fun features coming soon.

There are some really fantastic women coming up over the next 4 months.  I'm so excited about these women, their willingness to share, and their open and honest way about business and life.  I can't wait for you to see these interviews.  You're going to love them.  I know that they are inspiring me!

We've had over 25 insightful, wonderful women already...Bambi Cantrell....Elizabeth Messina...Dawn Davis....Nichole Van...Susan Stripling...Angela Anderson...Jaclyn Kaiser {Image is Found}...Sarah Petty...Millie Holloman...Wendy Whitacre {Blue Lily}...Julia Woods...Melanie Mauer...Amber Holritz (the very first feature!)...and soooo many more.

You have to see the entire Women and Business series here.

November 26:  Happy Thanksgiving!

December 3:  Storey Wilkins

December 10:  Liz Banfield

December 17:  Chenin Boutwell

December 24:  Happy Christmas!

December 31:  Merry New Year!

January 7:  Jasmine Star

January 14:  Lauren Clark

January 21:  Bobbi {Bobbi + Mike}

January 28:  Sam Puc

February 4:  Emilie Sommer

February 11:  Mary Marantz

February 18:  Jenn Bebb

February 25:  Jesse Chamberlain {Our Labor of Love}

March 4:  Christine Hall

March 11:  Jessica Kettle

March 18:  Eliesa {Photogen Inc.}

March 25:  Amy Smith

April 1:  Sarah Rhodes

April 8:  Rachel LaCour

April 15:  Shannon Sewell

April 22: Melanie McClellan

April 29:  Laura Cottril

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I'd love to hear what you're thankful for...

real. LIFE.

***All images in this post are copyright Millie Holloman. ***

NEXT WEEK: Thanksgiving!  I'll be posting the NEW schedule through April 2010 of fantastic women you'll get to hear from on Women and Business.  Make sure to check in.

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear dot com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as I do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

You have a very large studio with four associate photographers, a studio manager, and an image editor/album designer.  How do you do it all? 

It's a learning process! To think that just two years ago I was doing about 15 weddings a year and lots of family sessions on my own with a studio manager and now we have 4 photography teams doing 70+ weddings a year with 2-3 full time studio staff (depending on the time of year) still blows my mind. We grew fast so we just take it one step at a time getting through each day by trying to set systems in place that make our business scaleable. Having ShootQ helps so that we can all stay organized. Some of my photographers live in different cities so having a program like ShootQ is huge for lead management, booking, correspondence and more. I also could not do it all without an amazing team who puts their heart and soul into being the best at what we do!

You are very busy.  What do you do to make time at home with your family?

I have a 2.5 year old nephew and I really love getting to see him on the weekends. I try to keep my personal wedding booking down to about 15 weddings a year and hope to eventually get to only 5-10. This way I'll be able to spend more time with my family on the weekends. This past two years has taken a lot of my time and I know that this sacrifice of time now is going to reap huge rewards of being open to do whatever/whenever I want in the future. However, there are some things I do to set boundaries... I don't work on Sunday so that is a good day to be with my family and if I don't have a wedding on Saturday I don't schedule anything else either. I also try to stick to the office hours I have set so that my evenings are open for family and friends.

You constantly have new projects, workshops, and products that you are working on.  How do you decide what to work on next or right now?  How do you keep everything straight? 

My staff actually pick on me for this. My image editor recently stated in a blog post while I was out of town one week, 

                        "Millie isn't here to run around with too many things to do in one day, make me laugh out loud from the other room, dream too big, rush in from the latest grocery store trip and excitedly say "We're having a team lunch today!!!!", or come up with a brand-new, brilliant project to tackle in the midst of our other 2,372 projects we're currently tackling... "  

I often create new projects before one project is finished because I get so excited about it. I just try to go with the things that make the most sense for my business and drop the things that don't. Keeping a tight eye on my vision is key for this because it's easy to get distracted. 

I keep everything straight by making folders for everything (both physically and for my email program) and I try to keep the current workshops to a minimum because as you and I both know Davina, they take a LOT of work!

How do you keep things organized and running smoothly?  Do you have a system that works for you?

