**All images in this post are copyright Karen Wise.***

NEXT WEEK: Maile Knight Wilson

{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!
 

Karen,    You live in New York City...somewhere I've always wanted to live...and your work is breathtaking.  You started a photography business 10 years ago and were just named one American Photo's Top Wedding Photographers.  You've accomplished a great deal in the last few years!  Your work is gorgeous, you shoot film, and I adore the simplicity of your food photography.  I'm so thrilled that you are here on Women and Business!  Thank you!

How long have you been a professional photographer?  What drew you to photography?

I’ve been a professional photographer since 1998, I guess. It’s hard to define when exactly I became “a professional” since I was doing so much photography from 1993-97 before I went off on my own. I studied photography at RISD and graduated with a BFA in Photo in 1996. I immediately started working in NYC as a photographer’s assistant. I assisted still life a food photographers and started to do my own jobs on the side.


Are you married?  Do you have children?

Nope, not yet ;-)  I’m in a long-term relationship with my beau, Chandler Kauffman, filmmaker extraordinaire.


Are you in a retail space or a home studio?  What made you decide ton the space you have?

I’m currently in a home studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I chose to live in a neighborhood which I knew well and which had a lot of life (cafes, good restaurants, a food coop, yoga center and a huge park) sacrificing a bit of space so that I could be at the center of it all. I went from living in a brownstone with a garden and a basement which was my darkroom, to something lofty, yet still prewar. I’m not in an elevator building (helps with the equipment schlepping!) in a home studio with high ceilings and windows which are southern facing (lots of light)
I do love the thriving neighborhood and the proximity to my office ;-)


Do you shoot film or digital?  What made you decide on this?

I shoot mostly film (medium format) and at times digitally (5D Mark II). I am a bit of a photography purist. I learned on film, it is my medium, my art-form, so why change something that I love and that works for me? The only reason to go digital in my mind was to save money. And it’s not even that much of a savings to shoot digitally, as there is so much more post-production work involved in shooting digitally. 

I prefer the look of film too.
Digital photography seemed so foreign to me, until 2 years ago when I finally bought my first digital camera (the 5D Mark II). I bought it because some of my wedding clients and events clients were asking me for images that night, or because they were adamant on receiving digital files and no negatives. They also wanted a less expensive wedding package, which I could now provide as an option…



What film do you shoot and what cameras and lenses do you use?

Film: Medium format film: mostly Kodak Portra NC
                And Kodak TMax 400
Large Format: Fuji Provia, NPS and Portra NC

Cameras: Contax 645, mostly 80mm, 55mm, and 140mm prime lenses
        Sinar 4x5, mostly the 210mm lens
        5D Mark II mostly the 50 L series prime lens


Do you do any work in Photoshop on your film images?

I do a little bit of adjusting of levels. I also make diptychs for my blog in Photoshop.

What does your workflow look like?  Do you outsource or keep everything in house?
   
My lab in Chelsea, NYC does a lot of the work for me (film developing, scanning and proof printing).

I also have a post-production assistant for my digital jobs. She tweaks slightly, resizes, and renames for me.

 

You were recently named one of American Photo's top 10 wedding photographers.  How did that change your photography business?  What good things did you see come from that honor?

Immediately after I was named one of the top ten, I would say I had about triple the amount of inquiries. I also had more requests for weddings around the country and in other interesting destinations. Since the article spoke of the wedding I shot in Udaipur, India, I received many inquiries for India after that. 
I found that I had more requests than usual for interviews and features in international publications which was awesome. My dream come true occurred in late 2008, when Vogue India interviewed me for a full page article on my work : )

In 2009 I also shot my first VIP celebrity wedding, the wedding of Google Vice President Marissa Mayer, in San Francisco at the Four Seasons. At this wedding one of my favorite bands, The Killers, played at their rehearsal dinner!

What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?

Nothing unsual, I talk to them and try not to bring up anything stressful ;-) I’ve been told that I have a calming demeanor.

You are widely published including Martha Stewart and Modern Bride.  How did you make that happen?

I guess I made connections in the magazine world early on and along the way… I sent my portfolios to MSW and Conde Nast a bunch of years ago. This was before online submissions! Eventually I was in their radar for when I would send them real weddings…



How do you make time for friends and family?

It’s tough, especially living in NYC where scheduling with friends can be so hard! But I try to make an extra effort to do so. I tend to see my Brooklyn friends a lot more frequently than my Manhattan friends though…
As for family, we set dates and times to meet.  I just saw my sister and my niece and nephew on my birthday in Cape Cod. I made the effort to take off from work and drive up there. The kids are growing so quickly, it makes me sad to say goodbye…
I also, try to see my parents in Montreal about 3 times per year at least. Chandler and I love visiting too, we ski up in Canada in the winter and attend the Jazz Festival in the summer. September in my utmost favorite month to visit.

After 10 years of business how do you keep from becoming burned out?

I try to keep shooting a variety of things. I go from shooting weddings, to food to travel. I just finished shooting a cookbook shoot with writer Silvia Lehrer. I also recently traveled and shot a friend’s wedding in Hawaii. I never get burned out : )



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

Assist others and absorb as much technical info as possible. Build a strong portfolio and website and shop them around. Try to learn from “rejection” take each little rejection as constructive criticism and improve as you go…



You are a food photographer. How did  you come to love food photography?

By assisting and being inspired by still life photographers Victor Schrager, Sang An and Anna Williams in the late 90’s.

 

What is your favorite thing about being a photographer?

The malleable schedule ;-)



What advantages do you think women have as photographers?

