**all images in this post copyright: Leigh Carriccioli. **
 

{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.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...

NEXT WEEK:  Happy Thanksgiving!!

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

Leigh, I discovered you through facebook somehow.  Every time your name came up in the status update I knew it was going to be great.  You are hilarious and I really love your take on everyday life.  Your transparency, vulnerablity, this-is-the-way-it-is-ness, and your fantastic sense of humor make you a magnet for people.  I found your work and knew you had to be a part of this series.  Your ability to photograph so effortlessly and take life in stride together are fantastic. Thanks so much for being on Women and Business today.

You are a mom, wife, and business woman.  How many children do you have and what are their ages?
 I have wonderful husband Paul, two children at home, daughter Pruitt (9) and son Max (3.75) three step children Chris, his wife Angela, Alexis and Taylor. And big furry 90 lb. English Labrador puppy, Wrigley.

Are you in a retail space or home studio?
Currently, I work out of my home office and shoot nearly 95% outdoors. I love natural light and the textures that appear in nature.  Sure, in the next two years, I envision an airy, light studio space. But my business, even in the cold midwest, hasn't required it.

 
What does your workflow look like?  Do you outsource or keep everything in house?
Timely. My workflow is undergoing an total overhaul. Because time to edit the number of shoots I do weekly has become nearly impossible, I've had to go back to the drawing board and rethink my process. I've just converted nearly all of my edits to Lightroom 3 from PS5 cutting my editing time to 1/3 of what it used to be. It's been a life saver. 

I've considered outsourcing elements of it, but I've come to the horrible realization that I'm...a control freak. I like to have total autonomy on the images I select, edit and give 100% of my attention. I truly believe that a photo can have a totally different personality in RAW form as it does post-edit. Like magic. 

What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?
This is an important question. I am lucky to be a total goofball and 100% me which allows my clients to respond in kind by letting their guard down and their personality emerge. I coach photographers to lose the "Stud or Diva Photographer" airs and be vunerably real.  Clients respond to authenticity, genuine interest in getting to know them better, and the safety being able to be themselves.

You are a photographer and you also are part of a marketing company.  How do you run two businesses?
It's controlled chaos. My time is mostly devoted to running my photography business, fleur de leigh, and keeping it from running me. I enjoy being on the blogging team at Pay It Forward Photography Resource Blog. A few times a year, I help with workshops on social media with the smart savvy folks at Talent Revolution. I've also been wedging out a part of my very early mornings to write a book which is an endeavor long in the making. Right now, I am busy coordinating our awesome local group of Help-Portrait volunteers for the global event on DEC 04. We are photographing the families of the U.S. Armed forces. Families with service members about to be deployed or currently deployed away from home. Our thank you gift to them for the holidays.

What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography? 
I climb trees, play super hero vs villian, play board games, dress up, run, skip and jump with abandon. Fun afforded me by being a mom. When I am masquerading as a grown up ... I run often, play golf, and occasionally finish crossword puzzles with my husband.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?
Going with my gut and trusting my own personal creative style, regardless of criticism. As well as accepting that sometimes what fills the heart doesn't fill the pocketbook. And doing it anyway.  

About one moth ago you wrote on your blog that you've taken a waitressing job.  Will you tell us more about why and how you're feeling about that a month later?

  This may be surprising, but I love it! I work with fabulous people at Archer's Tavern. They work with my crazy schedule and as a server my mission is to make people smile. That's fun for me. Ideally, I'd like to make some extra money for equipment and stuff to bolster the biz.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 
I short sheet the bed. That's fun. This one's a tough one. It's definitely more fun for both of us when I am not consumed with work. A caveat to doing what your passionate about is the passion never takes a time out. I have to remind myself to wedge out "date nite time" to hang with, dote on, play with my husband. 

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients?
I swallowed hard and raised my prices. (it's a business not a hobby) I didn't let clients dictate my shooting style. I took time to get to know my clients PRIOR to shooting them.

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

Is there such a thing?!?
I give my husband a manly pedicure every other Sunday night.  He loves that. After all this man has to listen to me prattle on about Twitter and all things photography.

What is the best thing you've done to make your business successful? 
Embrace social media.  I put myself out there, being purely me. Talented photographers are everywhere but there is only one me. A bit scatterbrained, I'm born to microblog.  Love the connections I've made through Twitter.  Now, the majority of my new clients come for either Twitter or Facebook. 

You are a mom, how old are your children?  What do you do to help them feel part of your business life?
My 9-year-old has been my second shooter and my 3-year-old thinks my iPhone is his camera. Calls himself a "phonetographer." It is not unusual for the kids to come with me on a shoot if the client knows me very, very well. Last one ended up with a bloody nose. Not always prudent :)

You are a social media guru.  How do you keep it all straight?  What are your top three tips?

This one's easy!
1) be yourself; create your personal brand 2) do good things for people for no reason 3)utilize tools like Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to manage your various social media accounts. and.... 4) reach out and connect with people. Don't sit idly by. ENGAGE.

What do you do to keep your family strong?
Pour love on them every day. I really try to shut everything down, physically and mentally to spend time frolicking daily. And Hubby is my rock.

You travel quite a bit.  How do you make this easier on your children?  How do they feel about how often you travel?
No one in my family likes it. But they manage. I manage to bribe them with the promise of toys on my return. Won't lie. Hubby is very good about sending me photos to my phone all day too. That helps.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?
Seriously, most of the time, I do feel overwhelmed. Like right now. But the saving grace is that I know that I will get to the other side of this busy time in one piece.  Then add more busy to it. Sometimes the feeling of being overwhelmed just helps me muster strength and execute well.

What three products or things help you stay organized? 
Electronics: My iPhone, MacBook Pro, and coffee. Can I have three more tools that I love?... Totally Rad Actions, Showit Websites, and Adobe Lightroom.

What is something that you think women in the industry should not do?
Be mean to each other.

What is something that you think women in the industry should do?
Champion each other.

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?
1) visualize what blissful life is to you.  2) map out where you are in relation to attaining it 3)map out the plan to arrive at blissful life 4) go there 5) be grateful when you arrive. Every day.



To see more of Leigh's work:

Website

Blog

**all images in this post copyright: Leigh Carriccioli. **