I do have a system that works for me and it's way too much to share in this interview. I am about as ADD as they come so I MUST have a system in place to get anything done. You'll get to find out this March when our "Get It Together" kit goes on sale at WPPI. Here we'll share out secrets of how we do it all and run the back end of the studio.

What are the three most important things you do as a business woman?

Keep scaleable systems in place and FOLLOW them! 

Put the right people in the right positions and maintain clear communication with my team

say NO, things don't always fit like a glove so I've had to learn to recognize when they don't and go with my gut.

What are the three most important things you do as a friend/daughter/sister?

Take time to be with those you love / quality time is HUGE!

Send fun little gifts/tokens to let other's know I am thinking of them and offer a nice surprise.

Verbalize your appreciation for others in your life often!

You have a nephew that you adore, what do you do to make time for him?  What’s your favorite thing to do with him?

I will drop by their house, call them up and say I need some "Gavin time" and he comes over to my parents a lot so I see him there as well, I also babysit him once in a while. Our last BIG outing was Chick-fil-A and a trip to the theater for a 3D showing of Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. My favorite thing to do with him is to take him places for new experiences. This year I took him to the circus for the first time and I learned just how hard it is to deal with a little one and try to take photos solo in a public place. I also love to just sit with him on the couch and read a book or when he pulls my arm for me to come play with him on the floor. He really warms my heart!

It seems like you travel quite a bit.  How does this fit into your extremely busy schedule locally?

The more I travel, the less I like it. Don't get me wrong I enjoy exploring new places and shooting in new cities but I also really LOVE to be home. The bigger my business gets, the harder it gets to manage from the road but because of my amazing staff I'm still able to do it. As far as my schedule locally, I try to make travel plans months in advance so that I can still book sessions, appointments and commercial shoots locally. Somehow it all just comes together!

How do you know that you need to take a break from business?  What do you do when you need a break?

When I need a break, I usually get really unmotivated, become blocked and get irritated easily. Some breaks are small like me coming in late, scheduling a massage, treating myself to lunch with a friend, etc. Other breaks need to be more extensive so I book a trip to visit a friend, take several days away from the studio or tackle a new creative project that pulls me away from my computer. 

What do you do to stay inspired?

I flip through a lot of magazines; try to find beauty in the small everyday things life has to offer and most of all I talk with all of my amazing friends. The people I have surrounded myself with bring me so much passion and vision and I always get fired up after a good phone call with them!

What made you decide to have have a large photography studio instead of a small boutique studio?

I was turning down a LOT of weddings because I was booked and I knew I had the potential to grow. I am an entrepreneur at heart and I love to dream and create so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. It's more like it chose me! But honestly, I love the hustle and bustle of a BIG studio and would not trade it for anything.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I'm proud of how far we have come. When I look back at MHP from the beginnings as me just out taking photos for friends and families I can't help but smile and thank God for his provision and guidance. It just feels good!

How do you post on your blog so often?  Do you have a system for quick blogging?

Yes! We do have a system! Our fastest thing we do for blogging is use a custom created action by Brent Holloman Design (www.brentholloman.com). This helps us resize the images for blogging in seconds and it's the best blogging investment I’ve ever made!

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I don't. I often feel overwhelmed but I just keep making lists, delegating responsibilities and trusting my team to make things happen!

What three products or things help you stay organized

ShootQ 

Our Flow Boards in the office (which we'll share more about soon)

Our Flow Stand (something else you'll hear more about soon)

You give quite a few workshops that I imagine are largely attended by women.  After having the chance to see up close and personal the that struggles that women have in our industry,  I have two questions…

1.  What is something that you think women in the industry should not do?

Try to do it all. You can't be all things to all people. You just have to define what it is you want in life and try your best to stick to doing JUST that!

2.  What is something that you think women in the industry should do?

Take more time for themselves to pamper themselves and take a moment to inspire themselves by really dwelling on their accomplishments.

To see more of Millie's work: 

website

blog

***All images in this post are copyright Millie Holloman. ***

***All images in this post are copyright Melanie Nashan. ***

Above image:  Melanie and her husband taken by James Emerson

NEXT WEEK: Me Ra Koh

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear dot com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as I do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

You’ve been in business for 16 years.  What process have you gone through to get to this point?  