We have access that men don’t have.



What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography?

Travel
Yoga
Spinning
Knitting
Watching films

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

Having made it in New York City.

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in
business to bring in clients?

1. Unique Websites: I bought KarenWise.com and FoodandArt.com in 1998

2. Killer Portfolios: I had two one for weddings and one for food, deisgned by Talas and handprinted by myself

3. A unique technique/niche: Handprinting from my film was one of mine…Indian weddings was another.



What are some of the processes you go through in your mind when you're at a shoot?  Do you have a bit of a routine you do to make sure you get the images that you want?

Don’t really have a regular/consistent process. I gauge the subject which is what dictates the way I then shoot/interact with them.

What is the best thing you've done to make your business successful?

I invested in an excellent computer programmer/designer to make my new website in 2008. It was the first time I had a flash site, and I love it.
For this I also collaborated with a graphic designer (Oh Joy! Studio) to design my logo and help create a type of branding for my business.
This also carried over into my blog..
 
Although my blog is relatively new (I started it in 2008) I think it’s also brought me more work and followers. It’s also been a place where I can write down my thoughts, place travel images and organize my pictures in general.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

Yoga, and massage. Keeping things in perspective.

Blog

Wedding Website

FoodandArt

**All images in this post are copyright Karen Wise.***

**All images in this post are copyright Jodie Otte.***

NEXT WEEK: Karen Wise

{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!
 

Jodie,  I love how straight forward you are about your life and business.  There are so many things that photographers need to know and I appreciate that you are willing to put it all out there.  You are a busy woman who just makes things happen.  You recently put together a big workshop in Maryland and remodeled a gorgeous studio.  Your work is gorgeous and your approach to off camera and studio lighting are fantastic.  You have so much to offer the industry and I appreciate you being here on Women and Business!

How long have you been in business?

Almost 7 years

 How did you get into photography professionally?

I briefly worked for another photographer way back in 1995 while I was pregnant with my first child.  As digital technology got better and could begin to compete with film, I knew I would finally have control over my images without having to rely so much on labs or invest in the darkroom, so it felt right to finally go into business, switching from film to digital.

What do you wish you knew when you started out?

I wish when I started out, I began at higher prices.  So many women cut themselves short when they first get into this.  If you do not begin with prices that belong in this industry, you will end up with angry clients when you eventually realize you are not charging enough to sustain a business and need to raise prices.  And don’t forget, if you don’t really NEED the income, this is the perfect time to create a reputation of being exclusive and of high worth.  Price high, have only select bookings.  Why not?  Wish I would have done that at the very beginning.

Are you married?  

Yes, my husband Dean and I have been married for just over 15 years.

Do you have children?  If so, how many?

Two children – Barrett age 14 and Erynn age 11.

Were you always in a retail space?  What made you decide to have a retail
space?

The bottom level of my house was once dedicated as a studio.  However, when I acquired my first high profile client, I realized it was time that I move into a studio away from my house.  My house is in the cornfields and not convenient to any highways.  Very few people in Maryland have ever heard of my town.

What does your workflow look like?  Do you outsource or keep everything in
house?

My workflow is simple and right to the point.  Get it right in camera, brighten the image, add contrast, dodge and burn, done… I show 40 images per client, and it takes me an hour or less to edit the entire session.  If it was an especially difficult session that required head swaps or major skin touchup, it could push me to 1-1/2 hours to edit, but I never go longer than that.  I don’t do extensive composites and such.  Time equals money.  This is a business first and foremost.  This isn’t a game to me.  It’s business.

What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a
photo shoot?

I’m friendly, joke around a little, and always reassure them that the session is going normal, and we are getting plenty of images.  

What do you recommend women do who are just getting started in the industry?
I cannot stress this enough.  TAKE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COURSES (some courses are even free at your local Small Business Development Center).  I’m very passionate about this.    There are loads of women getting into this industry that are dragging the industry down with prices that are so incredibly low.  When you do the figures, many of them aren’t even making minimum wage.  I’ve done figures with new photographers and pointed out that they were making $2 and $3/hour.  They genuinely didn’t realize it.  Business management skills are so important to building a sustainable and successful business.   I’m proud to be a woman, and as a woman, I know that we are strong, and with our multitasking skills and strength in general, we should be excellent business owners.  There is no reason why we as women cannot run hugely successful businesses.  I’ve actually started a website that will be announced soon on my blog, that is devoted to helping women in our industry run their businesses.

How do you manage having a business and children?

My children are older.  There is no way I would do this full time if my kids were not school-aged.   A note to all moms – enjoy your little ones for those first five years before they start school.  Any time away from them to run a photography business, charge what makes it worth it!   J  They are only this little once!

How do you organize your day?  Your week?  Your month?  Your year?

I’m full time, so my schedule is loosely based on this. 

Monday – home office day (and catch up on a little house cleaning)

Tuesday, Wednesday – open session times at 9 a.m., noon, sunset

Thursday and Friday – open session times at 9 a.m. and noon – keep evenings free for my daughter and I riding our horses together on Thursday nights and son’s football games on Friday nights or date night with hubby ;)

Saturday and Sunday – no sessions.  This is my family time.  Occasionally during very busy times, I will schedule a weekend day – one session at 9 or 10 a.m., twice per month, but that is rare and must be a very special situation.  Family time is hugely important to me.

I don’t necessarily fill up every slot every week.  During the summer when my children are home, I do spread out the sessions, but during the school year, I like to stack them, several a day, to give more time for office/admin/editing time on certain days.  Hey, I’d rather be in my home office a few days than at the studio every day.

