starting photography together and her husband helped us to land our first ever wedding.

And of course I need to shoutout everyone who has ever hired me. Many of my clients have become good friends and I obviously would not be where I am without them.

Like I said, SO many people!

Website: https://sydneybphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneybphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydneybphotographync

Image Credits
These are all mine, the beauty of being a photographer