There have been a lot of trial and errors over the years.  The most important things for my business have been perseverance and knowing what my weaknesses and strengths are.  I think being able to realize your weaknesses and then hire people who are good at those tasks is imperative to running a successful business.
 
From all of your experience, what are 5 things you recommend to women NOT to do?
Don’t try to do everything.
Don’t forget your priorities.
Don’t take yourself or what you do too seriously.
Don’t do things that you are ashamed of.
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
 
And on the other side of things…what are 5 things that you’ve learned that women must do to succeed as a business woman?
Do what you LOVE.  And LOVE the people you are around.

Surround yourself with people who do their job better than you can.

Exceed your clients expectations.

Try to live a balanced life, take care of yourself and have fun.

Diversify.  I love wedding photography, portrait photography, working on assignment for magazines and hosting workshops for groups and for individual photographers.

Dream big and do your best to make them come true.
    
 
You are very busy.  What do you do to keep things normal at home with your family?
I work as little as I possible can so I can stay home with my kids and husband.  My husband also owns his own business, the Montana Watch Co., and while that is sometimes difficult it also offers us the opportunity to be very flexible.  I am involved in my kids school and try to coach at least one sport for Colem our youngest child.  (I did the same for Keegan when she was younger.)  We live out in the woods, about 20 minutes from town, which is time consuming to commute, but it provides a place that is quiet and away from distraction.  I also cook as many meals at home as possible so that we can eat together.  We also travel a lot as a family.  We have always taken our children with us on trips and LOVE to travel together.
 
What are your top 3 tips for bringing in the clients that you want and love?
Know what your market is and focus on those clients.
Exceed every clients expectations so they talk about you to their friends.
Take the time to make a personal connection with everyone I work with.
 
You have a huge studio with 7 photographers in addition to you.  How did that change the dynamic of your business and family?  Are you glad you did it?
In one regard I am glad that I have a lot of photographers working with me.  I really enjoy each and every one of them.  One is my daughter, the other my sister, another a friend from middle school and the rest people that I have met along the way whom I really respect and enjoy.  I am actually trying to focus more on my work in the future rather than gathering associates who work with me. The people who work with me now know their job well and do it to the best of their abilities.  They are lovely to work with and take little of my time to manage.  Over the years having associates has taken a lot of my time and energy and I now think I could have spent some of my time a little more efficiently.  
http://nashan.com/artists.htm
 
What are some of the most important things you learned in taking on additional photographers/team members?
I try to treat everyone with the respect that I would want if I were them.  In return I think for the most part my associates have done the same thing to me.  All relationships take time and I am happy I spent that time with the people who work for me.  There was one incident of an associate who took some liberties that I believe were not fair in our relationship.  So in hindsight I would be very careful choosing the people who you work with.  If you don’t know them very well I would have them sign a contract spelling details out.  Some of the details include ownership of images, expectations on both sides of the relationship, payment schedules, etc.
 
What are the three most important things you do as a mom?
I am present with my children when I am with them.  They know that I love them unconditionally.  I give them the tools to be independent thinkers, self motivators, and encourage them to take responsibility for their actions.
 
With so many people working under one roof, I imagine that you have a pretty tight workflow set up that works every time.  What are some of the things that you believe work best to have a simplified and efficient workflow?
My father once told me that every job should be done so that another person can come in and pick up where the last person left off. We try to make sure we have processes and procedures written down and follow the same order of tasks each time.  Unfortunately as we get bigger it is harder and harder to do because there are so many details to manage.  I am NOT good at doing repetitive tasks. I think I am good at taking photographs, establishing relationships with people, thinking of ideas that are interesting for my business and treating the people who work with me with respect.  I am not good at managing details and being consistent with tasks for each job afterwards. So Chieko, Cindy and Angela do those tasks and they do them really well.  We have a checklist for every job that we do so we know who did it. Each client has their own folder and has their booking form, contract, backup cd’s, and the checklist in it. We also back every job up in three different locations on hard rives and DVD's.
 