How do you make money all year round?  There are natural lulls in the portrait world, how do you make it through those?  Do you have other streams of income?

I don’t typically have lulls in portrait work during the year.  If I do, I may go from 6-8 sessions per week to 2-4 for a few weeks and you know what?  I embrace that. I’m okay with that, because I’m still working, I’m working on administrative items.  I always have something to do.

As women we get easily stressed when there's not enough money for our family.  How do you avoid that kind of stress?

I avoid it by charging enough.  I set up my pricing based on worst case scenario – worst case and what keeps my business running is 2 sessions per week.  I don’t have any problems having that year round.   If you base your prices on meeting your bills with 8 sessions per week, and you can’t guarantee 8 sessions per week, you need to rethink your pricing.   I’m a bit no-nonsense when it comes to running my business and pricing.  Business is very black and white. It’s based on facts, not emotions.   Do the figures, it’s very clear what you need to charge and do to keep yourself flowing smoothly in business.

What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography?

Ride our four horses with my daughter.  We love to do hunter paces together.   We also love to kayak as a family and just find adventures to do together.  We’ve gotten ourselves into quite a few odd situations over the years – if you follow my blog at www.jodieotte.com you may have gotten some peeks into that… 

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

Being able to have a stable thriving business.  It’s work, but anyone can achieve it by running a business as a business, and making decisions based on facts and not emotion – which is very hard for us to do as artists, but it has to be done to be successful.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We set time away from the kids, just the two of us… we are best friends, and I thoroughly believe if you don’t put your relationship first, it will start falling apart.  My husband is also incredibly hilarious, and our days feel like Seinfeld episodes most of the time complete with close-talkers, dental hygienist Nazis, and bizarro worlds… LOL!

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in
business to bring in clients?

1.       Website. 

2.      Business Cards. 

3.      Produced work that my clients would talk about to their friends.

How do you keep your marriage safe from the stresses of your business?

Schedule time together with my husband, and not working weekends.

What is the best thing you've done to make your business successful?

Take the emotions out and treat it as a business.  When clients want to negotiate or have complaints about my pricing, I just stick to my guns, explain that I am running a business, and this is what I have to charge to keep my business afloat.  I offer no apologies.  I’ve found that if portraits are something that the client values, they don’t have any complaints about pricing.  I’ve been known to mention, the new flat-screen TV, new furniture, or the new four-wheeler just purchased will need to be replaced one day, but these images are once-in-a-lifetime moments, that will be forever cherished.

You are a mom, how old are your children?  What do you do to help them feel
part of your business life? Or do you keep it all pretty separate?

My kids are 11 and 14, and I keep my business separate from family.  There is no need to involve your family in your business in my opinion.  There are reasons why there is separation from church and state – and I feel the same applies to business and family.  There are, however, some times when I need a model or two to try out something new, and I treat my kids like paid models.   I ask them if they want to do it, and they get paid for it.

How do you think your business and being a photographer helps your kids?  your family?  

I think it sets a great example to my kids that anyone can be passionate and succeed in something.  I hope that with the way I run my business, it helps my kids realize that they don’t have to be pushovers either.  I know they hear me vent about certain aspects of it, so I often wonder what they will pick up from living with it.

What do you do to keep your family strong?

Again, clear boundaries on what is family time and what is work time.  For me, it revolves a lot around keeping my weekends devoted to my family.  The children need to feel like they are more important than my business as well.  If I constantly took up my weekends with sessions, what does that show them?  That they are in school all week and evenings tend to be pretty booked up with errands and such, they finally get a weekend, and mom doesn’t care enough to hang out with them.  Well, at least that is what it makes me feel like…

Do you travel quite a bit.  If so, how do you make this easier on your children?  How
do they feel about how often you travel?

I don’t travel much.  When I do travel, they come with me, and they seem to have fun with it.

Have you always lived on a farm?  What brought you to choosing where you live now?

Actually, I don’t live on a farm.  I live in the cornfields and rolling hills of Northern Maryland.  We have a little bit of land and have chickens, but it definitely isn’t a farm.  We board our horses in Pennsylvania at a great little riding stable – very down to earth and nothing but fun.  I love where I live – it’s so beautiful, peaceful, and quiet, but I do plan in the future to build a house on more property and eventually bring my horses onto my property, but right now, I don’t have time to take care of them, so it’s great having a full-care boarding situation.

What do you do to make sure you're living the life you want to live?

Hmmm... never thought about it.  I just try to keep things happy and I always have goals.  Accomplishing goals is a way to keep this train moving!

Was there ever a time you were so overwhelmed you wanted to quit photography because it just wasn't fun anymore?  What did you do to get the love back?

There are plenty of times I feel like that.  There is no doubt that running a business is work.  It can’t be rainbows and ponies all the time.  Yes, I do love what I do, but it does become work.  Those are the times I raise my prices again, add some more policies to my contract, and wait until I happen to get a little subject that gives me some inspiration because there’s always one that gets me super motivated again…

How do you keep from being burned out?

I don’t.  I do get burned out, quite a bit actually.  Have you seen me venting on Facebook?  I’m sure it gets quite entertaining when Jodie starts to flip her lid…. LOL!

How do you keep from feeling like everyone needs a piece of you all of the time?

I’m not sure how you can keep from feeling like that.  I feel like that a lot… then I get pissy.  ;)  That’s when me-time is needed.  A little shopping therapy works wonders.

Do you home school?  If so, how do you fit that into an already busy schedule?

