***All images in this post are copyright Eliesa of Photogen Inc.***

NEXT WEEK: Amy Smith

{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!

Eliesa, In 10 years you have grown your studio into such a thriving business. Your photography is fantastic and you have such a wonderful, infectious personality.  Your business includes commercial work as well.  You have so much going on, I'm excited to hear about how you manage to do so much and make it look so easy.  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

How long have you been in business?  I’ve been photographing professionally for 10 years, but officially incorporated for 5!

You are a wedding and commercial photographer.  How do you make both of those work together? I started out as a commercial/editorial photographer and weddings kind of fell into my lap about 4 years ago. People knew I was a photographer and would ask me to photograph their weddings, but I had NO idea how you were ‘suppose‘ to shoot a wedding. I think this was a really good thing, because from the start, I photographed weddings in a way that I wanted to, which made it incredibly rewarding and fun for me!

Right now, my business is 50/50 between weddings and commercial work. I really, really appreciate this balance. The commercial world is fast - but there is a new and exciting challenge each month. Weddings though, really touch and effect people’s lives.  I don’t know, honestly, if I could just be just a commercial photographer or just a wedding photographer - I thrive off of the difference that both industries bring to my world!  

You have set up a unique studio situation.  Will you explain?  How did you decide on this arrangement?

From the moment I decided to incorporate and make this business official, I knew I wanted it to be ‘bigger‘ than myself. I have always wanted a team of amazing artists around me; hence, the Photogen Inc. crew! We have now grown to a staff of 7 and we are truly stronger than ever! One misconception that some people have is that I have associate photographers - and I actually don’t. I highly dislike the word ‘Associate‘ and what they have become in the wedding industry, which is a bunch of photographers working under a lead photographer’s name and brand. Value, Quality and Service are incredibly important to me when it comes to making my client’s happy and I feel like sometimes that gets lost when there are so many people shooting for a studio. I have also worked SO hard to have a stellar reputation - and I don’t want anyone to mess that up for me! Having a staff for me is not about booking a million clients a season, but rather to have a constant creative collaboration in the studio. Here is how we are set up:

Eliesa - Lead Photographer / Boss Lady

Liz - Studio Manager (Helps me with editing, post processing, client management, print orders, - and you name it, she does it!)

Brandon - Assistant with Photogen Inc. for the last 4 years, this year, we launched a new company for him called Rivets and Roses (http://www.rivetsandroses.com) He is now ready to be a leader and this was the perfect solution for us all to keep him in the family!

Melissa, Tom and Ryan - All of these amazing people are assistants for both Brandon and my weddings! At each wedding, I bring along 2 assistants, so there are 3 photographers total. I absolutely love this creative collaboration on a shoot - it keeps things alive and fresh!

Judd - Judd is the business/tech guy! He is the brains behind the analytics of how Photogen Inc. runs! I am really not a technical person at all, so he does a lot of research for me on equipment, programs, software, etc! My computer is always magically calibrated and it is a beautiful thing! I also think it is extremely important to ‘collaborate‘ with business minded people, just as much as it is with artists. I didn’t go to school for business, so I have learned a lot from these people - they are so valuable to me! 

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

We have a wonderful program called SHOOT Q, (http://www.shootq.com) that has saved our lives as far as client organization and workflow goes! Because there are so many of us, Shoot Q totally keeps us on track and we never miss a beat! Absolutely everything we do is in house. I chose to do this, because I want to make sure that absolutely everything is perfect when it leaves our studio. When I decided to hire Liz, our studio manager, we spent months and months training her on how I do my post production for both weddings and commercial work.  We are now at the point where I trust her 100% with all of my editing and she does an amazing job! I have super high standards and I expect us to rise above those - and I want to keep it all in the family!

For our online proofing and print fulfillment, we use WHCC (http://www.whcc.com) and Red Cart (http://www.redcart.com) , who are both local to us here in Minneapolis. For albums we use Finao (http://www.finao.com).

