Supplier Spotlight: Faye Cornhill

Faye Cornhill Photography; Faye Cornhill Coaching; Faye Cornhill Podcaster; Faye Cornhill Author. However you have come across this remarkable woman, she will have undoubtedly had a positive impact on you. I have known Faye since January 2020 when I joined her memberhsip The Wedding Business Club: a coaching membership designed specifically for wedding suppliers. The changes I have made both to myself and my business in these few short months have all been down to Faye and her approach. So, I tentatively asked if she would be part of my blog and she said yes! What followed was an hour long chat about all things weddings, business building and essentially all things Faye Cornhill.

Faye's career in the wedding industry started out when she set up her photography business over a decade ago. She grew up around photography but she wasn't the sort of child who always had a camera around her neck; instead it was her father who captured their family memories. She saw photography as a "cool" art form and enjoying this replaced the idea that she was "not good at art". Like many people, Faye never grew up thinking she would have a career in the arts; she just knew she loved photographs. 

She was encouraged to go to drama school but chose university instead to pursue her dreams of being a journalist, specifically a photo journalist. She ended up working at the BBC, achieving a long term goal. However, she quickly found that she could not sustain the lifestyle or have the life she wanted on the salary she was on. 

A corporate sales job complete with targets and deadlines came next. However, Faye says she always knew something was missing but didn't know what that thing was. 

By this time, Faye had become a wife and children were quickly on the horizon. While she pregnant with her daughter, Faye enrolled in a photography course. And that was it - the flame was lit. She went all in on setting up a photography business and gave 100% commitment to that. Alongside 100% commitment to her growing family AND to her corporate job. But that's the thing about Faye and one of the many reasons she is such an amazing coach - she gives herself fully to everything. 

So Faye was employed, self employed, raising 2 children and shooting 20 weddings a year. Something had to give and that something was her full time job. She was putting herself under too much pressure and describes this time as a "time bomb". She took the leap of faith and followed her intuition that photography was her way forward. Of course there were sacrifies - holidays had to go by the wayside but she more than makes up for that now - she is an avid traveller!

Faye Cornhill Photography
Let's look more at Faye's photography business, born over a deacade ago.

Ever since she was a child and saw her father carefully putting his photographs into albums, she has felt the power of a photo to transport you back to the time it was taken. She also sees photographs as a link to the past and future - she can show her children and grandchildren photographs of her as a child and with her parents. 

It's exactly the same with weddings. Who doesn't love poring over their parents' wedding photos, recognising relatives and friends? Ok, maybe I love it a bit too much but the stories that come out in conversation while looking at these memories - they're golden!

Faye loves love and adores weddings. She always thought her style would be more journalistic given her background and she will be the one in the middle of the dancefloor getting the best shot. But her style is much more relaxed, she's an open person and is emotionally invested in your day and this certainly shines through. 

Faye Cornhill Photography Website

Faye Cornhill Coaching
This is how I met Faye, through her Broke to Booked 5 Day Challenge she ran on Facebook in January. At first I thought "oh ok let's see what I get from this" having taken part in a few other challenges that had proved worthless. Within one day, I knew this was different. Faye's approach is "start where you are" and then build from there. 

But let's rewind. How did Faye the Photographer become Faye the Coach? It actually started with a request from a florist for help with her business. She had admired Faye's business acumen from afar, all of which she had learnt in her previous salaried life. Her first thought was "I don't know anything about floristry" but then she realised that so many of the skills and information are transferable to all suppliers. 

She was then approached by the photography school she had studied at and asked to teach students how to take photographs and also how to run their business. This sort of training would have been gold dust to Faye in the early days - we all need help starting up!

This felt like a natural step for Faye and she soon started coaching 1 to 1. After becoming a certified coach and business mentor, she set up her first coaching programme - Booked in 90. She has now run this numerous times and her clients have achieved astonishing results through it. 

In October 2019, The Wedding Business Club was born. Faye describes this as a "community which acts as a place where people can go to feel like they are in the right place... You can learn so much from other people who have done what you're trying to do, who are also trying to do the same things as you and also people who are about to try to do the thing you're doing. It doesn't matter where you are on that journey.... It is also a learning platform and I truly believe there is always a better way to do the thing that you are doing."

See how Faye can help your Wedding Business

 Faye Cornhill Podcaster

Faye admits she was late the the party as a consumer of podcasts and it has only been in the last year that she has delved into the world. She describes herself as a "learning junkie" (something we definitely bonded over) and finds that even the school run gives her 15 minutes to learn something. Enter podcasts!

Faye's podcast, The Wedding Business Podcast, launched during lockdown - arguably the best time to launch a new product. At the time of posting, series one has come to an end but it has been stuffed full of useful information, meditations and interviews with wedding industry experts. One of Faye's absolute musts is that all the guests are members of The Wedding Business Club - just another thing she gives back to us lucky members.

Listen to Faye's Podcast

Faye Cornhill Author

You might think, "how can Faye add more to her plate?" but it's not about taking on more for Faye, it's about giving more. The seed of the idea for her book was planted by a friend during celebratory drinks for her book deal. She suggested Faye put pen to paper and, although initailly sceptical, Faye soon took on the challenge. Her mission is "to help as many people as possible build a successful wedding business" - there's lots of us and only one of Faye. 

Faye admits this as yet untitled book has been a challenge but she is incredibly proud of it. It will be a tool for wedding business owners, a manual for anything and everything you might need help with. I certainly can't wait for its November publication! #preorder

One of the biggest things I have achieved since being a member of the Wedding Business Club is an improvement in my mindset. This is Faye's top priority and she believes that nothing can come without the right mindset. I wanted to know where this had come from and why it is so important.

Faye has always had a strong intuition and an innate trust in her own judgements. Even as a child she thought "I can make this happen". She's very into sport, mainly watching, but playing "on my own terms". She has always wondered what is the difference between those who fufil their potential and those who don't - for example, elite sportsmen and women. She says "the power of the mind is unknown". Faye is an absolute inspiration with this and her attitude of "I'm scared but I'll do it anyway" is amazing. 

Faye Cornhill Mother/Wife/Dog Owner/Travel Junkie
So what is this energetic, positive fireball like outside of her amazing end-of-the-garden office (#workspacegoals)? Well, she admits she's easily pleased and loves nothing more than spending time at home or in the woods with her labrador. She adores travelling though, and the family have been known to take exotic holidays, always with an emphasis on introducing their children to new cultures and ways of living. She loves food, reading menus in restaurants, but hates cooking. Luckily, her husband is a fan.

So how to sum up my chat with Faye? Well, although I made notes, I have been back and rewatched our Zoom chat and I have to admit, I just had so much fun chatting to her. She is such a down to earth, honest and hilarious woman that she really does light up the room (or screen). There's a reason people are drawn to her energy and strategies - you just feel good after you've been with Faye.

I can't wait to actually meet her face to face!