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

NEXT WEEK: Ulrica Wihlborg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What three products or things help you stay organized?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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