How do you keep your client files and organized so that they are easy and quick to find?

All of our client information, contracts, invoices and e-mails are kept in Shoot Q! Seriously, I can not tell you how much I. LOVE. SHOOT Q!!!! It has been the best thing I ever did for my sanity and workflow / organization with clients! With a click of a button, I have all of my clients information organized and at my fingertips!

How do you keep your 10s of 1000s of client images organized so that when you need to find an image quickly you can go right to it?

We keep a large RAID set up in the studio and one off-site to ensure that all of our images are super-duper-crazy-safe! We keep folders for the various things we have going on (ie. Weddings, Commercial, Marketing, etc) Then, we break it down by year and date, which keeps it pretty easy to manage and find things super quickly! We use Photo Mechanic to sift through and find images super quickly on our hard drives. This program is amazing, because it literally loads images instantly, which saves us SO much time!

What daily practices do you have to keep your studio running smoothly?

We have a daily pow-wow once a week to discuss what we need and want to do in the coming days! We are also in constant communication with everyone - that is key when working with a team! The Photogen Inc. crew also does ‘team building’ hang-outs every 3 weeks or so. It’s so easy for life to get busy and in the way sometimes, and with our team growing, it is so important for me to not lose touch with everyone. We’ve really enjoyed these moments together - it is definitely making us stronger!

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

Honestly, just being myself. My shooting style is very laid back, and I simply just create-on-the-go! I am passionate about photographing and my clients see that during a session, which absolutely puts them at ease!

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

Surround yourself with people who will support you and build you up! This is absolutely essential. If I chose to hang around people who told me that this was a ‘Bad Idea’, I probably would have been very discouraged. Confidence in yourself and in your craft go a long way too! At whatever level you are at, you need to own it! Now, this doesn’t mean you have the OK to be super cocky or get a big head, but if you have the talent, determination and true passion to really pursue this full time, then hell yeah! Work it girl! 

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

I love to do hot yoga and cook. Yoga just chills me out and makes my entire being feel strong, healthy and balanced. I also love to cook. I shop at a local co-op, so all of my food is coming from farms directly in my area and the mid-west. I didn’t use to be a good cook at all, but I have learned a lot about it through friends and there is absolutely nothing better in life than a great meal, good drink and fabulous friends to share it with! 

You have a workshop coming up.  What are you most excited about in regards to the workshop?

2010 is all about giving back for me! I launched LOVEe Consults this year, which is an 8 hour one-on-one mentor sessions for photographers. Absolutely anyone and everyone can book a LOVEe Consult, it is not just for photographers in the Midwest! I am absolutely in love with these days! I have met some super incredible people and I have also found that I have a new passion for mentoring.

I also just launched MINNe-SHOPS, which are small afternoon mini-workshops for photographers specifically in the Midwest area. They are very specific to a certain topic (ie. our first one will be all about Tilt Shift photography!). I am super excited for these, because it is a great way to connect the people in my immediate market and also teach them about very specific parts of running a business or shooting techniques, etc. I will be taking suggestions from photographers as to what the topic will be for each MINNe-SHOP!

Last but not least, a bigger, more glorious workshop is in the works! It will most definitely be amazing and centered around our unique situation of having a team!

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I’m proud of living my dream and not compromising anything along the way! I’m young and successful - and more importantly I have amazing clients, respect in my industry and I get to make a living doing what I love - and I am surrounded by people I love. What could be better? 

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

Doing exactly what I have wanted to do and not what other people have ‘thought‘ I should do. I have always taken big risks and never played it safe. I have also surrounded myself with the most amazing people, which have been a huge support system for me!

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

There are two things I feel have heavily contributed to me getting the perfect clients:

1)  My blog. Over time, I have built this amazing following of blog readers who tune in daily to see what is going on at Photogen Inc. I have been told that my blog is sometimes the best part of a person’s day and that is huuuuuge! I am myself on my blog. I swear all the time, I post photos of myself running around in my underwear, and I also show only the work that I want everyone to see. Because of this, the people who book me are attracted to ME, just as much as they are my work. This makes all the difference in the world to have that connection with people.