No way.  I tried to home school my son for Pre-K/K and it wasn’t working out.  The best thing I ever did for my kids socially was to send them to school.   They thrived.  I grew up in a very sheltered home, and I wasn’t well adjusted to the real world when I got out into it.  I didn’t want that to happen to my children.  I’ve always left the option open, that if we ever needed to home school, we can, but I now have a high-schooler and a middle-schooler and we’ve never encountered a problem.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

Yoga and eating well (taking the time for myself).  Seriously.  When I’m not doing yoga and eating well every day, I’m overwhelmed.  When I am doing yoga, I feel like I can tackle anything.

 

What three products or things help you stay organized?

1.      My white board with post-its.

2.      My planner

3.      6 cubbies that are built into my desk to hold physical files as we go through the process from booking to filing.

But who said I was organized?  Most of my days, I feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants!

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

Run their businesses with emotions.  (Allowing friends and clients to walk all over them and make them feel bad for their business decisions such as scheduling and pricing and if they didn’t have the perfect session that was beyond their control).  Business is business, keep it that way.   If someone senses you have a weak link (because you are working with emotions), they are going to try to break you.

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

Be honest with yourself.  You may think that’s a $200 profit and get excited about it, but be honest with yourself about your figures.  That $200 in reality is probably only $20 you made for that 8 hours of time you put into it.  Be honest, get to those figures, and be honest how long you are spending on sessions – that may be what you need to work on, cutting your editing time.

 

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more
whole, content, and blissful life?

1.      Take time for yourself!

2.      Set clear boundaries – don’t get walked all over by anyone – clients, friends, or family.

3.      Schedule time for your kids and especially your husband.  Your relationship with your husband will give you a strong foundation so that you and your kids can thrive.

4.     Be proud of your work.  Stop nitpicking your work.  You are too hard on your own work.

5.     Price yourself appropriately.  If you don’t, you will burn out or your business will flop.  

To see more of Jodie's work:

Website

Blog

Photographers 

**All images in this post are copyright Jodie Otte.***

**All images in this post are copyright Marina Miller.***

NEXT WEEK: Jodie Otte

{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!
 

Marina,  You have such a fun, relaxed feel to your images...I have a feeling part of that is because you live in Hawaii!  You are great at keeping your family first even as your business grows and grows.  You also seem to stay very down to earth about your success and rising popularity.  I'm so excited that you are here on Women and Business!

How long have you been a professional photographer?

I have been shooting people since I was 18.  I started in Waikiki photographing tourists. it gave me a good sense of self and I am able to cold talk anyone.  I tried out sports and commercial photography as an assistant.  A marriage and 3 kids later, I picked up my first slr and fell in love again.  My children inspired me to create portraits of who they were at the time. 

I dabbled in family photography and didn't really fall in love. Weddings are where it's at for me. I love the whole process. I love peoples stories and watching the day unfold. 

What drew you to photography?

Something deep inside me as a child drew me to the camera. It was just a whisper at first. Just a shutter clicking. Then as a teen it became an annoying song stuck in my head. F stops and chemical equations on repeat. And now with my career on full blast is a raging  roaring fire so loud I cant keep it out of all aspects of my life.

Are you in a retail space?  What made you decide on the space you have?

No.  I wish I could have a beautiful studio but the overhead would stress me out. 

Are you married?  How many children do you have?

Yes. I am married with 4 boys. 

How do you keep your photography business from invading your family life?

I would like to simply answer this with "my iPhone" but in reality I can't. Being mom and wife to a large family is difficult even with out a full time photography business. During the weekdays I concentrate on the boys, homework, dinner at the table, and hanging with my super helpful hubby. While the boys are at school and the baby is napping I can answer emails and edit.  My most productive time for editing is after everyone is in bed.  Living in Hawaii provides lots of excuses to be out of the house and off of the computer. This is where my iphone enters my life and saves the day. I can quickly reply to my clients from the beach and have my schedule on hand for inquiries.  Another huge reason why I can do it all is my babysitters. They are my husband and my mom and they are fabulous. I always know the boys are being taken care of and I am able to focus on my clients.

What does your workflow look like?  Do you outsource or keep everything in house?

 My workflow is as simple as it gets. Shoot in raw, keep the good ones, color and exposure correction, export. I do everything myself. Everything stays in house literally.

What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?

My blog plays a huge part in this aspect of my job.  Most of my clients read my blog. They know about "chunk" and our latest travels. They know I have shot their venue. They know  I will capture those amazing moments. My clients know me before we even meet. 

Do you have employees or assistant photographers that work with you or are you a one woman show?  Why?

I have only been using a lighting assistant for about a year now. Second shooters are awesome but I generally am a one woman show. I like my images best. I like to sell the client my work, not someone elses. 

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

I recommend social networking. Twitter, flickr, and blogs are the best way to get to know other professionals. Find other women who's work you admire and ask them out for coffee or if you have kids a play date. If you click, offer to assist them on a job. Also, joining your local ppa or photography clubs is a good way to meet local photographers. I did a lot of research to find the products I am now using. Find out what works for your budget and what works for your customers.  As you get more successful you can upgrade.  Be good at what you do and only take on what you can handle.

What have you done recently that you are most proud of?

I just had a baby. I'm pretty proud of him! Also, I have introduced water optional sessions into my repartee. 

What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography? 

I take my kids to the beach. 

What are you most proud of as a business woman? 

When my clients are happy. 

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We travel a lot. Before the baby we would go on 48 hour dates to the West coast or just outer island. 

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients? 

