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

NEXT WEEK: Laura Cottril

{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!

Melanie, You've had a busy last few months!  You had a sweet, healthy little boy, your business hasn't skipped a beat, and your work just keeps getting more incredible.  You and your husband work so well together and have such so much fun together.  It seems like your life and business flow seamlessly together.  Thanks so much for being here on Women and Business!

How long have you been in business? 

6 years this month.   

Do you have a studio outside your home?  Why did you make that choice?

No, as of right now, we meet clients in our home.  A studio sounds really great but I think you have to take your lifestyle and actual needs into consideration.  We shoot everything on location and get bored working in the same space over and over.  We enjoy flexibility.  We feel like the whole point of being self employed is not having to go into the office at a certain time or generally be expected to be in a particular spot every day.  We also knew that when we got ready to have children, we would want a working environment that was conducive to spending time with them throughout the day.  A home office/meeting space makes so much more sense for us for all of those reasons so we chose a home and a neighborhood that would be attractive to the clientele we wanted to attract and operate from there.  

You and your husband work together.  How did that come about?

Sean and I have almost always worked together.  We started with the idea in mind that I would be the photographer and he would be my office/web guy.  I shot my first 2 weddings without him and then he picked up a camera and started shooting with me.  We learned quickly that we work much better in tandem and 0enjoy doing it all together so that's how we've worked ever since. 

How do you and your husband divide the work?  Do you both photograph at sessions?

We try to consider two things when dividing tasks:  1) What are our strengths? and 2) Who can complete the task well and more efficiently.  We delegate from there.  Sean is better with things that require a lot of tech or involve numbers, like putting together our client presentations or bookkeeping.  I'm better with organization and planning, like scheduling things with clients and prepping for their weddings and sessions.  We're both good at retouching, raw processing, and album design so we split that pretty evenly with one of us taking on more if the other gets piled up with something else.  If we're both busy, we shuffle album design to me because Sean is more innovative, but that also makes it so that he takes longer at it, while I'm still skilled at album design and am much more efficient.  

We both photograph all our sessions and weddings.  

You lost a sweet baby and you just had a little baby boy, Seven.   How has all of this affected your business?  What changes have you had to make and what has stayed the same?

Yes!  We feel so blessed to have our sweet baby boy with us and life has certainly changed, but as he's just 7 weeks old today, I don't think we know how much yet! :)  We worked really hard with extremely long hours for the first 4 years of our business so that we could build things up enough to support our family well.  We then spent the next 2 years gearing things toward a business model that would allow us more time with our family.  For us, that meant going high-end/low-volume, and hiring a full time employee (Bekah) to help with the workflow.  I feel like we got things well under control before Seven arrived because we planned so far in advance and really worked at it every day.  

As far as how things have changed since he came, we all do a lot more shuffling! :)  Where as we all used to be able to be in the office for full work days, now the three of us take turns with Seven while the others work in spurts and we make marathon working sprees out of naps!  A moment ago I was typing this up with a happy baby on my lap.  When he decided he'd had enough, Bekah took him off to play and when I'm finished, I'll go get him again, or Sean will, and so it goes.  

I think the most important change we made was just managing our expectations for how much we'd be able to accomplish while adjusting to parenthood with a newborn and not taking on too much work for these first several months.       

Now that Seven is here, what did you prepare for that you knew would be helpful and what do you wish you would have prepared for that you didn’t anticipate?

Well, the biggest thing we did to prepare was planning his birth in the wedding off-season! :) I know that sounds silly but we did and we'll do that with all of our other kids as well if possible.  It made it so that we didn't have to worry with shooting tons of weddings and fulfilling orders, etc. right away and that was such a relief!  I also stocked the freezer with several meals, got the house in order as much as possible, and accepted help for everything else.  That last part is huge and because we have such a great support system of friends and family, I'm honestly drawing a blank on anything I'm really hurting for that I wish I had anticipated.  We are very fortunate to be so loved.  If I had to list one thing I wish I would have prepared it would have to be more time off.  Never underestimate how much time you're going to want to spend doing nothing more than spending time with your beautiful baby!

How long did you take off of your business for maternity/paternity leave?

Officially we took off for the month of March, but we've geared April to be a very slow transition back to work with very little demands on us. 

You are married; how has your business affected your marriage?

Sean and I had only been married for about 8-10 months when we launched our business so I'm not sure I even know what marriage looks like without the business partnership attached!  I can tell you though that I think it has enhanced our marriage in so many ways.  It affords us the opportunity to work together, dream together, and achieve together which is all just so awesome!  We are both very easy going individuals who don't let much upset us and we enjoy being together 24/7.  I will say though that it takes work to maintain our life as just a couple and it's something we're always working at.  It's easy to think that being together all day is synonymous with spending time together and it's not.  We're working and divided by our individual tasks.  Personal time together, outside of work, and talking about other things than work, is something we have to discipline ourselves to do.    

What do you do to keep your marriage strong and safe when business and photography can be such a time warp?

First and foremost, we recognize what is important and what isn't.  We don't waste time arguing about things that are insignificant and petty - most of the time. :)  We also make time at some point during the day to just be together whether that's grabbing dinner, watching a favorite show, driving to the store together, or going for a walk - and again, that's most days but not all of them.  It's something we try to make a point to do, day in and day out.   