Your 16 year old daughter is one of you seven photographers and she shoots her own weddings.  How did this come about?
Keegan started photographing weddings with me when she was 7 years old, as did my son who is now 8. She has a natural aptitude for seeing beautiful things in a way that is very unique.  I LOVE shooting with her for several reasons primarily because we can communicate by just looking at each other.  She knows when I need something covered and vice versa.  We also have a healthy competition with each other at weddings trying to always photograph something in a way that the other doesn’t see.  I have tried to make it fun for her and she enjoys photography.  She has photographed some of her friend's senior portraits and is shooting weddings independently.  I have encouraged her to photograph weddings because it is easy work for her and is a wonderful way to earn a living wherever she goes in life.
 
What are your three favorite creative tools and how do they help you to be inspired?
I love looking at other people’s work in magazines and on the web.  When an image inspires me I try to make it my own.  

People’s personalities inspire me to create images that reflect who they are and the connection they have with each other and the people they love.  

The feeling that I get when in a certain place inspires me to document that visually.
 
What do you do that your clients rave about most?  

I think people enjoy the moments  that I capture that reflect their relationships with the people they love.  I think they also enjoy the fact that I fit into weddings as though I was a guest instead of being the obtrusive photographer.
 
What is the best thing you’ve done to make your business successful?  

Getting my first wedding published and all of the subsequent weddings into a variety of magazines.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed? 

I wake up early, like right now, and get things done when nobody needs me.  I had read Madeline Albright balanced her family life by doing that and I started doing the same thing eleven years ago when I started working on my Masters Degree.  I also spend time with my girlfriends hiking, skiing, running, and playing tennis instead of working solo in the gym.
 
What three products or things help you stay organized?  

Omni Focus has been a great tool, my calendar in my office and on Google, and the women who work with me.
 
What made you want have to have such a large studio?

It evolved into what it is today.  I hadn’t planned on it being this large.
 

 
 
To see more of Melanie's Work:

Website

Blog

Melanie and her team taking a break from a day of work to hike a mountain together...

***All images in this post are copyright Ulrica Wihlborg.***

NEXT WEEK: Melanie Nashan

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear dot com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as I do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

You are very busy and have numerous private as well as commercial clients.  What do you do to keep things normal at home with your family?

I have a great partner in my husband Craig and our household is pretty much 50/50. Also, once I had children I simply gave up a lot of things that used to be important to me in order to have a more serene home life. For example, I try not to answer the phone or spend any time on the computer before 10 am or after 5:30 pm. I try to get all my work as well as personal phone calls and errands done during my "office" hours. Sure there are drawbacks. I miss working out as much as I used to, I miss spending time with my friends and I wish I had a few more moments to myself. But my two boys are young (Gustav is only 8 weeks and Axel will turn 3 in December) and I want to spend as much time with them as possible before they start school. My hope is that as a result, they'll grow up feeling secure and peaceful.

Your work is so beautiful, serene, and natural.  What have you done to ‘come into’ your own style?

I've always been drawn to simplicity, from my taste in design to my life philosophy. My style is simply the way I see the world - as a beautiful place where freeways, skyscrapers and litter have no place. It's a dreamer's world, and I know it's naive, but it makes me feel happy. In order to transfer my vision to photography, I learned by trial and error. I started shooting 35mm film, metering everything. Then I switched to digital photography. Now, I shoot almost exclusively medium-format film using Contax 645 cameras. I shoot manually without metering - I estimate as I go and tend to slightly overexpose my film. It frees me up to focus on the moment I'm trying to capture, and gives my photographs that "happy" luminous feel that I like.

I love the way you’ve edited your images for your website.  You have sweet detail shots that add so much to the story of images.  What is the process you go through in doing such a beautiful edit of your images?

I think details tell so much about a person's life. What they value, how they see beauty...To me a portrait is a combination of the details surrounding a human being as well as the "traditional" portrait of their face. I think we remember so many things about our lives through the little objects we surround ourselves with. Whenever I do a portrait shoot, I ask to photograph details that are important to a person during that time in their lives, be it a favorite pair of shoes or a dress.  My hope is that later on that image will trigger a beautiful memory.

What are the three most important things you do as a businesswoman?