I worked for trade. Time and talent are priceless.  I made cards and my husband handed them out like candy on halloween. 

How do you keep your marriage safe from the stresses of your business?

Communication.  We have a white board calendar where everyone can see what events are coming up. 

What is the best thing you've done to make your business successful? 

Deliver a consistent high quality product. 

You are a mom, how old are your children?  What do you do to help them feel part of your business life?  Or do you try to keep them completely separated?

My boys are 9, 7, 5, and 7 months. We look at my blog together. It is no secret Mommy has to work on her pictures.  When shooting for fun, I take the kids with me.   They hold a light or even get a look through the lens if they are lucky.   I feel fortunate I work in a creative and positive environment that I can share with them.  There are only good things that come from that combination! 

You seem to have a great network of women that you know.  How did you make that happen?

The internet is a girls best rolodex.  I started off in the flickr community as a mom with a camera and a dash of natural talent.  Over the years, those old connections have turned into professional relationships and word of mouth recommendations. 

What challenges do you have that you think are specific to living in Hawaii? 

The thing that disappoints me the most is not being able to just pack up the car and drive to meet people. 

What advantages do you have that you think are specific to living in Hawaii?

Location, location, location.  I live in paradise. 

You do a lot of underwater photography, what top five tips do you have for someone who is interested in diving into underwater photography?

1. Make sure you are comfortable in the water. 

2. Take a CPR class (just in case!).

3. Rent a housing to get a feel for what works for you.

4. Be comfortable in your own skin.  Having confidence and being in a bathing suit with strangers could be awkward, but I grew up in a bathing suit!

5. Use the best gear you can afford. 

What do you do to keep your family strong? 

We talk. We eat dinners together. We do projects together. We watch tv together.  We are together all the time!

You just took a vacation...how did you make that happen when you are so busy? 

My husband works in the airline industry. We pretty much look at the calendar and decide who can go where and when.  Our last trip to California (since you wrote we've been to Seattle and Portland) was to celebrate my oldest's 9th birthday at Legoland. 

What did you do to increase your blog readership from 2k hits a month to 2k hits a day? 

Tumblr, twitter, and my Jesse and Amy wedding I shot at 8 1/2 months pregnant.  

https://twitter.com/MarinaMiller 

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed? 

Knowing that I have a beautiful family to be with if this photography thing doesn't pan out.. 

What three products or things help you stay organized? 

Who said I'm organized?!  My iPhone.  Paper and pen. 

Do you homeschool or do your kids go to public/private school?  How and why did you make this decision? 

My kids go to public school.  I went to a private school and had the culture shock of a lifetime when I went to high school. What education my kid's school may lack, we make up for in out travels and educational play. 

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

Steal, lie, and cheat other women in the industry.  It's gross. 

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

Support and network. We are each others greatest resources.

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?

1. Don't be so hard on yourself. 

2.  If you are a mother, you've already accomplished a lifetime of success.  If you aren't a mother, be a damn good aunt. 

3. Life is hard. Have a plan B and make the best of it. 

4.  Surround yourself with people who love you for who you are. 

5. Life is way too short to worry. Write it down, make a plan, and do something about it. 

***All images in this post are copyright Carmen Nauseef.***

NEXT WEEK: Marina Miller

{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!
 

Carmen,  You are such a grounded, beautiful, gracious, genuine person.  I'm so blessed that I got to meet you at that very first wonderful Love Affair Workshop!  You have done such great things as a business woman and  you are a very present mom who quite obviously loves having four little boys in her life.  You put your marriage and family in the forefront and you have a thriving business that just keeps growing.  I love your no nonsense approach to being a mom and business person and your sensitivity to making sure your life is meaningful to those who matter most.  Thanks so much for being here on Women and Business!

How long have you been a professional photographer?  What drew you to photography? 

I’ve loved photography since I was big enough to hold a camera. My parents always had an array of cameras around the house. I remember flipping through slides on our projector of images I would take.  I turned “professional” 6 years ago after my circle of friends started having children.  I found I was being asked more and more to take pictures of their kids.  I really enjoyed it and so did the people I was photographing and the business developed from there.   

Are you married?  How many children do you have? 

I am married and my husband and I have four little boys (ages 10, 7 & 5 yr old twins).  We live in the Midwest, in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio.

Are you in a retail space or home studio? 

Our studio is a five-minute walk from our home, in a small retail area in the town where we live.   The studio shares the same block with a Starbucks, our favorite ice cream shoppe,  a great salon, interior designer, and an old style steakhouse.   I just love it! 

Do you have pictures to share?

Yes 

What made you decide on the space you have? 

The business was growing extremely fast and I went from being the sole employee to having multiple associates and numerous clients. The business growth, combined with my own growing family made it impossible for me to remain sane and conduct business from my home. The particular space I picked matched our needs:  1) it was close to our home and our kid’s school (so I can be available at a moments notice); 2) the location fit the needs of my client demographic; and 3) it provided my team and I a convenient and fun place to work.  Luckily for me, the lease cost of the studio fit within the business’ financial plan and I believe access to this space has contributed directly to our bottom line. 

What does your workflow look like?  

It continues to evolve as we learn but there are a few consistent components.     We have a checklist that follows every client from the moment they call and book their session. We back up on external hard drives and dvds. An iomega circulates for each client during the process of the workflow.  We’’ll first check to make sure all cards are downloaded and tag our favorite images to blog and use for a slideshow.  Our editor uses LR for overall adjustments and PS to further edit our favorite images. We send our clients a slideshow of their proofs and at that time, we schedule a consultation appointment.  Our clients love to see what we have to offer and usually want our help in ordering. They value our opinion and love to see the samples on the walls, the albums, collages, cards, etc. This is a great way to build the relationship and I truly enjoy that time with our clients. 