2)  Word of Mouth. Whether it’s my blog, facebook or twitter, online presence is absolutely everything now.  I have also never advertised, so the constant chatter about my blog as brought in more readers and followers than I could have ever imagined. Eventually, these people get engaged and I am the first person they call, price is not an issue, they just want ME. I seriously have the perfect clients!

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

There is no doubt about it, owning your own business is overwhelming and stressful. However, it is completely rewarding. I honestly don’t get overwhelmed that often. The vibe in our studio is pretty chill and we have such an amazing system over here that we know we’re all in it together, which helps with my stress! And yoga!

You are such a fun person.  What keeps you going?

You know, it’s all about having fun. Life is way too short to not love what you do. I feel like this entire journey of owning my own business has literally just been so much fun! I am so fortunate, but also a big believer that everyone can be this happy when they take big risks and make their life exactly what they want! I have a lot of momentum to push the limits - that is what keeps me going!

You have 7 people that work for your company.  How did you know it was time to hire?  And how did you make the leap?

Hiring the right people is a very organic process. I am a big believer that people come into our lives for a reason and it’s just all about recognizing their potential! It is essential to hire people who you have an instant, deep connection with - and who you can also put your upmost trust in. Loyalty, honesty and passion and three of the main things I look for.  I also hire people who really have had never photographed weddings before or have goals of their own completely separate from photography - it helps us so much more with an overall group collaboration and they also have no pre-conceived-notion of what you are ‘suppose to do’.

You do a great job capturing with the Tilt Shift lens.  How do you know when to use it?

Thank you! I think a lot of what makes a person a good photographer is knowing what tool is going to be the best for the image they are trying to achieve! Personally, I get a little excited ‘feeling‘ in me when I look out and visualize what a certain image might look like with the Tilt Shift. If I know it is going to enhance the image and make it the best it can be, I will use the lens! If not, my 50mm or wide angle might be a better option! The T/S lens is trendy right now and it’s important for photographers to really step back and think “Am I using this lens just to get a cool blur effect or am I really enhancing the image?”

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

Jump the gun. I know a lot of people who get burned out really quickly from launching their business too fast and not taking enough time to practice their craft. It’s taken me 10-11 years to get where I am now (and no, I’m not that old, but I have been working at it that long). Things for me did not happen over night - and they are not suppose to. Take your time to really be REMARKABLE at what you do.

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

Have confidence and have fun! If you really, deep down inside of you, know that you are suppose to do your own thing and run your own business - DO IT! Yes, it’s scary and you could think of a million excuses as to why you are not-suppose-to, but I guarantee you, they are all bullshit. If you try, I bet you will surprise yourself as to how successful you can be! Also, get un-comfortable with your life. Big things happen when you are un-comfortable - it forces you to take risks!

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

Take time for yourself: Don’t make it all about business! I did this for a wee bit of time and I was pretty stressed out. I realized I was doing everything for everyone else and not for myself. Go get your nails done, go to the gym or take a trip alone...you have to be connected with yourself to connect with others!

Travel: There is a bigger world out there than your little bubble of twitter, facebook and immediate industry. When your eyes are opened, you don’t stress about the little things!

Dance Party! That’s right! I always like to rock it out and have little dance parties in the studio to Just. Let. Go.

Get your shit done - and you’ll have time for the fun stuff! Sometimes in life we have so many distractions that it takes us way longer to get things done.

Get a good working space. Getting my studio and having a creative space to come to work in really helped me separate work from life. It also allowed me to be more productive and creative. A studio is not the solution for everyone, but a creative space is!

 To see more of Eliesa's work:

Website

Blog

LOVEe Consults

MINNe-SHOPS

***All images in this post are copyright Eliesa of Photogen Inc.***

***All images in this post are copyright Jessica Kettle.***

NEXT WEEK: Eliesa of Photogen Inc.