I have to admit I'm a terrible businesswoman and I'm still learning. My husband is the tough one when it comes to business and he tells me daily that I'm too nice! I honestly haven't figured this one out yet. Photography is so personal to me and I always want to make others happy, so I tend to overdo things.

What are the three most important things you do as a mom?

Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle :) Apart from those three things, I also read a lot to them, I always try to meet them with kindness and I do my best to create a home environment that is as calm and happy as possible. Of course I'm not always successful, but I try to do my best!

What does your workflow look like?  What three things do you do to keep it simple so that you’re not overwhelmed and away from your family too much?

Since switching back from digital to film, I'm so much happier. Not only am I happier with my photographs, but I've basically eliminated retouching and my computer time has been cut down by 80%. It's had the biggest impact on my life as a photographer.

You spend a great deal of the year in your home country of Sweden.  How do you make that work with your business here in the states?

I spend about 5 weeks in Sweden every summer and 2 weeks during Christmas time. We just bought a house there and I'm so excited about the prospect of spending even more time there at some point in the future. When I'm in Sweden, I get incredibly inspired. Those weeks are a crucial time for me as a photographer.  I shoot a lot for my portfolio, and my latest exhibit was entirely shot in Sweden. To me, creatively as well as for my business, I need the time there in order to evolve as an artist.  

You shoot mostly film.  Do you use the computer, digital cameras, etc.?  If so what do you do to keep it from overtaking your life?

I basically don't use a digital camera unless I have to due to cost limitations or what not. I scan all my film, so yes, I do spend time on the computer. I also spend time designing albums - I do my own layouts in Photoshop. But I rarely retouch my photos and I deliver prints to my clients, so that cuts down a lot of time.

You have been widely published and recognized.  What tips to recommend for getting published? 

For me, t's basically been pure luck. I have wonderful friends who are often interviewed in the media and have hired me to take their pictures. I also work as a journalist, so at times I shoot my own stories for magazines. I've simply been fortunate. To me, personal relationships have been the key. So as for advice, I'd say try to develop personal relationships with magazine photo editors. Don't be afraid - they're almost always looking for new talent. And in this day and age, getting celebrity clients almost always makes it easy to get published.

What do you recommend women do who are just getting started in the industry?

In the beginning, if you have a day job keep it so you don't have to rely on the income of your photography. It takes the pressure off. Be prepared to do a lot of favors to get ahead. Creating relationships and goodwill is key. I highly recommend working part-time for a photographer who is already established, even though the pay might be very low or non-existent. It will give you an invaluable insight into how successful photographers operate and help you strike out on your own.

To see more of Ulrica's work:

website:  http://www.axelandmoa.com/

***All images in this post are copyright Ulrica Wihlborg.***

***All images in this post are copyright Dawn and Bob Davis.***

NEXT WEEK: Ulrica Wihlborg

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear dot com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as I do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

You are very busy.  What do you do to keep things normal at home with your family? 

Normal...?  I laugh at normal.... well sometimes I cry seeing that we're far from it!  Bob and I work from home and we have 2 kids in 5th & 6th grade, who are very active in school and sports.  We are both really involved in our their lives, so we spend as much time with them as we can.  Bob shares much of the responsibility of "life" with me so I'm very blessed to have his help.  I'm not sure what normal is, but we love what we have going on.  It's overwhelming at times, but I wouldn't change a thing!  Well, maybe if I could have a chef on hand, I'd change that...!

Just four years ago you quit your job as an accountant.  What brought you to that point?  How did you do it? 

My boss of 6 years literally threw a book on my desk "The Prayer of Jabez" and told me I needed to read it.  He was younger than me and somewhat cocky.  Needless to say, that book changed my life; two weeks later I gave my noticed and I never looked back.  He didn't know this, but I was at a point in my life where I didn't enjoy my job anymore.  Being married to a photographer who comes home everyday loving what he does, finally made me realize that life is too short to be spending 40+ hours a week doing something that wasn't satisfying.  After that, and I believe a lot has to do with that book, we were hired to photograph a 3 day job for Oprah and design a 100 page fine art book.  On top of that, she ordered 500 of those books to distribute to all her friends and family.  It was a huge leap of faith for me and I am so grateful that Bob encouraged me to quit my job.  I have never been more satisfied with my career.  Not everyday is easy or full of glamourous jobs, but I am grateful for everyday, every moment... even the not so good days.    