How do you keep from obsessing about your business at the expense of your family?

I think that goes back to realizing what's important and what isn't.  Practically speaking, I plot out everything we have to do on the calendar so that all of the tasks don't overwhelm me.  We don't have 15 major sessions and weddings to complete, we have steps 1, 2, and 3 to complete today and 4, 5, and 6 that we don't even have to look at until tomorrow.  By breaking it all down into manageable chunks, and knowing that it's spread out over enough days that it will all get done in more than enough time, I don't really worry about.  We keep our overhead low because our only debt is our mortgage and we think ahead and save so finances aren't a worry.  However, the main thing I try to remind myself is that in the grand scheme of things, business just isn't worth stressing over.  What if it all falls apart tomorrow?  That wouldn't be fun, but we would find something else and go do that.  We would make it work, so why stress at the expense of your family?  They are so much more important than the business!   

What are the best mom things you do?

Spending time with my baby boy and watching him smile!  Looking into his eyes is something I've waited so long for and that time is so precious! 

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

Assess what you want your life to look like and plan your business from there rather than getting caught up in what others are doing, what you're "supposed" to do, or what sounds really glamorous.  Also, respect the other photographers in your area, their work, and their marketing efforts.  It's easy to emulate when you're first getting started but if you copy someone else's work, especially in your local market, you lessen the impact of their hard work and it does nothing for you either.  Just be yourself and infuse your business with that.  Be genuine and others will come to trust and respect you for it.  It's then that you can start to build a network of fellow wedding professionals from which everyone can benefit.  

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

I like to take walks with my family around our neighborhood.  I love grilling out if for nothing more than just that wonderful smell!   We entertain a lot and loving having a house full of friends.  I can think of nothing better than a picnic blanket in the shade on a warm spring day!  I like to dig in my garden and aspire to have a beautifully landscaped backyard with a gorgeous vegetable garden along the side -

this has yet to really happen, but I aspire just the same. :)     

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

Just of how far we've come compared to where we came from.  We've made something from absolutely nothing (trust me, we slept on the floor when we were first married!) and accomplished success together.    

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

We've "jumped off cliffs" as we call it.  We've taken risks rather than playing it safe.  Another thing that I think goes hand in hand with that is that we got out of debt right away in our marriage and that's helped us feel like we could take those risks because we didn't have so much hanging over us.  Lastly, we've always done what others said you couldn't do in our market and that has really put us ahead in the game and set us apart. 

 
What have you done to get clients that you really love that want what YOU do?

We make it a point to only show what we love and that attracts clients who love the same things.  If your portfolio showcases a bunch of work that you think you're supposed to show but doesn't excite you, you're showing the wrong stuff!  If you don't have the work that excites you, find a way to make it.  That's what we did and by putting it out there, the right clients naturally came.   

 
Your work is just fantastic!  What do you do to keep things fresh and to push your own limits?

Well first, thank you! :)  We try to not let ourselves do the same things over and over - even if we find ourselves in the same locations over and over.  We push ourselves to do something new with the space every time.  We also dream up ideas for things we want to shoot or places we want to shoot in and propose them to our clients.  You'd be surprised how many times they go for it!   

What do you think it key to a great client relationship?

Trust.  We exhibit the ability to deliver the work they are expecting day in and day out regardless of the conditions, we're confident, and we're attracting people who want what we do.  Those things come together to create trust in us and free us up to create amazing things for them. 

What do you do to stay inspired?

I think our low-volume business model has a lot to do with that for me.  When we were shooting a lot more and working long hours, I found myself starting to feel burned out and I didn't like where we were headed.  With time in between shoots to breathe, I don't feel like I have to constantly be "on" creatively and that gives me time to think and dream.  

What three products or things help you stay organized?

 My iphone, my iphone, my iphone! :)  I have everything on that thing!  It holds my calendar (which syncs with all of our computers and Sean's cell – via mobile me), my email, my contacts, my twitter (tweetie app), my baby feeding schedule (baby brain app), my grocery list (zenbe lists app), my idea notes (Record app and Notes), my portfolio, our financial records (mint.com app) and just about anything else you can possibly think of.  I would be lost without it!  Other apps I love: Shazam, White Noise (for baby naps), and Evernote.

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

Don't get too caught up looking at other people's work.  It's a creative blocker and will cause their work to seep into your own, even if you don't mean for it to.  

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

Experiment.  Try new things and lots of them - new lighting, new styles, new processing, new compositions, new lenses...  Your style and what you love will emerge. 

 
What is the best thing you did when you were getting started?

We figured out where we wanted to go and we went for it with everything we had. 

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more balanced life?

1. Recognize what's important to you.
2. Create steps to get to what's important and put them on your calendar.
3. Finding yourself still in your pjs at 5pm is an easy thing to do! 
4. time to get completely ready before you get into the office. 
5. If you're married, look your husband in the eyes and tell him you love him. :)

Workshops, etc.:  Sean and I offer 1 and 2-day private consultations for photographers where we tailor the entire experience to working on your individual weaknesses and help you come up with an action plan for success.  We will also be launching our first set of workshops over the coming year.  Email sean@mclellanstyle.com for details. 

 To see more of Melanie's work:

Website

Blog

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

***All images in this post are copyright Shannon Sewell.***

NEXT WEEK: Melanie McClellan

{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!

