76. From Struggle Bus to Six-Figure Success with New Hampshire Elopement Photographer Vanessa Halliday

Think making money from elopements is impossible? My guest today is here to bust that myth. Vanessa Halliday is an elopement photographer based in the white mountains of New Hampshire. She went from studying kinesiology to being a struggling wedding photographer to having a thriving elopement photography business on the East Coast, and she is sharing her story of how she did it.

 

During the conversation, Vanessa opens up about the challenges she faced in 2023 of being overworked, relying on social media to get bookings, and having crippling anxiety and depression. However, through all of the struggles, she found a turning point.

 

She invested in a business coach and manifested her goals, which helped her achieve the success she had always hoped for. Vanessa went from making $18K in 2023 to already booking $110K in elopements this year alone! Now, she’s booked with clients she loves, traveling to national parks, and hoping to retire her fiancé within the next 5 years.

 

She also gives advice to those on the fence about pivoting from weddings to elopements - Take the biggest deep breath of your life and dive in head first. Figure out a way to go and invest in yourself because if you do the work intentionally, you’ll absolutely change the inner workings of your business, your mind, and how you operate as a human, and you will find success.

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In this episode, we chat about:

• Vanessa’s backstory - how she went from kinesiology to photography
• Why Vanessa’s 2023 was so tough and the difference 2024 has been
• Busting the myth that you can make money with elopements
• The turning point for Vanessa that made her realize this was going to be successful
• Overcoming comparison
• How Vanessa was able to convert elopement couples when she hadn’t photographed a ton of elopements
• Vanessa’s advice for those who want to pivot into elopements

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Connect with Vanessa:

Instagram: @‌vanessa_halliday

Website: vanessahalliday.com

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Connect with Megan:

🔥 Grab my mini-course How to Book Elopements for only $9.

🔥 Watch my free workshop, Cheap & Easy Google Ads, to learn how to get on the first page of Google using paid ads.

🔥 Get my free Elopement Planning Questionnaire, so you can streamline your elopement planning process and get 5-star reviews from your couples.

🔥 Learn more about The Elopement Photographer Mastermind™️.

If this episode made you feel stoked, be sure to share it with a friend, leave a review, or DM me on Instagram at @‌stokedwithmeganmacphail and let me know your thoughts.

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