You’ve talked with Oprah in her kitchen.  How did that opportunity come about? 

Back when I was an Accountant, and Bob had just left his job at the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, we were living very modestly.  A friend of ours, George Burns, called who works at Harpo and asked Bob if he would like to help him photograph the episode where Oprah gave her entire audience a Pontiac G6.  Of course Bob jumped at the idea.  Well, he came home that day totally exhilarated. They moved 9 images on the wire and it was really an exciting day for so many people... including Bob.  About a week later, Bob came to me and told me he wanted to do a book with all the photos from the day as a gift to Oprah.  I thought he was crazy.  I mean, why would she want a book from us?  We were living paycheck to paycheck and the book was very expensive to make, and I gave him so much grief as I was the "Accountant".  Well, Bob won the battle.  I designed the book and Oprah cried when she seen it.  Since then we have worked with her on several of her personal events.

You’ve just created a new blogsite.  How did that process help you to solidify even more completely your brand and business? 

We actually don't have a blogsite.  I'm so glad that it looks that way.  We are using the best website software company in the world. David Jay's Showit Sites at www.showitfast.com.  I have never designed my own website before and I had no idea how to do it. When I signed up for Showit I was instantly AMAZED.  It is the easiest program on earth to use and the most brilliant.  I was able to create a brand that I could showcase through my website and blog and everything appears to be seamless.  It's fantastic.  There isn't anything you can't do with Showit.  It changed everything for us.  Once we branded ourselves, chose our colors, built our website, we ordered our letterpress business cards, our marketing materials (thank you Sarah-Q).  We have never looked more professional before using Showit Sites.  Every single time we meet with a client, they gush over our site.  I think it's changed everything about the way we sell ourselves.  We finally feel branded.... really well branded.    

What are your top 3 tips for bringing in the clients that you want and love?

Tip 1:  Keeping in real.  Selling yourself instead of your photograph is thee most important thing you can do for your business.  Building relationships is what it's all about.  

Tip 2:  God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason.  When we meet with a potential client, we get to know them, we share stories and laugh and truly enjoy each other before we ever talk about our work.  That is usually the last thing left to do.  By that time, we have fallen in love with each other and it makes the business aspect, which I think is the uncomfortable part, much easier.  

Tip 3:  Knowing when to say "I don't think we are a great fit".  That's okay.  Not everyone is a fit for each other.  If a potential client is asking for things that are outside of your comfort zone, persisting on a discount because another photographer is cheaper, or wanting more product because they can get a bigger package for the same price somewhere else, well, that's when it's time to make a decision.  In our experience, when a client can negotiate you down to where they want you to be, then that is just the beginning.  They will be in control and continue to insist on things.  The sooner you get yourself in a place where you're comfortable with your sales approach, your pricing and packages, the easier it is to say "I don't think we are a right fit".  I always give them a recommendation to other photographers who may be a better fit.

Do you have a retail studio space?  If so, how has having a studio improved your life and business?  If not, why have you chosen to forego the retail studio route?

Bob and I have opted not to have a studio.  The type of events we cover are all on location.  We don't have a need for a studio space. It just isn't practical for us.  Although, sometimes, it would be nice to have some peace and quiet, somewhere I can get some work done after the kids get home from school but truth be told, I love being a mom first.  This job allows me that luxury.  The hard part is when the kids go to bed, I'm sometimes caught back on the computer until late in the night.  I'm not a TV person, so I tend to spend my time on the computer getting work done.

What are the three most important things you do as a business woman?

1.  For me, the most important thing I do as a business woman is keep it real.  Treat people the way I want to be treated.  I am grateful and honest in my personal affairs and I want to make sure my clients can feel that from every ounce of my soul.  I want them to love their experience with us and I want them to feel they made the right decision when they chose us to document their special moments.  They are driven by emotion when it comes to their wedding and I want to be sensitive to their needs. 