Shannon, You have such happy, light, and life filled work.  You are a fun person, mom, wife, and photographer.  You seem to be very good at keeping things balanced and pulling back from photography and buiness when you need to.  You've been in business for quite a while as a children and family photographer as well as a commercial photographer.  I love the opportunities that I've had to talk with you and I'm so glad you're here on Women and Business!

How long have you been in business?  

5 years (full-time mama, part-time photographer)

Do you have a studio outside your home?  

I just recently got into a studio share.  

Why did you make that choice?  

It's a group of fantastic, inspiring creative people (from different fields) and the thought of having that energy around me... having a place to collaborate & be inspired.  Not to mention that it's a place to run to on the rainy days here in the NW.

You do wonderful theme shoots with your kids.  How do you get them to do that?  Do they love it?  Where do you do those fantastic shoots?  Do you have a camera room or a natural light studio in your home?  

I find that doing kids shoots is easier when the kids are excited about it too.  I try to come up with ideas/concepts that allow the kids to use their imaginations.. play.. inspire me :)  I do the shoots everywhere.  I can do them in a 4x4 area in my garage or I've sought out a forest...  haha- just depends!

You have such a natural and free feel to your images…how do you get clients/kids to be so natural in front of the camera?  

Don't tell anyone but I have no modesty/ego/sense of pride... I act like a doof, play, joke... it's not pretty ;)

You have two kids.  How do you involve them in your business?  

My kids are with me all the time.  They sit next to me while I edit, shop for sessions with me... the only thing they don't do (yet) is go on the shoots with me.  They are my little assistants in training though (my son already has shot credit on most of my bio shots).  

How do you keep from obsessing about your business at the expense of your family?

Honestly I am so NOT a business person.  The creative stuff I do for the love of it and the stuff I do for the money I really have no problem backing away from if I feel like it is encroaching.  I guess I should feel lucky that my creative side isn't bursting at the seams and seems to keep itself slow and steady?  haha

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

I do everything.  I keep myself to one or two sessions a week so it's been doable.  I am totally Type A/do everything myself in all aspects of my life so outsourcing completely takes me out of my comfort zone.   

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

Find a mentor, find other photographers to network with that get this side of you, shoot from your heart & trust your instincts- this is YOUR art and there is no right or wrong.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I feel like I have stayed true to myself.  At the end of the day my photography is about me- it's my story, my reputation, my art.  And I am proud to say it is a pretty accurate representation of me.   

What have you done to get clients that you really love that want what YOU do?

I only show what I love to do.  I upped my pricing to the higher end of my market to ensure that people are coming to me not just cause I can take their picture but because they want ME.  I have a very personal business.  I interact with my clients at every step so we get to know each other... if we click then they come back & if we don't.. ;)

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I find no failure in stepping back & giving myself a break from what I do.  The path I am on has no end so if I decide to wander on other paths or choose another path entirely... well, I'm okay with that.  I think giving yourself leniency helps keep the pressure and fear of not 'succeeding' at bay and let's you just be in the moment.    

You are such a fun person and relaxed person.  What keeps you going? My kids.  If nothing else, I've got two little people that need me to stay (semi) sane, productive & a good role model- they are both my discipline & my happy pills ;) 

What have you done to have such a strong blog following and have so many people that comment?

I really have no idea how people have found me (I'd love to know!).  I just feel so grateful and indebted to these people that continually support me and send love my way.  I owe so much to them and wish they knew how many of my days they've made :)   

What do you do to stay inspired?

I feel like I look at the world through a view finder-  locations.. people.. colors.. objects.. I am always trying to fit them into a image that I can capture with my camera.  I have binders full of inspiring tears, folders of things I've found online... there is way more beauty in this world than I will EVER be able to capture.  Travel has become a huge inspiration to me over the past year or so.  For most of my mentoring sessions I fly out to the client and it has taken me all across the country.  It has allowed some amazing shoots and the ability to meet incredible people.  It is definitely one of my favorite things about my 'job'.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

my iPhone, iCal & post-its!

What do you do to get such great color in your images?  

I do very little/very quick post processing.  My go to is Nichole V's actions.  She leaves everything in layers so I have my recipe of off/on/opacity & I'm done in 30 seconds :)

You have a unique approach to your sessions.  You stylize the majority of your shoots.  How do you come up with concepts? And how do you make sure your costs are covered…it seems like that could get expensive?  Do you have a room full of fantastic clothes and wonderful props?  

Oh gosh.. the concepts come from EVERYWHERE.  My inspiration folders, a 'prop' i find, my kids' imaginations...  I try to just pick up little things here and there when I'm out shopping/exploring for future use.  I have a really great storage unit that I put everything in.  I am also SO lucky to have some local clothing companies that loan me wardrobe. And yes.. I do spend more than I should ;)  

What is the best thing you did when you were getting started?

Network, network, network!  I owe so much of where I am to my photographer friends.  Their inspiration and support have been priceless.   

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more balanced life?

I really only have one... As soon as something starts becoming a burden, it's time to reevaluate.  When I feel like my photography is taking over my life or becoming something I dread I know it's time to sit back and change things up.  I take one of my 'sabbaticals' & then I can come back with a fresh eye and excitement.  Hasn't failed me yet... 

website

blog

***All images in this post are copyright Shannon Sewell.***

***All images in this post are copyright Rachel LaCour.***

NEXT WEEK: Shannon Sewell

{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!