{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!

Jessica, You are a fantastic photographer.  You've grown and great deal and you are an excellent business woman.  You are very laid back and you're letting that roll over into being pregant and managing that with your business.  You have a wonderful attitude and an easy way with people which really comes through in your images.  I'm so excited to have you.  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

You just found out you're pregnant (yay!  Congratulations!), what are you doing to prepare for your baby?  What plans do you have for the future of your business?

Honestly, I really didn’t know how pregnancy and a new baby would effect my business and I was reeeeeally sick throughout my whole first pregnancy, so it was a little scary going into it again the second time! Luckily I haven’t been nearly as sick this time though. =) Anyway, I decided right away that to lighten my workload and stress level, I would only be shooting weddings during pregnancy and take a break from portraits. Most people would probably do the opposite, but I really enjoy weddings and it’s much easier for me to take on a few weddings a month than deal with 10 sets of parents (and all the scheduling, orders, e-mails etc.). It feels a lot like having a couple of big school projects vs. lots of homework assignments for some reason. Much more manageable.

After the baby is born, I am just going to have to play it by ear! I have never been the mother of two before and I wasn’t in business when Max was a new baby. I think sometimes its better just to let nature take its course than to try to control everything before you understand the situation.

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

house?

I shoot raw and do all my proofing for clients in camera raw before I put them up in online galleries. Then I only fully retouch images that go on my blog or that the clients order. This saves so much time and allows me to show my clients so many more images as opposed to fully editing and showing a small number of images. I definitely think it has increased my print sales as well.

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

In general, I am a much laid back person. I feel like I can pretty much be friends and hang out with anyone and find something to talk about and relate to. I make a big effort to get to know my clients first during a bridal consultation, and then just pick up where we left off at our shoot! Also, I am not afraid to tell someone they look silly or uncomfortable. I usually make a joke about a fake smile or something, and inevitably, they laugh with me, relax, and settle into a natural look. Then they also know they can trust me to make them look good and that I will let them know when we need to change something.

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

Spend more time learning how to use your camera and less time obsessing over Photoshop or trying to recreate the looks of the people you admire. I know I was that way at first and it seems to be a common trend among people who are getting started. Do what YOU think is beautiful and unique, not what is already popular in your community. Someone else is already known for that look and has created a niche for themselves, and chances are, you are never going to be better at being that person than they are.

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

I love love love to travel. I love just hanging out with my family. I was also a pretty hard core gymnast in my former (pre photography) life, so I love keeping up on that world when I have time.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I think I am just proud that I HAVE a business! I really never thought I would be a “working mom” at all, and business is soooo not second nature for me. I have always been a creative person, so the idea that I can have a creative outlet and actually make a living working part time doing something that I love is SUCH a thrill for me!

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We try to go on dates at least once a week and take little trips with friends or just the two of us. We get so caught up in running businesses and raising a child that it’s so nice to just be alone together!

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

Blogging, blogging, more blogging. And honestly, that is STILL where a lot of my business comes from aside from referrals! Mommy blogging is really big in my market so I have a personal blog and a photo blog - both have brought me a lot of business. It was a great way to reach my target market- young hip moms (I only shot kids and families at first). Plus, many of my clients followed my blogs already, so they feel like they knew me and that we were friends on some level before we even had a session. I also think having a personal connection increased my referrals quite a bit. And really, all it takes is ONE awesome client (you know, the family that is stylish and knows everyone!) to really make your business take off!

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

My husband owns a real estate office, so BOTH of us owning our own business can DEFINITELY be stressful! We really involve each other in our businesses so that we can collaborate when possible, which is so fun. I love that my husband knows what’s happening in my business and helps me make decisions, or strategize marketing, or analyze what camera to buy next, and I do the same for him!