Do you outsource or keep everything in house? 

We have outsourced in the past for editing and album designing but prefer to keep it in house.  We have more control over the final product and find it more cost effective.  

Do you homeschool your children or are they in public school? 

Our children attend a private, parochial school.  It is about a five-minute walk from our home and the studio.  I really love the fact that I can grab the kids for lunch, work from home and come to meet a client all without having to get in my car. (Although, I drive more than I really should…).

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

1) The transition from hobbyist to professional is not trivial, especially if you place high value on family time.  As rewarding as this business has been for me, making the transition has required significantly more resources and time than I could ever have imagined. I did not start with a particular plan for how this was going to play out, it all happened pretty fast.  With the support from patient family, clients and associates, we have been able to assess our progress within the past two years to make incremental, targeted improvements.   

2) As your business grows, make sure you invest wisely in resources you need, like equipment, software, studio-space, and continuing education.  Try hard to make the optimal balance in investments where you can see a demonstrated return to your bottom line.

3) Technically, I recommend lots of practice.  I was a volleyballer in high school, and we practiced the fundamentals all the time.  Don’t rely too much on technology as a substitute for mastering your craft.  Learn how to shoot in manual and try to get your images right in camera, rather than relying solely on Photoshop.  

4) Network with other photography professionals.  Invest in joining a photography forum.  This was one of the most valuable resources for me when I first started my business.    

How do you fit blogging into your life? 

I must admit I’m struggling with this one.  I actually looove to blog, but spending time with family, editing, shooting, and meeting with clients take priority. Before I know it the day is over.  

What does your daily/weekly schedule look like? 

The first thing I do in the mornings is enjoy a cup of coffee with my husband, JP.  We really enjoy this quiet time of day when it’s just us.  Then it’s getting the kids off to school beginning with a full breakfast. I love to cook, so I get to squeeze in “the domestic mom thing” at that time. After lots of chaos and a quick clean up I start my day, errands to support home/work and then I head to a client shoot or the studio.  

In order to protect my family time, I try my best to limit weeknight and weekend sessions, this is especially tough during wedding season.  In the summers, I work from home a lot so I can be with the kiddos. Achieving balance is something I continue to strive for, but it always seems elusive.  I try not to beat myself up when I don’t get everything done at the end of each day. As a working mom, I am pulled in many directions and fortunately for me, I have a supportive husband and children, friends and advisors that help me when new challenges emerge.

What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography? 

Time with family, read and play with our kids, travel, cook, time at the lake, hang with friends, attend University of Dayton basketball games, read magazines and catch up on my favorite blogs. 

What are you most proud of as a business-woman?

Six years later and I’m still standing!  Our studio is still going and growing. I have been able to work with young photographers, teach them some things while learning from them and provide them a chance to earn a living doing what they love to do too.  

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We take a trip together once a year without the kids to re-connect.  We always enjoyed travel together (before kids) and enjoy those times together.  We also go out for sushi or some favorite dinner joint at least a couple times a month.

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients? 

1) Word of mouth has produced over 90% of our client base.  I would not be in business without strong word of mouth referrals by my clients and friends.  I started out by photographing my friend’s kids and as their friends and families saw the work my phone starting ringing.  I am very fortunate that the word of mouth client growth has continued and strengthened over the years.

2) Blogging.  I started blogging to share my thoughts and work with clients friends, family and others.  As it turned out, my blog became and continues to be another source of new clientele. 

3) Featured Photography.  My work has been featured in popular retail establishments in our community.  This has provided some visibility and client leads.

How do you keep your marriage safe from the stresses of your business? 

My husband and I try and work everyday on our relationship.

What is the best thing you've done to make your business successful?  

1.Taking a chance. I took the initial leap to put myself “out-there,” and the risk paid off.  My initial Clientele in our community gave me a chance when I was starting out, and referred me to others.  

2.Business Advisors.  I sought out advisors, and their generosity and patience helped me to frame a viable business around what was my hobby and passion.  I was willing to listen, learn and adapt as appropriate.

3. Great Team.  I have an outstanding team of associates that help with everything from workflow, shooting, client relations and managing the studio.  Picking talent is part art, part science – and I’ve picked wisely so far, and the business has benefited.

4.  Maintained my priorities.   My husband, kids and friends.  Their support has been essential to the business and to my happiness.

How do you keep up with four boys? 

I love having four boys. They are full of life and energy, and the pursuit of “keeping up” with them is what drives me everyday.

What do you do to keep your family strong? 

Always keep my business in its proper perspective and place.  I consider myself fortunate to have a great husband and family and we try to enjoy everyday to it’s fullest.

You travel quite a bit.  How do you make this easier on your children? 

Since kiddos came around, we try to limit our travel away from them.  When we do travel, we make sure there is a minimal disruption to their lives.  They are old enough now where we like them to experience the travel with us.

What traditions have you made part of your family that you look forward to every year/season? 

We like to spend holidays with our family and extended family and friends.  We love visiting the lake and our families on the east and west coast.  Every Christmas season, we all go to the farm together, let the kids pick out a tree, then JP cuts it down. It is a nice adventure, kind of like the movie Christmas Vacation… :)

How do you make yourself stop and enjoy what is happening right now? 

