Olivia Plath: Why Fewer High-Quality Jobs And Clear Boundaries Are The Ultimate Antidote To Creative Burnout

As a part of our series about “5 Things Anyone Can Do To Take Stunning Photos” I had the pleasure of interviewing Olivia Plath.

Best recognized for appearing in the TLC hit series, Welcome to Plathville, Olivia Plath has made a name for herself as a destination wedding photographer for the wild-at-heart lovers. Traveling all over the country to capture others’ most intimate moments, fans from the series have gotten a small glimpse into Olivia’s talents. Outside the series’ massive success, Olivia can be seen as more than just a girl with a camera and portfolio, taking pride in her art and capturing the little moment that creates magical portraits with a focus on candids and emotions that complete her client’s stories.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Thank you for asking me to share my story with you! I guess you could say that the art of photography is in my DNA because my Pop-pop was interested in nature photography and collected film cameras. My earliest memories of him are sitting on his lap to hold his camera and “help” him take a photo of the deer in the backyard or my siblings playing on the front lawn. He passed away when I was 6, and at that point, I just knew that someday I would own a camera like pop-pop and take photos of things that I loved. That dream came true when I was 17, and while I started with nature photography like Pop, I quickly realized that my passion was in capturing people and their personalities instead.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

Last year, I was photographing an elopement in Alaska, and in the middle of my couple saying their vows in Denali National Park, a moose wandered into the background and can be seen in all of their ceremony photos. It was a surreal experience, just me, my couple, and a nearby moose during a sacred ceremony in the Alaskan wilderness. It’s a story I won’t forget anytime soon!

I was also able to share some behind-the-scenes of shooting a wedding on Season 4 of Welcome to Plathville. The footage highlighted how amazing my clients were and the kind of connection I build with my clients to give them the best experience possible. It made both me and my clients proud to share their love for the world to see.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I had been shooting weddings for about two years when I was hired to shoot a December wedding in Michigan. I was naive enough not to check the weather or pack accordingly, so I bought my usual outfit, a black romper, and flats. Needless to say, it started snowing the night before the wedding, and the daytime temperature was frigid. Guess who had to shoot an entire wedding walking around in the snow in cheap flats with snow packing inside her shoes? You guessed it, haha! I learned to be prepared and do my research before arriving in a new location for a shoot or wedding. Now I check the weather forecast, UV rays, specific location tips, and lighting. That’s a mistake I won’t make again!

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

I realized early on in the wedding industry that many brides feel overwhelmed in the planning process, and a photographer that takes the time to get to know their client immediately stands out.

I distinctly remember shooting a wedding a few years back where there was a lot of family drama, and I had a meeting with my couple before the wedding day to make sure I understood the situation and could diffuse any drama that started to stress her out. She later returned to me and thanked me for speaking up for her, going the extra mile to be diplomatic with her in-laws, and turning the focus back to her and her new husband. Part of what makes my company stand out is that I get to know my clients, fight and speak up for them, and work hard to represent my client’s wishes and make their photographic experience as stress-free and fun as possible.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

It’s easy to learn this the hard way, especially when you are starting out and you are tempted to take any job opportunities, but decide up front what kind of client you want to work with and then turn down work that doesn’t align with your ideal client base. Fewer jobs of higher quality or preferential content will help prevent burnout and keep you feeling passionate about the art you create!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Early in my photography career, I met another seasoned photographer named Amaris. Her advice, personality, and approach to life were just as unique and playful as her name. She was an amazing mentor who gave me job opportunities shadowing her while shooting weddings or couples sessions and encouraged me not to take life too seriously. She gave me connections, life wisdom from her stories, and many laughs. Even though I haven’t seen Amaris in years, I’ll always be grateful to her.

Are you working on any exciting projects now?

While I am still taking on 10–15 weddings each year, I am excited to step into some different ventures as well. I’ve been collaborating with several talented designers and artists on a fashion project, and I cannot wait to share that with my followers soon.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

From day one of owning a business or being a public figure, I have put effort into connecting with people and making them feel seen and represented. We all see life through our own experiences, but being genuine and vulnerable gives me a platform and audience where I can bring awareness and spread love. I hope that my daily interactions with clients, friends, and followers make them feel just as special and valuable as they truly are!

Can you share “5 Things Anyone Can Do To Take Stunning Photos”? Please share an example for each.

I love this idea of a succinct approach towards higher-quality photographs!

1. If you are taking photos of yourself or a friend, practice posing in the mirror first. I know this sounds silly, but human bodies are truly unique art, and you will feel more confident in your photos if you learn your best angles. We all want to feel more confident, right?!

2. Lighting is more important than the background, trust me. Facing the source of light will give you an edgier, editorial feel, and putting your back to the source of light will be softer and diffused. Neither is wrong, but pay attention to the lighting in your photos because that can’t be magically fixed with editing. And don’t be scared to play around with shadows and silhouettes!

3. Interesting photographs are the ones that catch our eye. Using leading lines, unique poses, display of genuine emotions, or intriguing elements/backgrounds will make your photos pop and draw people in.

4. Buy some helpful tools like a tripod or a remote shutter. Investing in quality lenses’ if you own a camera is key. If you are using a phone, get to know your camera settings and how you can tweak them to enhance the quality of your photos. You can download various apps that will give you even more tools. Knowledge is important, but good gear or settings is half of the equation.

5. It is so easy to over-process an image, but I personally believe that a photograph’s charm lies closest to its raw form. Don’t get me wrong, I edit all the images I deliver to my clients, but you’ll find me tweaking white balance and exposure, not photoshopping and removing every pore. Human beings are not meant to be perfect, and it can be hard to remember that in today’s age of social media, influencers and models. Embrace the imperfections as part of who you are, and others will embrace them as well. You are stunning just the way you are!

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I am passionate about Mental Health, and I have dreams of creating a platform to help provide access to professional therapists around the world. Destigmatizing therapy and making the thought of getting help less scary and more readily available is a goal of mine in the next few years. It might sound just like a platform or an idea, but I believe that it would start a movement towards a healthier and happier world.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

I love sharing glimpses of my life on Instagram, and you can find me @oliviamarieplath, or on my website oliviamarieplath.com.

Thank you for these great insights, and for the time you spent on this. We wish you continued success.