The Human Algorithm: Why In Person Networking Still Wins with Tiffany Crenshaw
- Jill C Smith
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
If you are a photographer who feels like you are constantly trying to outsmart Instagram, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.
In this conversation, I sat down with Tiffany Crenshaw of Animal House Photography in North Alabama to talk about something that does not get nearly enough airtime in our industry: in person networking.
Tiffany calls it “the human algorithm.”
And honestly, I love that phrase.
Because while we are all trying to decode social media algorithms, email algorithms, and SEO, there is one algorithm that has always worked and still works today. Real human connection.
Who Is Tiffany Crenshaw?
Tiffany Crenshaw is the owner of Animal House Photography, a North Alabama family and newborn photography studio.
You can see her photography work here:https://www.instagram.com/animalhousephotography/
She is also a business coach for photographers and runs a group coaching program called Booked and Balanced.
You can follow her education account here:https://www.instagram.com/tiffanycrenshaw.edu/
Tiffany was originally a second grade teacher, and you can hear that influence all over this episode. She understands relationship building at a deep level. And that skill has translated directly into her ability to charge higher prices, create loyal repeat clients, and build a sustainable business.
The Move That Forced a Strategy
Tiffany started her photography business in 2018.
Then she moved to Alabama on March 1, 2020.
Twelve days later, the world shut down.
Instead of waiting for business to come back, she made a list of “client adjacent” professionals. Doulas. Small business owners. Other community connectors. She started setting up virtual coffee dates and building relationships.
So when things reopened, she already had momentum.
That runway mattered.
And this is one of the biggest takeaways from the episode:You are not just chasing clients. You are building a network around your clients.
One Small Market. Years of Revenue.
Tiffany tells a story about setting up at a small local market.
Nothing fancy. Just framed prints and a few albums.
She met one client there. That client’s husband was a neurosurgeon. Other doctors saw the images on their walls. Referrals followed.
Years later, that same original client invested $6,000 in a family session.
From one small in person event.
This is what the human algorithm looks like in action.
Why Experience Beats Perfection
We talk a lot in this episode about client experience.
Yes, your technical skill matters.
But people remember how they felt.
They remember how their kids were treated.They remember if their spouse said, “That wasn’t so bad.”They remember how easy everything felt.
And that experience starts before the session even happens.
It starts the moment someone meets you in person.
What In Person Networking Actually Looks Like
This is not about awkward networking events where you trade business cards with roofers and accountants.
Tiffany shares practical examples of what she actually does:
Vendor events and baby expos
Montessori play gyms and mom groups
Teaching iPhone photography classes
Partnering with spas and small businesses
Hosting client appreciation events
Renting out an ice cream shop for her membership clients
She also breaks down what she brings to booths:
Large wall art samples
Albums people can physically hold
Unique products like acrylics
A client closet rack to showcase the full experience
A QR code that links to a lead magnet and tags event attendees in her email list
That last part is important.
If you are going to show up in person, you need a follow up strategy.
You Do Not Need That Many Clients
One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when we talk about numbers.
You do not need to go viral.
You do not need millions of followers.
If you price yourself appropriately and create an incredible experience, you need a relatively small number of well aligned clients each year.
And many of them will come back.
Tiffany also shares how she times price increases, why January can be brutal for confidence, and how she built a membership model that creates predictable monthly income.
If you are in the middle of a pricing shift or thinking about one, you will want to hear this section.
The Real Reason Photographers Avoid Networking
We also go there.
Imposter syndrome.
So many photographers hesitate to say what they do out loud. They sit in PTA meetings, chamber events, or community groups and never mention that they are a photographer.
But visibility requires ownership.
If you are struggling with that internal resistance, this episode will feel like both a challenge and a permission slip.
If You Feel Stuck Online, Start Offline
If you are tired of:
Competing in Facebook mom groups
Watching your Instagram reach shrink
Wondering which trend to follow next
Feeling invisible despite posting consistently
This episode will give you a different path.
Not louder.Not trendier.Just more human.
And then ask yourself one question:
What is one in person connection you could make this month that would move the needle in your business?
Sometimes the most powerful marketing strategy is simply showing up in real life.
If you listen, let me know what stood out to you.
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