Rachel, Your authenticity is just moving and invigorating.  Every time I'm around you I'm enveloped in this feeling that you are particularly interested in what I'm doing.  It makes me think that you have been hoping for the moment to chat with me.  I know, though, that it's the way you make everyone feel.  Your keen and genuine interest in the life and stories of other people and your ablility to see the beauty of each person is just one of the things that makes you a photographer and person with depth and compassion.  You have some insightful things to say and your insight is priceless.  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

You have had an interesting history during your career.  What made you decide to become a wedding photographer?

Before immersing myself in wedding photography, I worked in the news industry. I've always loved writing and storytelling. Combine those aptitudes with a deep appreciation of art and you've got the perfect recipe to create a photojournalist! So, journalism was a natural career choice for me as a visual storyteller. My love for photography took an intimate turn when I stumbled into wedding photography by bartering my photographic skills for a custom-designed wedding gown. I quickly traded my front row seat to world history for a front row seat to family history.  

You’ve created a fantastic solution for photographers in ShootQ.  How do you juggle so many plates in the air with ShootQ, LaCour, the Thirst Relief auction, and traveling constantly without having some of those plates crash and break on the ground?

It's taken me thirty years, but I've finally managed to wrestle perfectionism into submission. Well, at least long enough to get some work done! As a relentless perfectionist, delegating doesn't come naturally to me. I had to learn to trust my team to accomplish projects without my constant input. Imagine the conductor of an orchestra, who plays no single instrument herself, but exacts the desired result from each musician. The incredibly humbling lesson for me is that my team's talent often displays itself most beautifully when each member is empowered to play freely. Our best work, our most phenomenal projects, are usually the result of purposeful play.

Also, I don't need a lot of sleep. My night-owl nature enables me to accomplish a lot of creative, strategic thinking while the rest of the world sleeps. 

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

Never underestimate the power of a smile :) Gentleness, a quiet demeanor and a calming presence are keys to unlocking trust, especially in the most intimate settings. Since weddings are intensely emotional events, it's especially important for me to bring a sense of stability to the day. During my initial consultations with clients, I often say "you're choosing us not simply because we know when to take a photograph, but also, because we know when NOT to take a photograph." We walk lightly; we pride ourselves on discretion.

I love the idea you have of each wedding and photo shoot having a story.  Will you share those parts of the story and how they help you to focus when you’re shooting?

Although I'm not a fan of templates, I believe there are fundamentals that should be included in every photo story. These are inspired by the classic LIFE magazine photographers who set the stage for photojournalism's boom in the early 1940s and 50s. We teach these fundamentals as "The Visual Building Blocks of a Photo Story."

1. Scene Setter: usually a wide-angle or aerial photograph which establishes the scene and give viewers a sense of place.

2. Documentary Portrait: focuses on one person, usually the main character(s) of the story. A portrait enables viewers to connect with key players. This photograph is often a close head shot of a person in his/her environment.

3. Honest Emotion: a candid moment showcasing the main character's personality through a display of emotion such as laughter, tears, fright, anxiety etc.

4. Interaction: relationships are revealed visually through interaction. These photographs focus on an activity or a group of people interacting.

5. Signature Shot: summarizes the story with all of the key elements combined in one powerful photo, often utilizing a crescendo or "decisive moment."

6. Transitions: a how-to, before and after, or series with beginning, middle and end. This series shows characters moving from one scene to another. In other words, these photographs show the viewer that the characters are progressing through an experience.

7. People without People (Details): these are images that convey the personality or values of a character without actually showing the person. In other words, these photographs showcase details that are important in the story. "People without People" photographs give the viewer a sense of people without them being there. It's a part representing the whole.

8. Closer: a photograph that gives the story a logical ending or resolution. In literature, this is called dénouement, which consists of a series of events that follow the climax of a narrative, and thus concludes the story. Conflicts are resolved, creating closure for the characters.

You've made some great connections with local vendors, photographers, pretty much everyone!  I don’t think I’ve met anyone who knows you that doesn’t say, “I love Rachel.  She is such a genuinely real and caring person.”  How have you created such great relationships?

I'm genuinely interested in people, their stories and their struggles. I always listen before talking; gaining trust is more important to me than gaining popularity. It's that simple. 

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

Make time to find your own voice, your own signature style. Virginia Woolf coined this phrase in her landmark book, "A Room of One's Own." What she meant was that we need personal liberty to create art. For women who juggle the joys of marriage, family, and career, it's crucial to carve out creative time. There's inspiration on our doorstep; we must be empowered to open the door and create art. Schedule a roadtrip; meander through your town for a day. Talk to strangers; hear their stories. Play with a new camera; take the time for personal exploration. It's important to remember that we can

be powerful on our own.

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

I collect and enjoy wine, particularly bold reds such as Barolo and Barbaresco that reflect my northern Italian heritage. My entire family visited northern Italy this summer to visit Mongardino, the small town where my great-grandmother, Rosa, was born. It was heartwarming to walk into the town's municipal building and meet residents who remembered my great-grandmother. We even visited the house where she was born and saw her birth certificate!