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

I mentioned this before, but blogging has really been huge for me. But I think it’s more than just sharing images from sessions. My blog is pretty personal and I really try to let my readers in to my life and my business. I also try to give back by doing q and a’s and helping people as much as I can. I have gotten such a great response from that and I feel like it allows me to develop rapport with clients and fellow photographers. It’s just as important to market yourself as a person as it is to market your photographs. Having a connection with your clients brings in more business, allows greater emotion in your photographs, and ultimately increases client loyalty and referrals. Jasmine star is an amazing example of this, and Dane Sanders has a whole book on the topic basically.

You are a mom, how old is your little boy?  What do you do to help him feel part of your business life?  

Max is 3, and basically he just knows that I take way too many pictures of him!

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I am still a long way from finding the perfect balance, but sticking to a schedule, having a to do list and not working too much at night help a lot! I also decided that I can not do EVERYTHING and do it well. I don’t do much outsourcing in my business, so I outsourced CLEANING. It takes me all day to deep clean my house, so we decided to hire someone to do bathrooms, mop, vacuum, and dust etc. twice a month. I would rather work doing something I love so that I can pay someone to do the things I hate! 

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

Be sneaky, competitive and secretive! There is plenty of business out there for everyone; I wish we could all realize that we each offer something unique and that there is no need to get snarky.

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

Value yourself as an artist, value your time and don’t be afraid to expect to be compensated for it. Treat your business like a BUSINESS. You can be or do whatever you choose, but you can’t do everything. If you really want to have a business, there are sacrifices. You can’t expect yourself to shoot, edit, place orders, care for your children, keep up the house, cook balanced meals, and do everything else in life perfectly without some help. We need to make priorities and stick to them, and allow ourselves to be content with the outcome.

To see more of Jessica's work:

BLOG

***All images in this post are copyright Jessica Kettle.***

***All images in this post are copyright Christine Hall.***

NEXT WEEK:  Jessica Kettle

{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!

Christine, You are a long time pro at being a photographer and business woman!  You started a photography business when you had no children and now you are married with a little girl.  Things have become more compliciated and yet you seem to have a great sense of calm and ease about you.  I love what you've said about being yourself with your clients...especially since the majority are children!  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

Were you always in a retail space?  What made you decide to have a retail space? I started in my home and had it there for about four years.  One of my clients five or so years ago had a space that he was having trouble renting and he offered it to me fairly cheap. At the time I did not think I could afford it, but slowly he raised it over the years and as my business grew I decided to buy my studio in October of 2008. I am very thankful for him because he helped me take the first step and my business has grown because of it.

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

I do both. I am just changing the way I do my workflow. I did have a color corrector, but am now going to outsource that to Lavalu , I have a graphic designer that does the albums and cards and I have a studio manager that answers phones, does the books and the sales.

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

I talk a lot! I used to be really shy and worried that the parents would think I was crazy. Since I have been doing it so long I find the more I let go and act silly, (I am not above licking my shoe to get a 5 year old to laugh) the more relaxed clients are.

I also gage what the child is comfortable with, some like it when you come and tickle and bounce around and others like a more subtle approach like asking them questions like if they like bugs on their ice cream or If I should wear my shoe on my head. I just ask a lot of crazy questions.

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

Keep track of your numbers. The biggest mistake I made when I first started out was not knowing my numbers and just going with the flow. It is super important to know your cost of sales and to also make sure you are paying the appropriate taxes. I would also recommend to build relationships with your clients and with the owners of business that your clients frequent. But numbers numbers numbers !

It is great if you can take a great photo, but that is about 10% of the business.

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

I love to spend time with my husband and daughter.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I am the proud that I am able to support my family and have my husband stay at home with our daughter. He comes and does the framing but it has allowed us flexibility. I am also proud of my studio I purchased and redid. It was a goal of mine a couple years ago and to see your goals become real is amazing.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We try to go on dates , but my favorite time is sitting in the backyard with him and a glass of wine.

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

1. I did not have any children, I was like 21 at the time. So I met a mom that was in a playgroup and photographed some of the kids for Easter and sold them photos. Some are still my clients today 13 years later.