My studio manager is very disciplined and she does not shy away from pushing back on my tendency to always say yes. She blocks out a set number of days a month where I do not shoot or work in the studio.  She also blocks off a few weeks in the summer to spend time with family. 

What are your hopes and dreams for your business over the next 5 years? 

I’m not planning out that far. I have general goals but I’ve never planned things out, including this business. I didn’t plan on getting to this point and I’m not planning to get to the next point. I listen to my family and try to improve things incrementally. My hope is that in 5 years both family and business will continue on the track they are on today. I could not ask for anything more!

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?  

If anyone has figured out how to keep from feeling overwhelmed, please let me know where to invest in that business! I have not figured it out, but I usually find comfort in talking with my husband, friends and cuddling with my boys.

What do you most want to remember about your business and family, these last few years and the ones coming up, 10 years from now? 

I want to feel like  I had a successful and fulfilling business while still being a great mother, wife and friend.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

1. I know everyone says this but I can’t live without my i-phone and everything that goes with it ( i-cal, e-mail, mobile me, etc.)

2.  Successware studio management software has been an integral part of keeping us organized.

3. Lastly, without the benefit of my studio manager and staff, I would probably be in a bit of disarray.  

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

Under value your services.  It’s important to value your time and ability and price yourself accordingly.   Remember, your time is very valuable and your photography clientele directly compete with your time with family and friends.  That alone is worth a lot.  When you add your outstanding photography services, this is a high-value stuff.

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

In terms of your craft, look for inspiration outside of photography. I am inspired by a lot of different things – magazines, movies, and just looking around at the simple things in everyday life.

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?

1. Know your priorities, and stick to them.
2. Surround yourself with people who know more than you and then listen.
3. Don’t be afraid of your clients. They hired your to do a job.  Sometimes you have push them.
4. Hire employees who share your passion for photography.
5. Don’t be afraid to say no to a business opportunity if it does not align with your priorities. 
6. Trust your instincts.

To see more of Carmen's work:

Website

Blog

***All images in this post are copyright Carmen Nauseef.***

**Tell a friend about this post**

***All images in this post are copyright Allison Rodgers.***

NEXT WEEK: Carmen Nauseef

{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!
 

Allison,  You have been in business for 7 years, you have two children, and you've just celebrated your 10 year anniversary.  It seems like you've got everything figured out and you have from the beginning.  That's not common for women just getting started.  I'm so excited that you're sharing your wisdom, insight, and practical solutions today.  Thanks so much for being here on Women and Business!

How long have you been a professional photographer?  

We are currently in year 7.

What attracted you to photography?

Well, I love the mystery of a moment. When I was a little girl, I used to look at images from books and magazines and wonder what was going on before, during, and after that very moment. Then about 20+ years ago, I ended up in front of the camera which gave me a passion for the commercial/fashion side of things, as well as an understanding of just how hard it can be to stand in front of a camera.  I double majored in college : Design / Photography and was an Art Director for 8 years before we started ARP, and here we are!

Are you married?  Do you have children?  How many kids?

Yes, Jeff Rodgers is my man, and we just celebrated our 10 year anniversary in February. We have 2 beautiful girls : Fable 8 (she would be really upset if I didn't say she’ll be 9 this month!) and Ever who is 3. 

Are you in a retail space or home studio? 

We are in a studio space in an older part of town. We live in Olive Branch MS which is basically a suburb of Memphis TN. 

What made you decide on the space you have?

There came a time at ARP where we knew we needed to separate work from home, and before our current space, we were having trouble doing that. I was meeting with clients for Consultations, Sessions, & Ordering Appointments in a store front, and we were doing all editing at home which just meant we always felt like work was hanging over our heads. So the space we’ve been in for the past 4.5 years is big enough for us to have everything in one place and be more efficient with our workflow and our LIVES.

What does your workflow look like?  

For me, workflow starts with the very first time I speak or meet with a client. Our Consultations are such a huge part of what we do at ARP, and we lean on the info gathered during that time to create special things for each person who walks through our door.

Consultation

Session: ( all the basics : clear cards, do backups, load into Photo Mechanic, LR export, touch up faves, create Product Design based on what was discussed during our Consultation, prepare our ProSelect album.

Ordering Appointment

Then, of course, there’s the workflow that happens after the sale. With the nature of custom work, sometimes we go back and forth with the client to make changes and get final approval on designs. 

Once orders are processed and arrive, we make sure all pieces are prepared to be displayed whether they are framed or Gallery Wraps. We even provide our clients with “hanging templates” so their images instantly make it  on the wall!

Do you outsource or keep everything in house?

All is done in house except for printing, and we use WHCC for that!

What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot? 

Whether it’s a family or a wedding - it doesn’t matter - I take the time to get to know them, and I show that I am genuinely interested. I let them get to know me--because if I’m going to be the one loving on their babies or sharing one of the most important days with them, then they have to be comfortable with me and trust me.

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

They need to concentrate on what makes them weird :) That’s what we call it anyway. What makes you different is what makes you special and unique compared to all of the other shooters out there. Work on figuring out why a client should come to you and polish that.

What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography?

I love to watch movies.  I love to make crafty things.  I like to cook.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I’m proud that I took something that I love and made it work as a business. 

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

Laugh - there’s really not anything a good laugh can’t cure!

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients?

•  photographed a Mother’s Day Out program
•  set up 2 days at an athletic club : 20 minute sessions
•  ran an ad in a Kid’s Directory

The name of your business is Allison Rodgers Photography...so it sounds like you were just you to start with.  How did it come about that your husband joined you?