2.  We not only photograph events, but we educate as well.  One of the most important things for me is to let people know that we are human, we are accessible and we are not perfect.  We make mistakes and we make great accomplishments and we want to share that with our attendees and those who come to listen to us speak.  There is something so gratifying when you can help people achieve success.  Success in their business and success in their personal lives.  Of all the things we do in our business, I think I love that most!

3.  Never let my husband talk pricing.  He'd give it all away for free, that's how much he loves what he does!

You adopted children about 7 years ago.  What are the three most important things you do as a mom?

Yes, 7.5 years ago, Bob and I adopted our son and daughter, who are biological siblings, from Chisinau, Moldova.  We are so blessed to have 2 incredible children.  So blessed...!  We love every single ounce of their beings.... from the tips of their heads to their little toes!

The 3 most important things I do as a mom... it's really hard to narrow this down because there are so many important things to do as a mom.

1.  I treat my kids as individuals and respect who they are, not what I want them to be.  It's not always easy, because they may not always make choices I would make, but I'm okay with that.  I don't want to judge them or harass them about their decisions.  I want to be a good role model for them so when they grow up.  I also want my daughter to know how a woman should be treated, and my son to know how to treat a woman and how a woman should treat him.       

2.  I laugh and have a ton of fun with my kiddos.  I may get upset with them and I let them know but I always treat them with respect.  I think the most important thing we can teach our children is to respect one another.... it's the golden rule of life "treat people the way you want to be treated".  They are allowed to be upset with each other or at us, their parents, but they have to do it with respect.  We don't disrespect them, they are not allowed to disrespect us.

3.  When they ask for me, I make myself available.  I don't say, later.  They grow up too fast and before we know it, they will be off on their own.  I want to always be there for them when they need me.  And I always greet them the way the greet me.  It's what we've done since they we're toddlers.  So, when they would come running to us when we pick them up from school, we would run to them and twirl them around.  Now that they are older, we greet each other with hugs even at school or on the soccer/baseball field.  They know they are loved and supported and so far so good, they are not embarrassed by that.  Another important thing is that they know that no matter what happens in life, home is safe.   

It seems like you travel quite a bit.  How do you make this easier on your children?

It's getting harder as our kids are getting older and their schedules are more demanding.  I usually fly my mom in from Florida to stay with our kids if we have a big destination job, tradeshow or workshop.  But most of the time, I stay home while Bob travels.  It's more important to me that one of us is with our kids, while the other one travels.  They are very used to the travel and we take them with us as much as we can.

You are involved with the Medical Mission Foundation.  How did you get involved in that opportunity?  Do your children get to go with you?

Medical Missions Foundation is just one of the organizations that we support.  I believe that giving back is one of the most important things we can do with our lives.  Bob and I donate our talent and time as much as possible.  Every year, we try and participate in a mission trip.  Bob will photograph the mission and I will design a book so the organization can use our work to help them bring awareness to their cause.  It's truly incredible how the power of pictures can help with fundraising.  Two years ago, we traveled to Kenya, Africa with 410 Bridge and we brought our children with then.  You know it was a great experience for them when they say "Mom, we are truly spoiled."

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. -1 Peter 4:10."  

What three products or things help you stay organized?

1.  iPhone... couldn't live without it.

2.  MacPro... couldn't live without that either.

3.  And I'm just getting started with ShootQ.  I can't wait to get going with that.  

So many women complain about all of the time they spend on the computer, missing out on their lives.  What have you done to make editing and other life-eating computer tasks less time consuming?

I've learned that our clients don't know the difference.  And what I mean by that is they don't know if we've spent an hour on a photo or a minute on a photo.  They run on emotions, not on the technical aspects of a photograph.  They see things differently than I do. So, I've learned to outsource a lot of our business.  Mainly to Pictage, Photographer's Edit, and Modern Album Design.  The only time I give that extra special touch to a photograph is when it's going on the website, blog, large canvas or in a fine art book, because I always put my own creative spin on a design, even if I've outsourced it.   But this has freed me up to meet with more clients.  Besides using Showit, outsourcing has been the best business decision we've made.

To see more of Dawn and Bob Davis's work:

***All images in this post are copyright Dawn and Bob Davis.***