Meet Autumn Theodore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Theodore.  

Hi Autumn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
A couple years after graduating from college, I got my first DSLR camera for $600 in the fall of 2011. I never thought about having my own business, but I certainly thought it would be pretty cool to someday make that $600 back since this was just a hobby camera. 

After reading the manual, watching YouTube videos, and asking friends about how to use flash, I began sharing my photos online – just for fun. People quickly started to reach out and ask if I’d do family photos, engagement photos, and eventually wedding photos…all within a year of having bought the camera. 

After a couple years, I realized I wanted to transition into business photography and step away from individual/family sessions. I started a food blog called Best of the Menu (helping me connect with so many people in Columbus), went to networking events, and found myself meeting so many new people. I could quickly tell the work I was putting into just meeting people (not selling to them or giving them an elevator pitch!) would really help me long-term. 

My business grew each year. I finally thought it would be safe to make the leap, and I reached my goal of being self-employed before my 30th birthday. It felt like (and still feels like) a dream – most days, I wake up whenever I want, I travel anytime I like, and I have the best colleagues – we often fill in when the other is unavailable. 

When I bought that first camera for $600, I wouldn’t have believed it if someone told me I’d make $50,000 as a photographer in the first five years. I would’ve dropped to the floor if someone told me I’d make nearly half a million in the first decade. 

Alright, 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?
It’s been an overall very smooth road for me. However, I am naturally extroverted, pretty tenacious, and very self-disciplined. I realize this isn’t natural for everyone, and others may need to get here having gone down a totally different path. And I respect that so much. 

I am very fortunate that the work I do aligns very closely with the person I am. It feels good to me, and all of my choices have felt right. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While photographers are often called “artists,” I feel more like a businessperson. 

Yes, I am creative, of course! But my work is focused on learning about my client’s needs, collaborating with marketing teams, and creating solutions for their print and digital needs. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I used to be so inspired by listening to the “How I Built This” podcast by Guy Raz. I needed it at a time when I wasn’t sure if I’d ever actually make it to being self-employed! 

Now, I listen most often to “Stuff You Should Know” because I love podcasts for learning about science, history, and human behavior. 

As for books, I’m also more into nonfiction and history. While I’m sure several books helped me early on professionally, I find the following three books (all read in the past 2-3 years) most helpful to understand how we got here politically, culturally, and geographically. I think they should be read by everyone: 

– American Nations by Colin Woodard 

– Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez 

– Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser 

Contact Info:

• Website: autumntheodore.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/autumntheodorephotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/autumntheodore/

Photography work by Autumn

Image Credits
Photos of Autumn by Megan Leigh Barnard