2. I did free sessions for owners of clothing stores. When I first started you have to remember that I did not have a website or seo or any of that stuff. So it was all based on relationships I created. 

3. Word of mouth goes a long way in Savannah! I spread it that way since we did not have websites back then.

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

It does get stressful at times. I handle all of the bills and work a lot , but always remind myself what my dad tells me and that is God is in control. Not to say it has not put stress on our marriage but luckily he is a very patient man!

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

Treat people the way I would like to be treated, be honest, and doing the kind of work that I like to do.

You are a mom, you have a little girl.  What do you do to help them feel part of your business life?  

She is five, so she is not that interested yet in my business. She does like to take photos of her peanut butter and jelly and dolls.

What have you done to create great family portrait clients?

Treated them as friends.

What do you think you do best?  What steps did you take?

I think I put people at ease, the steps I take are just being myself and not try to be anything I am not.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I feel overwhelmed at times , I try to step back and see what I can do about it. I also write in my journal, recently I have been trying to exercise. I am still waiting to like that, but it does seem to take away some tension.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

A white erase board for albums

Spread sheets for shoots

And Ruth my studio manager!

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

Copy, give away everything, and not value what they do.

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

Charge appropriately, get a business license and treat it as a business not a hobby. If it is a hobby…treat it as that, but if you are doing it to make money then do it right.

To see more of Christine's Work:

Website

Blog

***All images in this post are copyright Christine Hall.***



***All images in this post are copyright Jesse of Our Labor of Love.***

TOMORROW:  Christine Hall

{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!

Jesse, you have had some really fantastic and exciting last few years within the industry.  Labor of Love is one of the hottest photography studios in the South.  You've made conscious decisions about being a wife, mother, and business woman.  I love that you and Whitney are so matter-of-fact about the way you run your life and business.  You go with the flow so easily, it seems everyone you meet is immediately enamoured with you both.  You have such great sense of style, confidence, and artistry.  You've had one success after another and you are beloved by all kinds of wedding vendors.  This year at WPPI you have joined forces with Southern Weddings and created Airhorns and Lasers.  You are doing so many things that make sense and you make it sound doable for other women.  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

How long have you been a photographer and what led you to hone in on wedding photography?

I feel like I've been a photographer all of my life but to be exact I started spending time in the dark when I was 11. I didn't have any intentions on becoming a wedding photographer... It just kept calling me. With every friends wedding I shot I put a portfolio together and before I meant for it to happen it was a full time, around the clock thing. It turns out I love the spontaneity, intimacy and story of people professing their love.

You are married, how do you divide the work that comes with having a photography business and working together? That is a work in progress. It always has been. We each try to do what we are best at. For example- Whitney is a talker and I'm a typer. When at a wedding he orchestrates and I like to be behind the scenes as much as possible.

You also have a little boy...how do you make sure that he gets time with mom and dad?

That's a hard one because I never feel like I have enough time with him. We do send him to a cooperative preschool which allows parents to be more involved and present during the school day.

When we travel for weddings we try to bring him with us when possible so we will take little mini family vacas.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

I love my cuddle time with my 3 year old, my coffee time with my husband and then it's off to work. Our office is a separate house on our property so it's a short stroll to computer land. I try to get through my mountain of emails so I don't have that weighing on me. Then by mid afternoon my husband will be begging me for a blog post. I respond to his request once or twice a week (when possible). We have an office manager that I work with most days to get allllll of that other "stuff" done. Somewhere in-between all of this I will try to ground myself with a little yoga. Then to the bank and groceries. I love to cook but we eat out way to often just because of the lack of time.

You've opted to keep your studio in your home, why did you decide that was the best option for you?

It's kinda of in my home, kinda not. We did have it actually in our house at one point and that was a disaster. We would find our compact flash cards hidden under our claw foot tub after days of searching thanks to our son. I would find myself writing emails at 11pm just because my computer was looking at me. Between  the office in it's own home and hiring someone who comes in every day at 10am I find myself more on a schedule. Home feels like home and the office feels like an office.

