24: Embracing Your Inner Weirdo: How Jen Sulak Found Success with Weirdo Weddings

In this episode, Jen Sulak shares her journey to becoming an accidental CEO in the world of photography. She talks about the challenges she faced in transitioning from a traditional career path to running her own business. Jan also discusses how she discovered her niche in weirdo weddings and the importance of celebrating uniqueness and building a community. She shares memorable professional highlights, including being featured on Sony’s Facing Creativity, and the lessons she learned about herself and creativity through that experience. In this conversation, Jen from Weirdo Weddings Photography discusses her collaboration with Sony, facing fear, and the power of creativity. She also talks about starting her podcast ‘Tattoos and Toddlers’ as a way to explore the balance between business and personal life. Jen shares inspiring stories from her podcast and emphasizes the importance of being authentic in a saturated market. She also reflects on a failure she experienced in evolving her brand and offers advice for photographers and entrepreneurs.

The Accidental CEO Podcast is more than just a podcast; it’s a community of creative minds eager to transform their accidental titles into intentional successes. So, if you’re passionate about what you do but unsure how to fall in love with the business side of things, let Nata guide you. Subscribe to the Accidental CEO Podcast and join a vibrant community of creative entrepreneurs ready to make their mark on the business world. Together, let’s turn your passion project into your success story.

For full show notes and resources head to accidentalceo.co/podcast

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Hello everyone, welcome back to the Accidental CEO Podcast. Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Jen Sulak, also known as “Pink Hair Jen”, the creative force behind Weirdo Weddings Photography. With her vibrant pink hair and artistic flair, Jen has carved out a unique niche in the wedding photography industry, celebrating unconventional and wonderfully weird weddings.

From Engineering Aspirations to Artistic Realization

Jen’s journey to becoming a photographer wasn’t a straight path. Initially set to pursue a career in engineering, Jen realized she wasn’t cut out for the traditional classroom environment. Her creative spirit led her to explore various fields before discovering her passion for photography. The turning point came when she was encouraged by friends to start her own photography business after being laid off from a data entry job. This leap into entrepreneurship marked the beginning of her transformation into an accidental CEO.

Overcoming Challenges and Finding Her Niche

Transitioning from working for someone else to running her own business wasn’t easy. Jen had to learn the ins and outs of business management and photography simultaneously. The real game-changer for Jen came in 2012 when she attended a photography conference that allowed her to embrace her identity as both an artist and an entrepreneur. This pivotal moment helped her realize that she could merge her artistic vision with her business acumen, leading to the creation of Weirdo Weddings Photography.

The Birth of Weirdo Weddings Photography

The idea for Weirdo Weddings Photography was born during the pandemic when Jen had time to reflect on her true passions. With the support of Zoom calls and community encouragement, she decided to focus on serving couples who embraced their unique and quirky identities. The term “weirdo” was inspired by her art group, which celebrated unconventional creativity. Jen realized that many couples she had worked with over the years were wonderfully creative and didn’t fit the traditional wedding mold. By naming her brand Weirdo Weddings, Jen created a space for couples to feel seen and celebrated for their individuality.

Defining the Essence of a Weirdo Wedding

A weirdo wedding isn’t just about dramatic themes or over-the-top creativity. It’s about embracing one’s inner weirdness, whether it’s expressed externally or kept internal. Jen’s clients range from those who are openly eccentric to introverts who quietly appreciate unconventional elements. The common thread is that these couples value authenticity and creativity, and they want their weddings to reflect their true selves. Jen’s approach to photography is to make her clients feel seen and appreciated, creating a sense of acceptance and belonging.

Building a Supportive Community

One of the highlights of Jen’s career has been collaborating with other like-minded professionals. For example, she teamed up with Lizzie and Chris of Lizzie Gator in Pilot Point, Texas. Together, they created a unique wedding venue that reflects their quirky vision. This partnership helped both businesses gain visibility and credibility within the wedding industry. By linking arms with others who share her values, Jen has built a supportive community that uplifts and celebrates creativity.

Memorable Professional Highlights

Jen’s journey has been filled with memorable moments, including being featured on Sony’s Facing Creativity series with Brooke Shaden. This experience allowed Jen to explore her creativity and face her fears, resulting in a powerful and raw expression of her artistic vision. She also cherishes her feature on a Blue Man Group DVD, which highlights her passion for blending art and events in unique ways.

Starting a Podcast: Tattoos and Toddlers

Jen’s latest venture, the podcast Tattoos and Toddlers, explores the challenges of balancing business and personal life. The podcast was inspired by conversations with fellow entrepreneurs and parents who navigate similar struggles. Jen aims to provide a platform for honest discussions about managing guilt, time, and the duality of being a business owner and a caretaker.

Balancing Personal and Professional Life

Jen emphasizes the importance of using a calendar to manage her time effectively. She schedules not only work commitments but also family time and rest periods. By planning ahead and being realistic about her commitments, Jen ensures she can devote quality time to both her business and her family.

Advice for New Entrepreneurs

Jen’s advice for new entrepreneurs is to be authentically themselves. In a saturated market, standing out requires staying true to one’s identity and values. She encourages new business owners to embrace their uniqueness and to continually refine their message to attract the right audience.

Learning from Failures

Jen’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. She shares candidly about the difficulties of branding and how she had to undergo multiple name changes before finding one that clearly communicated her business. Her experience underscores the importance of clarity and persistence in finding a brand identity that resonates with clients.

Conclusion

Jen Sulak’s story is a testament to the power of embracing one’s uniqueness and pursuing a passion with authenticity. Her journey from an accidental CEO to the founder of Weirdo Weddings Photography inspires creative entrepreneurs to find their niche and celebrate their individuality. To learn more about Jen and her work, follow Weirdo Weddings on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Thank you for joining us on the Accidental CEO Podcast. Stay tuned for more inspiring interviews and practical tips. See you next week!

Mentioned in this Episode
Accidental CEO
1:1 Coaching with Nata
Boost Your Confidence Workbook

Connect with Jen
Website – Photography site
Instagram- Photography
Speaker Website
Speaker Instagram