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

The ShootQ Grant initiative which awards one photographer $10,000 to pursue a personal project. Also, the incredibly talented ShootQ team that humbles me by displaying their dedication, loyalty, tenacity and patience! For info, see http://grant.shootq.com

You and Andrew are constantly working on new projects. You are both very busy keeping multiple businesses going.  What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

Travel, travel, travel. We're both Type-A entrepreneurs by nature, so we literally have to fly away from work in order to stop thinking about it! We like to unplug by immersing ourselves deeply in foreign cultures. The more unfamiliar, the better! Our favorite recent adventures included Morocco and India.

It’s important to you to reach out and give to the world.  How did your grant program come about?

The seed was planted in my mind during a discussion with a mentor about the concept of calling and how it drives ambition and passion.

When I decided to take a hiatus from photojournalism to form a wedding photography company and a fledgling software company, I picked up Michael Gerber's book The E-Myth. Although not a life-changing book, one of Gerber's tenets made its way onto the wall of quotes beside my desk:  "The purpose of your life is not to serve your business – but the purpose of your business is to serve your life."

After reading the E-Myth, I mulled over this particular quote for a few days and kept asking myself, "But then what?" Achieving freedom is great. But...freedom to do what?

That deeply-rooted question haunts me daily; it challenges me more than any financial or artistic question ever could. Purpose and ambition, in my experience, do not bring fulfillment and meaning if the goal is personal and singular. Passion without purpose often leads to self-serving hubris.

If the purpose of your business is to serve your life, then I believe the purpose of your life is to serve others.

Our world is broken; human suffering is frighteningly overlooked. The Biblical adage, "To whom much is given, of him much shall be required," is not just a nice observation. It's an imperative. I believe powerful storytelling is a catalyst for social change, because it bears witness to suffering and gives a voice to the voiceless.

That's why this quote is on my desktop: "Our calling is where our deepest gladness and the world's hunger meet." — Frederich Buechner

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

We recently moved our office out of our home. Separating our work life from our home life was cathartic. Our personalities are very similar; we're both driven and obsessive. Without physical separation from work, Andrew and I could easily work without ceasing.

How did you hone in on your target market?  It seems that you've found the perfect clients for you...

We have a very small target market.

LaCour clients seek authenticity in their photographs. They share our belief that a wedding is about a wedding, not about a photo shoot. They have high expectations of how they want their memories to be documented. So, our creative mission is to document the first chapter of each new family story as it lays a foundation for family legacy.

I think modern life is filled with toxic levels of inauthenticity. Most of the emails we get are fake. Friends aren't "friends" until they're confirmed in facebook. We're bombarded by flashy movies - and photographs - that emphasize special effects, trends and virtual reality at the expense of real connection, compelling stories and true intimacy.

This leaves me – and many couples – yearning for authenticity.

I think this is why films like Once and Juno are surprise hits at the box-office. Rather than relying on overproduced effects or virtual reality, Once and Juno focus on telling stories about human relationships. No gimmicks. No Hollywood bells and whistles. No slick lighting or effects. Simply sublime stories about real human connections and true intimacy.

I believe these principles play out in our industry as well. There are brides and grooms who seek authenticity in their photographs, who want a quiet observer to document their story truthfully. Because when you have tender, storytelling moments happening naturally, why would you want to fake them?

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

Just say NO - to copying!

Early in my career, I was influenced by a diverse set of mentors with radically different approaches. While it's natural to be influenced by industry icons and think, "If it works for them, it will work for me," copying other photographer's styles sends an ambiguous marketing message to prospective clients. Learn to innovate instead of emulate.

I believe it's imperative that professional photographers focus on discovering, honing and marketing their signature style. I've noticed many photographers lack a strong sense of identity. Around our studio we joke about "visual schizophrenia" that plagues photographers. In a competitive market, clients need to see a clearly defined style. The most successful photographers stand out because of a personal investment in their work. They've found a way to express who they are through what they do. Who we are is the most important thing about photography. Every photograph is somewhat autobiographical.

Start by asking yourself these questions:

Who are you? What is your style? Can you articulate this to your client in two sentences? Is your marketing message consistent with who you are photographically? Do your images work together to reinforce your identity or do they work against each another? And most importantly, what artistic inspiration do you have outside of the photography world? 

Start with finding yourself. Then the clients will find you! 

What inspired you to become involved with Thirst Relief?

The clarity and simplicity of their mission. The leadership team at Thirst Relief works tirelessly to alleviate the world's water crisis. Until I learned about Thirst Relief's work across the globe, I had no idea how many communities lack clean drinking water. I was aghast when I heard this statistic: Each year 2.5 million people die from diarrheal diseases. Ninety percent of those deaths are children under age five. (World Health Organization) Having clean water is something we take for granted in the US. We have a unique opportunity to make a difference via Thirst Relief's work.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

ShootQ, Action Method and my wonderfully pragmatic husband! His German practicality balances my Italian mania. http://www.shootq.com and http://www.actionmethod.com/

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

Gain a new perspective. Seek inspiration outside of the photo industry. With all of the recent hullabaloo about wedding workshops, I started to think about the workshops that have been most beneficial to me. The most beneficial workshops I've attended are ones outside the scope of wedding photography. I encourage women to seek out workshops such as The Maine Photo Workshops, The Missouri Photo Workshop, Dale Carnegie Workshops, The Ritz-Carlton's Workshops, Rebirth Retreat, Behance's 99% Conference, etc. I wholeheartedly believe we need to hone a diverse set of skills to excel in business and in life. There's something to be learned everywhere, especially outside of our own industry.