 Jeff has actually always been with me at ARP.  We used my name specifically because I’m female and a mommy, and we wanted that to be the face of Allison Rodgers Photography. I’m a real person with a real family and everything that comes along with that. Our clients need to feel a connection with me from the very beginning. 

What's the best part of working with your husband? 

I get to work with my husband :) 

It’s awesome to have someone that you love so invested in the business. I can’t do ARP without Jeff. He does so many things - the little things that we all forget about that are always so time consuming, as well as huge things like quality control, special design requests, and so much more.

What's the hardest thing about being a couple in business together?

It’s easy to understand when we are physically off work because we leave the studio, but it’s really hard to know when we are mentally off work. Sometimes it's really hard to stop talking about business.

How do you keep your marriage safe from the stresses of your business?

We just try to remember that whatever is going on - whether is something amazing or not so amazing - it’s just work. It’s not life or death. Our marriage and our family are what’s most important, and we have to remind ourselves to stay focused on that. 

What is the best thing you've done to make your business successful?

Our studio is really very product driven. We help our client with ideas of what to do with their images. Clients need that guidance and creativity from us. We hold their  hands, and we take care of them.  Most importantly, we admit and fix our mistakes. How you handle the bad situations can make or break your business.

What do you do to help your children feel part of your business life?  

We talk about our business around them and ask their opinion on certain things, especially Fable.  She loves to give her opinion on everything from how I should pose people to what I should do about a client with a problem.

How do you keep your kids from feeling that you love your computer more than them?

I take my eyes off of it and look at them :)

When I want the girls to listen to me--if they are getting in trouble or I’m saying something serious--I say “Look at my eyeballs so I know you are listening to me.” It's funny, but now they know if my computer is not shut, my phone is not down, and my eyes are not on them, I might not be fully present in the moment, and they make me change that!!!! 

What do you do to keep your family strong?

We are very involved in our church. Our family of friends there really helps us stay grounded in what is important. Accountability for our actions and the path we take is huge. We’re human which means we WILL make mistakes. Having a safety net of people who can catch us if we fall is extremely comforting.

What has made the biggest difference in your business?

Placing boundaries and putting our business on a schedule.

It’s a business, but yet so many people just starting out let the business run them in the ground. Having hours and set days that you do things will make you more sane when things get crazy!!! Deciding what you will and won't do helps your clients have respect for you as a business owner. You have a family too - protect that.

You work closely with PPA.  How did that come about?

We went to a Studio Management Services workshop in 2006 and that’s how our relationship with PPA started. They sat down with us and looked at everything from our marketing materials to our hard numbers. To our surprise, we were doing great - we had no clue. We were just working our business the way we knew how. We had projections that were set to continue to double our sales each year over the next few years. They watched us closely and helped us not make any silly decisions that would jeopardize that goal. They know so much about us and how we run our business so they trust us to teach what we know. 

How do you think women photographers should utilize PPA?

I think PPA is an amazing resource for everything from legal help to education. We can’t take our business lightly - we need to understand every facet of it and make it the best it can be. PPA is the oldest NON-PROFIT Photography organization. They are there to help all of us. Information is so crucial, and it’s nice to know I’m involved with a group of people who make it their job to get me the best info for my business.

Lately, you have been traveling quite a bit.  How do you make this easier on your children?  How do they feel about how often you travel?

Jeff and I just finished a 10 city tour for PPA - and it was hard to be away from the girls. We did try to work it where we were only gone a few days at a time, and that did help. Whenever we travel to speak, we make sure that the girls have a little "happy" to  open every day we are gone. When the line of gifts is gone, they know that we’ll be back the very next day!!! We do video chats, and we take a little figurine that we put in places and take pictures of - kinda like a stand in for them. Then we’ll send it to them from our phones, and they love getting messages like that. 

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I get overwhelmed all of the time. I constantly want to be a better wife, a better mommy, a better photographer, better designer, better business owner, better boss. I think it's that drive that brought all of us to the places we’re in now. When that goes away, we need to get really, really worried :) Being overwhelmed is just part of being passionate about what we do with our lives.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

SuccessWare

My awesome staff

The notes section on my phone & my sketch book

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

Two thoughts on this:

The first thing I would say is to not copy other photographers. I know that no idea is original, but we all have to go a step beyond and really try to create something unique. If you are just putting on the clothes of another photographer whom you admire, you are not being true to yourself as an artist. 

As guilty as I am for doing this - what we shouldn’t do is compare ourselves to other shooters. It sucks the life out of us. Instead, we should be inspired by others, take that inspiration, and use it to help find the “weird” in us :) 

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

Be transparent, honest, and humble. None of us have it all figured out. We’re all just living our lives, making a living doing something that we love. Keep it real.

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?

•  If you are struggling, take a minute, sit down, and really visualize what you want your business to be like. Figure out what that looks like for you and your family.

•  Don’t be afraid to do things in a different way. Who cares how everyone else does it? You know your clients and what they need so create things for them. 

• Spend time slowing down and soaking it all in. I’m guilty of letting successes go by and not relishing in them. I move on to the next thing... Jeff has to remind me “Hey, look what we just did!"  Be grateful and chill for just a second!” 

• Photograph your kids - it’s like the old story about the Cobbler’s kids that never had shoes... Better yet, be photographed with your kids - that does not happen enough for any of us.

• Stay true to yourself as an artist and develop your craft. 

To see more of Allison's work:

Website

Blog

Facebook (Allison)

Facebook (Jeff)

Twitter (Allison)

Twitter (Jeff)

lbobi

***All images in this post are copyright Allison Rodgers.***