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

NEXT WEEK: Carmen Nauseef

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

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



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

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

How long have you been a professional photographer?  

We are currently in year 7.

What attracted you to photography?

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

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

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

Are you in a retail space or home studio? 

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

What made you decide on the space you have?

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

What does your workflow look like?  

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

Consultation

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

Ordering Appointment

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

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

Do you outsource or keep everything in house?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

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

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

I get to work with my husband :) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What do you do to keep your family strong?

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

What has made the biggest difference in your business?

Placing boundaries and putting our business on a schedule.

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

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

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

How do you think women photographers should utilize PPA?

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

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

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

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

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

What three products or things help you stay organized?

SuccessWare

My awesome staff

The notes section on my phone & my sketch book

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

Two thoughts on this:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To see more of Allison's work:

Website

Blog

Facebook (Allison)

Facebook (Jeff)

Twitter (Allison)

Twitter (Jeff)

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