To see more of Rachel's work or learn about ShootQ:

website

blog

ShootQ

***All images in this post are copyright Rachel LaCour.***

Personal photo shot in the Mississippi Delta in Morgan Freeman's Blues Club, Ground Zero:

Rachel's trip to Italy and the picture of her great-grandmother, Rosa's, birth certificate in Mongardino, Italy:

Rachel's recent trip to India:

***All images in this post are copyright Sarah Rhoads.***

NEXT WEEK: Rachel LaCour

{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!

Sarah, You are such a beautifully free spirited, genuine, fun person.  I'm so grateful that I know you and have had the pleasure of conversation with you.  I'm amazed continually by your work, approach to life, and the way you are able to suprise me with your creative endeavors.  You go outside the invisible boundaries that seem to be laid by the industry and you talk frankly about a variety of topics. Thanks for being on Women and Business!

Are you in a retail studio space?  home studio space?  Why did you choose the space you did?

We work out of our home and we love it. Doing it this way really allows us to work when we need/want to and not have to commute someplace. It also makes us feel like all our hard drives/computers and gear are safer knowing they are at our home with us rather than some other studio location that is not monitored as much.

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

On a photo shoot I am never afraid to laugh at myself and be a goofball I think that is hugely helpful to encourage people to let their guards down. We run around, play, skip and act like little kids on the shoot and it gets people moving and laughing J

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

The biggest advice I can give is to be you. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Be yourself because everyone else is already taken.” If you don’t know who you are, discover it… explore those parts of you and learn to love yourself. Because if you don’t love yourself how can you expect anyone else to love you and your work? I would say to never settle for mediocrity and to always strive for excellence. You are guaranteed to stand out of the pack if you strive for what is excellent because most people are happy just settling for mediocre.

 You and your husband work together, what is the best thing about working together?  the worst?

Chris and I LOVE working together, being a husband and wife team isn’t for everyone but it really works for our Lifestyle Design. The best thing about working together is spending quality time and really knowing what your best friend and spouse is doing day in and day out… I LOVE that we can dream together and push each other onward. I LOVE that we can really celebrate one another and our success’ together. I would say the worst part about working together is trying to maintain a healthy work/life balance… since we are both so passionate about what we do it’s hard to know when to close the office door and turn off the “work convo” ;)

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

I love movies, ice cream, Broadway musicals and traveling. Chris and I always try to take at least one big trip a year to someplace we have wanted to go. This year we went to Thailand for 3 weeks.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

The risks I have taken to get to where I am and the courage it has taken to get there. – none of which I could have done without my amazing husband.

You have created one of the coolest blogs ever.  Where does your inspiration come from? 

I wish I could show everyone my desktop… it is filled with about 15 different inspiration folders. We are firm believers in pulling anything and everything that inspires us… ripping out of magazines and putting things aside. Whether it is a typeface that we enjoy… a color scheme that we like… photos that we dig… an AD that inspires. All of it we like to keep. I look to a lot of design blogs for inspiration; also there are a handful of lifestyle commercial photographers that we are really inspired by and we always like to keep good tunes rolling in the office throughout the day J

You have been widely published.  What have you done to make that happen?

There is no key to success and everyone’s story is different but if there have been three things that have gotten us to where they are it would be staying true to ourselves, striving for excellence and approaching things from a different angle.

When you do that you will eventually get noticed. Editors want to see excellent work so they will seek it out for content in their magazines, on their inspiration blog etc. Bottom line, don’t seek to get published…. Seek excellence in all you do.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We take trips together and enjoy life with one another. We go to movies in the middle of the day sometimes. We will take a walk together around our neighborhood… go grab tea down the street. It is the little things.

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

 We make time for friends and get together with people outside the photography industry. We take trips. We pray together and we try to always “over communicate” J

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

We have been true to ourselves and created a brand that is honest and authentic to us. When there was something we really believed in and everyone told us we were crazy we trusted our gut instincts and went through with it despite what everyone said. You have to trust yourself and ignore everyone sometimes (most times). We differentiated ourselves in the market simply by being true to who we are, taking risks and striving for excellence. I would encourage every photographer to do the same. Remember, there is NOBODY just like you.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

Haha… still working on this one, owning your own business is a lot of work. We are required to wear a lot of hats, which is invigorating, and fun but can sometimes feel overwhelming. I am working on seeing one thing at a time rather than seeing EVERYTHING that needs to be done. I am working to find the joys in scratching one thing off my list no matter how small it may be J

What three products or things help you stay organized?

My iCal, iPhone and moleskin

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

 I think everyone should have a clear WHY and not just a WHAT. We all have a WHAT, we are all photographers.  It’s the WHY that makes us unique. A “why” is a vision and a reason for doing what we do. Your “Why” should be clear and if this is truly your passion you will have a distinct reason for doing it. We meet far too many people who don’t have a clear WHY. Everyone has a WHAT (photography) but what makes you stand out and be unique is your  WHY. (If you care to read more about my why you can check out my post here, http://www.sarahrhoads.com/blog/2010/01/why-im-a-photographer.html)

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

 Be true to yourself, take risks and seek out excellence in all you do.

