Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Santiago.
Hi Ian, 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?
Apologies in advance for the notes, just jotting off the top of my head.
Preface: I am a first-generation American growing up with a single factory working immigrant mother from the Philippines. Everything that I have worked for and done is so that her struggles in America aren’t for nothing. I’ve been working since I was 15 and paid for my college education by sacrificing every summer until I was 23 to a manual labor job in Wisconsin.
I started photography in 2013 (freshmen year of college) doing Senior photos and engagement pictures as an undergrad at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. I ended up moving down to the South to complete my undergrad with an internship in Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island. Upon completing my undergraduate degree, I started working at Sea Pines Country Club as the Assistant Director of Catering and Special events. With about a year of experience in that, I finally decided it was time to go full-time in my career as a photographer and launched my s-corp in November 2018. My entire college career has revolved around events. I was on the campus activities board planning over 120 events a year. I was staffed on the university production team mixing sound and lights to make those events happen for the student body. With a formal education in events and years of experience already committed to the industry, I had experience in the wedding photography industry that most do not.
In the south, I’ve advanced pretty quickly working into the high-end South Carolina wedding market as well as the commercial world in the Lowcountry. I work nationally at both levels now. Wedding photography will always be the bread and butter, but commercial photography is nice and supplementary to income. Especially when the unexpected happens (Covid).
The last 3 years have been extremely successful regardless of Covid. I attribute this building and running a solid business in multiple genres of photography.
Commercial Website: www.ianvsantiago.com
Wedding Website: www.ivsphotography.com
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not.
When I first moved down here, I couch-hopped for the first two weeks. I had nothing but my car and a couple items to my name in the South with not a single friend or family member near. I strictly moved to this market to focus on my career and build my business. I’ve bootstrapped this business from the start. I took my first camera loan out in 2013 as a freshman in college. I come from a very poor background and I’ve had my nose on the grindstone since I was 15.
As a young professional in this industry. I feel I more often than not I have to earn the respect of colleagues and clients where an older photography professional would not have to work for that. Which is fine, I love having the opportunity to blow expectations out of the water.
Of course, COVID was a challenge but, I briefly scaled the business back eliminating any unnecessary expense. I have sequentially done better from 2019 to 2020 to 2021 even through the pandemic. If I had been entirely reliant on wedding photography it would have been a struggle.
Learning the ropes on taxes, going through multiple accountants, and understanding standard business practices has been trial and error but I finally have a firm grasp on how to run an S-corporation.
We’ve been impressed with IVS Photography, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Known for my professionalism. IVS Photography is a fully insured and licensed S-corporation. I feel in a world that is over-saturated with BS education and photogs “making it” on social media we have lost track of the more important aspects of running a small business, ACTUALLY running a small business.
I’ve vowed to not do education until I have 15 years of experience in the industry. I am currently approaching 9. For weddings and personal work, I shoot, develop, and scan all of my own film. All wedding and commercial work is shot on medium format digital and film.
I’d say I’m proud of pushing myself to get better at the craft in legitimate ways. I spend a good chunk monetarily and time-wise to education.
I do work for Burnt Church Distillery, Lot 9 Brewing Company, Fraser Construction, The Montage Palmetto Bluff, and plethora of other business in the Lowcountry. I’ve been published in publications all over the country. (South Magazine, US Weekly, People Magazine, Carats and Cake, and more).
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Reach out to me on social. I’m all about growth and helping other photogs not make the mistakes I’ve made in business. This industry can be cutthroat but I truly believe in community over competition.
Pricing:
- Average Wedding: 6-9k
Contact Info:
- Email: ian@ivsphotography.com
- Website: www.ivsphotography and www.ianvsantiago.com
- Instagram: ianvsantiago
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ivsphotography