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

We have our own editor in OLOL who has been with us for about 4 years. We have 4 teams of photographers so she stays busy to say the least.
The general workflow looks like this:
We shoot a wedding
Office manager, amber, downloads all cards and backs them up on two drives.
Whitney will pick the first round of edits.
I come in and label/rate the images. Our editor knows what all of these ratings mean in terms of what type of edit and how long to spend on the image.
Our editor, Shelli, picks up the hardrive with all of the RAW images. She has a sign in sheet at the office of pick up and drop off.
A few weeks later she brings them back beautiful and amber will upload and I will blog it.

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

I think just being present and personal on our blogs gives them a sense that they know us. Whitney and I have very different personalities so they are bound to like one of us ;). I like having some communication before the wedding so we have some footing with each other.
I also make sure we spend some alone time with client on wedding day. We photograph at this time but we also talk, walk, play... This is a time I feel like most clients really appreciate after the wedding because it's quiet, real, with each other and with us. It is sometimes the only time the clients has some time together before all of the kaos.


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

Know who your ideal client is. List your priorities. Don't take it all on. Find people you like to spend time with and work with them.

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

Yoga, I am really into automatic drawing but I have a hard time finding time for it because it's so messy.   Family time and good food makes me happy- always. A good conversation with a friend.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

Clearly finding people with whom we have a deep connection anywhere in the world just by our photos. I am always amazed that most of our clients I would have been good friends with if our paths crossed before.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun?

we plan new projects together. we set goals and try to achieve them. i remind my husband to surprise me ;)

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

we came up with a logo first. once we agreed on the design it was easy to stay with the look. them we created a website that only showcased the moments at a wedding that we personally cherish. the only thing we did that didn't pan out is that we paid for a very expensive full page ad and i don't think it was worth it for us at that time.

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

can someone else answer this for me ;) just kidding. we try. its not easy. sometimes i feel like i would rather not work together but i know we are supposed to. i couldn't do it without him and he couldn't do it without me. so when i get into the space of gratitude the stresses seem to slip away.

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

we’ve developed real relationships with our clients, others in the business, and just in general. i think people KNOW who is taking their picture they are much more at ease.

What are you most proud of as a photographer?

 these relationships.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

i set goals and reached many. i am proud to be so rich- rich in family, rich in work, rich in friends. and i still have a lot of life ahead of me.

What do you do to keep your family strong?

i think routine is so important. coffee time. reading time. bath time. i also think adventure is really important.

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

How does he feel about how often you travel? i know he likes to come with us. from the airplane to the taxis- he is all about it. we visit friends and families when we travel and i think he looks forward to the familiar faces.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

yoga. routine. i am also part of a group called upward spiral. we meet often and experiment often which keeps me in the present.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

internal hard drives, our bookkeeper and our office manager who has a better memory than me.

You've created some great relationships with other vendors, what have you done to make this happen?

just like any friendship...it just kind of happens naturally.

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?
find something that opens your spirit- whether its a religion or a good cup of tea or a walk in the park. make time for that no matter how busy you are.
gratitude. staying in the present. setting goals. be very clear as to what you want.

To see more of Jesse's work:

Website

Blog

***All images in this post are copyright Jesse of Our Labor of Love.***

Over the last few months we've had some fantastic features from business women who have put time into growing their business, spending time with the people they love, and are ultra creative.

(The women listed below were featured in the last 3 months or so.  The Women and Business series has been going for over a year!  So make sure you catch other women too...all of the way back to January 2009.  I should have had a party or something at the year mark!)

Did you miss anyone's interview?

Check them out here:

Dawn Davis

Ulrica Wihlborg

Melanie Nashan

Millie Holloman

Storey Wilkins

Liz Banfield

Chenin Boutwell

Jasmine Star

Lauren Clark

Bobbi of bobbi + mike

Sandy Puc

Emilie Sommer

Mary Marantz

Jenn Bebb