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

Follow your bliss and you will never work another day in your life. I am a firm believer that each of us was created for something… each of us has unique gifts/talents and passions… follow after those with your whole heart. Living out your passion is the only life worth living. It may be a scary road to travel but it is the only way to live the “rich” life. Rich in spirit, soul, joy and passion!

To see more of Sarah's work:

Site: http://www.sarahrhoads.com

Blog: http://www.sarahrhoads.com/blog

***All images in this post are copyright Sarah Rhoads.***

***All images in this post are copyright Amy Smith.***

NEXT WEEK: Sarah Rhoads

{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!

Amy, You have grown an incredible business in Orlando, Florida, you have two kids, a sweet husband, and you are a great photographer.  You have clients who turn to you for their photography consistently.  You've created great loyalty and client service.  You are generous and genuine.  I love it when I have the chance to talk to you.  I'm so excited to have you here.  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

You have your studio in your home.  Why did you make this choice?
 

Well I don’t know that I would call it a studio since I shoot completely on-location, more of an office.  I’d always planned on shooting on-location so when I started, a space wasn’t something I felt I needed right away.  As the years have gone on, I’ve become quite fond of working from home.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to sit around in their pj’s while answering emails?!  Plus, my girls are still very young and me working from home makes life easier.  I’m gone enough with the session load I keep, I’d hate to be gone more if I was trying to keep up with a space.  That’s not to say it’s not something I plan on having one day, a place for clients to meet me, look at products, etc.  (Secretly I just like to dream of all the yummy ways I could decorate it, ha ha!).  But for now, it’s not needed and I’m ok with that.

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

I used to do everything myself, and then I realized I wasn’t superwoman.  I outsource my editing, although I still do any final tweaking before a client sees the images.  My editor is amazing and I doubt I could live without her.  I also outsource all of my bookkeeping.  Most everything else stays in house.  I do have a full time assistant.  She packages, uploads orders, does some photoshop work, designs albums, etc, etc.

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

I’m a chatty one, so I’ve found if I just keep talking and laughing, they do too.  I try to get to know their family.  It’s amazing how much you can learn about someone in just an hour or two, all in between the clicks of the shutter. 
 
You've made some great connections with local vendors.  How have you created such great relationships and what do you do to make them a win/win?

I have made some great connections and I’m so grateful for that.  I think making myself readily available, speaking with them in person, and helping them however I can has made it a win/win.  When partnering up, I don’t want it to be just about what I’ll get from the relationship, I like to let them know what I can do for them.  

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

Do your homework and make solid decisions about what you’d like to do, and how you’d like to do it.  That’s not to say that you won’t or can’t change your mind on things as you go, but so many jump in without really having an idea of where they’d like to be.  The amazing thing about many of us photographers is that we work for ourselves, we make our own path.  Make your path and own it!

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

Travel.  I love getting out and seeing the world.  And luckily this career has allowed me to do that. 

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I’m very proud of how far I’ve come.  When I started this business, it was truly something I loved, but it was also because I married a police officer and there was no way we could live off of his salary and start a family.  I did not want to go back to a 8-5 job that I hated.  As I took the leap in starting this business, I kept telling myself, “What would you attempt if you knew you would not fail.”  I was scared to death.  We had bills, a baby on the way, a house under construction, and on and on and on.  I had to make it work.  And somehow I did.  There are days that I look back and try to figure out how I made it from that beginning to the amazing career I now have, and really how quickly it all happened.  I can’t pinpoint every little thing that went right, I’m just grateful that it did. 

What do you do to keep your marriage fun?

Time together, without the girls.  We try to go out one night a week, just the two of us.  We’re kind of like an old married couple that always goes to the same restaurant and orders the same thing, which is funny to us because we’re not that old yet.  It gives us time to talk and catch up.  We also take little trips out of town.  Mostly we wonder what we did with all of our time before we had kiddos as those are days that we barely remember now.  We wouldn’t have it any other way though.

You have a growing business and a large amount of return clients. What did you do to grow your business back when you were first getting started?  

I would say that 90% of my clients are referrals.  One person tells another, who tells another.  Word of mouth is an amazing thing.  I do my best to not only give my clients great photographs, but also a wonderful experience.  Happy clients talk.  When I was first getting started, I began proofing online.  At the time, it was mostly for the convenience factor.  I started to notice though that everyone would forward their galleries on to all of their families and friends.  And very soon the emails would come in from their friends wanting to hire me as well.  I loved this as many of them had spoken with their friends (my clients) and already had an idea of how I work, the average costs, etc.  They knew exactly what they were wanted and what they’d get.  And I haven’t changed it since.

What do you do to keep clients coming back?

This might not be an easy question to answer.  I don’t offer incentives or anything like that, so they typically come back just because they enjoyed their first session and want more.  I try to make the session more of an experience and my shooting style is one that will tell a story about the time we spent together.  They seem to enjoy that and planning each session we search for something new from their previous sessions. 

