To look back at the difference a year makes always makes me a little weak in the knees and teary eyed. From going to a corporate juggling act while building a business, planning a wedding, training for a marathon, and attempting to sleep every once in awhile, I often wonder how the heck I managed. While out to coffee the other day, I was asked by some friends and clients how I handle the high workload during wedding season. I paused, laughed, and then said that I have a “village” of people who make it happen and let me do what I love best. Let me also say that I am ridiculously independent, heck, I struggle to ask for Drew’s help when I can’t open a stubborn salsa jar… Building a business was definitely a labor of love and something that kept me up late at night working on silly things like websites, contact forms, contracts, and expenses. Slowly over time, I realized that running a business takes a ton of work… seriously people, if you are considering starting a photography business, understand that you do a heck of a lot more than just shoot. As my business continued to build (at break neck speeds) I knew that if I wanted to continue to grow, I needed help. Help is a word that kind of gives me that crappy lump in my throat because that is how much I hate asking for it.
ACCOUNTING:
As time went by I realized that I excelled in some areas of business ownership (thank you business degree) but loathed some of the others. Giving up control was a hard idea to comprehend, but I knew that handing over some of those responsibilities to trusted professionals would allow me to be able to focus on the things that I love doing, like napping and coffee dates. (Kidding, sort of.) One by one, I started finding people who I trusted to help me run my business and continue the growth. I found an accountant who happens to be conveniently down the road from me, they have worked with other photographers which gave me the trust I needed to hand over the accounting side of things and free up a lot of time (and questions!) Wrench Apel Associates have saved my life on numerous occasions… for real.They coached me through all of the legal guidelines for running a business and consulted me on many different ways to stay on top of finances while getting up and running. I honestly could kiss their feet for all they have done for me (and I’ve even told them this!) They are professional, have saved me oodles of time and money, and have helped me navigate the scary waters of the legalities that could keep me up at night.
GRAPHIC DESIGN:
From the beginning I knew the importance of branding, after numerous business classes I knew that I needed to brand right the first time. Enter the fabulous Eva Black Design – a graphic designer based in California who happens to be one of my best friends sisters. She was still in school at the time and welcomed my project with open arms. She captured my vision, followed my lead, and produced so many gorgeous logos and designs that I knew she would be my designer for life (whether she liked it or not!) She is extremely talented and her taste level is top notch. Just because I own Photoshop and could create my own logo didn’t mean I was a designer, I knew I needed someone’s professional eye and editing to make me fall in love with my brand. Eva continues to do all of my graphic work for me and I am so incredibly thankful I found her from the beginning. Since graduating she has taken off working on amazing projects and continuing to produce all kinds of lovely things.
SECOND SHOOTING:
For my first year of business I shot about 90% of my weddings entirely on my own – yes, I am super surprised by my confidence too, but I worked it and it was great. Thus, enabling me to feel comfortable enough to shoot alone. This year I decided that I wanted to have a consistent second shooter who could accompany me on my double header wedding weekends, bigger weddings, or for the clients requesting to have an additional set of hands. I wanted someone consistent who could read my eyes from across the room and seamlessly fit in with my clients and their families. Enter: Kara Reese, the sweetest 21 year old I have met who happens to be a talented family and newborn studio photographer and a bride to be. She has been a blessing to have with me from grabbing gear, carrying bags, and shooting all kinds of beautiful images that round out each album. It has been so fun spending weekends laughing, driving, and shooting with her. I am so thankful I found her and have her with me for the summer fun.
OUTSOURCING:
This was the hardest thing for me to let go of… for real, I swore it off as not being an option. Slowly after learning from some of the famous photographers who I idolize, I learned that I didn’t go into this job to be chained to my computer for weeks on end. I want to shoot more and edit less and thus enters Beaupre Edits LLC, an amazing lady who happens to live in Minnesota (woo!) and who also loves to edit images. She matches my style absolutely seamlessly (even I can’t tell the difference between her images and mine) and allows me to turn around my galleries quicker while still maintaining top notch quality. I finally realized that this was a move I needed to make for my life and my business when I glanced at my wedding schedule and realized that it was non stop every weekend for six straight months. I edit all of the images that appear in my blog and slideshow and send Andrea anything I need a hand with. I have a new lease on life this year, you guys, I am able to enjoy summer while also working hard. I don’t stay up until 3AM anymore and my images have never looked better because I am still so in love with my job and not burnt out in the least.
HUSBAND SUPPORT:
Lastly, I have to call out my incredible hubby who has supported me since day one. He is definitely the president of the village that runs my business. He’s the man who makes my coffee every single morning and kisses me awake so I don’t need an alarm clock. He puts up with my ability to work on the couch in my yoga pants and watches every slideshow for me before it goes live. He goes on double dates with my clients, swings by the post office, and constantly puts up with my “office” that is more like a bedroom that a camera company exploded in. Drew is my main model, the man who vacuums when I don’t realize that it needs to be done, and the chef on nights when I am editing “just one more photo!” He puts up with my crazy schedule and my busy weekends and often packs little lunches for me to take along. He understands my need for “comfortable shoes” which means I need to buy new shoes a few times a year just to shoot in. He sometimes assists me on shoots and makes my clients laugh by making funny faces, making fun of me, and dancing in the background. Thank you Drew, for helping me lead my little village, I couldn’t do it without you.
Great post! Thanks for all of the incite and guidance you provide me. I am constantly reading your blog and looking at your photos for inspiration.
Love it all!