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

When I first decided to forge ahead with this business, I knew I’d have to find someone who could help me spread the word.  My doctor was an amazing lady and somehow I knew she might be a good person to approach.  I offered to take photos of her children and mentioned we could hang them in her office.  She thought it was a wonderful idea.  Shortly after I photographed them, I made sure their photos were all over my website.  We have a large baby hospital here and before I knew it, I was getting calls from the nurses there.  Seems she’d go to work the night shift and would pull up my website for everyone to see.  I knew from day one that word of mouth would be the key to getting things going.  The second thing I did was offer mini-sessions.  People hadn’t heard of me before and I thought a reasonably priced mini-session would give them the opportunity to get a feel for what I was all about.  I planned on winning them over and then they’d be back for more.  Or if anything, they’d refer all of their friends.  And it worked.  I still do seasonal mini-sessions to this day and they’re extremely successful for me.  I’d say the third thing that was important to bringing in clients was mastering the art of photographing newborns.  At the time, there wasn’t anyone else in the area who really did that.  Babies are always being born and therefore it’s a non-stop flow of potential clients.  With my doctor by my side and all the nurses at the hospital now, I knew if I could do great newborn work, the referrals would come in.  And they did.  The best part about newborns is that I’m the first photographer their parents meet.  And when it’s time for 6 months, or 1 year photos, they know me and want to come back.  It’s amazing how many little ones I’ve seen grow and change over the years.  I love that.  

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

Luckily I have some great photographer friends who will happily sit on the phone with me when things get a little stressful.  I’m the type that just needs to get it all out and then I’m fine.  So when I can, I pick up the phone and vent to someone who’s familiar with what I’m dealing with.  My dear friend Cheryl Muhr is usually the one who gets the brunt of it.  Thank goodness for her. 

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

Hmm, that’s a tough one.  Probably the relationships I’ve formed with other businesses in my area.  I have an upscale baby boutique that displays my work.  Both of her stores are in the heart of each of my target markets.  We have a great working relationship and so many wonderful clients have come from that.  I’ve also worked with a popular local parenting magazine since it’s inception.  That has provided many great things as well.

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

Ansley is 5 and Adaline is 3.  Ansley is just at the age where she’s curious about the people I take photos of, and why exactly they give me money to do it.  She likes to sift through the prints as they arrive in the office and ask me about the children she sees in them.  If there are little projects in the office that she can handle, she always wants to help with those.  They’ve both served as models for commercial and editorial shoots and find that to be quite fun. 

 You get great images of kids looking right into your camera.  How do you get kids to sit/stand still while you take their picture?

Ahh, the eternal challenges of a child photographer.  I do a lot of singing (poor kids, I’m really bad), noise making, game playing and talking.  I keep it silly and fun.  I’m sure I’m usually getting the look because they’re thinking, “this lady is crazy!”.  I have various tactics for different age groups.  I definitely get my workout at a session.  Although I’m not ashamed to admit that I will also put the parents to work at a session.  “Mom, yes, you, go grab Johnny and just keep putting him back over there.  Thanks!”   Oh, and balancing items on my camera.  Kids love that.  I know how to balance everything from a flip flop to a racecar.  It comes in handy.
 
What do you do to keep your family strong?

Luckily I have an amazing husband who is 100% my partner in our family.  We make family time a priority.  When working from home, it’s easy to be working all the time.  The computer is always there and almost always on.  I try very hard to not be on my computer or working when my girls are home from school.  Evenings are family time, weekends too.  So if I’m not shooting, I can do all of the other stuff later.  Does that add up to some late nights?  Yes. I’m ok with that, my family comes first.
 
What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I can’t dwell on things too much or I will definitely feel overwhelmed.  If at any given point, I stop and think about everything I have going on, and everything that needs to be done, and everything that lies ahead, I might freak out a little.  Instead I forge on, keeping up pace and staying on track.  My to-do list is forever long but I’m not sure what I’d do if it wasn’t.  When I need a moment, I take it.  I like to think that there’s rarely a photographic emergency, things can wait if they need to, and that eases my mind. 

What three products or things help you stay organized?

I’m a bit of an old fashioned gal since I like pen and paper so most of my items refer to that.  We have a wall system that keeps every client in order, I’d be lost without it.  Each client has an envelope, and everything pertaining to them goes in it.  As they move thru the system, their envelope moves as well.  At any given moment I can go to the wall and figure out who is where, what we’re waiting on, etc.  Also my momagenda.  Yes, it’s a paper calendar/organizer.  And yes, I know I could totally keep my calendar on my iphone and in the computer but for some reason I like to be able to flip thru pages.  The third thing is my Entourage (my email system).  You see, I’m slightly technically challenged and when a friend finally set Entourage up for me, I was set free from email chaos (which I loathe but had been dealing with for far too long).  I get an insane amount of emails and Entourage helps me quickly sort and organize all of it.

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

Start a business before they are ready.  There’s seems to be an abundance of that these days and I think many would benefit from doing their homework and preparing themselves ahead of time.  A few months of planning and working your craft can really make a difference.

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

Value themselves and their work.  I think what we do is amazing.  The photographs we take become family treasures that will get passed down through the years.  We capture families and people at some of their happiest times.  We stop time for them.  That is an amazing thing that is priceless. 
 
What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?

Know that you can’t do it all, and that’s ok.  Ask for help when you need it and delegate if you can.

Make time for yourself and your family and your husband.

Stay true to yourself.  If there’s something that you don’t like, change it.

Laugh as much as possible. 

Every once in a while, take a nap.  Naps make everything better.

To see more of Amy Smith's work:

website

blog

blog