I swear, I didn't skip a day. but after church in the morning, the shoot in the afternoon, and traveling all last night, I kind of forgot to actually post what I wrote. An old school-mate from high-school asked me to do a write-up on my small business for her college class. and since it is bg photography's blog, I decided to share it with you. I talk about success factors and customers and lessons learned, and I promise...its from last night! I even have proof. ;)

Business: bg photography
Industry: Photography, Weddings, Senior, Newborn
Founded: August 2010
Links: http://bgphotography.showitsite.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/bg-photography/156394517709660
Contact: bgphotography10@gmail.com

Business Description: “Intertwining passion + some artistic flair, I'm dedicated to producing photographs that you will love.”

Start-up History: After graduating from Hope College in May of 2010, I began looking for jobs just like all my other classmates. However, with unemployment rate so high, I quickly found myself running out of money and running out of job options. I’ve been working with cameras since 2008, but once I was asked to take some senior pictures in August, I decided to make it a career. And with that thought, I started my own business.

Customers: Initially, my business began with senior girls’ portraits. After word got around, I did one session with a senior guy. From that, I spread the word via my Facebook page that I was interested in mainly doing couples and weddings. After a steady few months of senior portraits, I began photographing couples that were just dating and then finally signed three weddings for summer 2011; thus resulting in scheduling and shooting engagement sessions.

Value Added to Customers: I firmly believe that everyone should be photographed professionally at least once in their life. I believe in making people feel beautiful and unique, and I strive to give my clients a modern, fresh perspective of themselves: how I see them. Not only will these pictures give them an image to be proud of, it also captures a moment—a moment that is fleeting. With their pictures, they are halting time and can always remember how they felt at that exact moment.

Five Success Factors: 1) Believing in yourself. Without a doubt, I’d be nowhere if I didn’t believe in the talent that I’ve been given. In such a competitive market, I needed to be confident in what I had to offer.

2) Internal Support. I needed the support of my family, fiancé, and best friends. Starting a business is difficult and draining: financially, physically, mentally. You doubt yourself and your ability, and when you need to stand back, you need your support group to lean on.

3) Be open with the client. Many clients are nervous in front of the camera. Before every session, I e-mail the client to let them know what the session with look like. And if I’ve never met the client before, normally we’ll sit down before the session and talk about what poses they might like, and we’ll talk just about life. People are always more comfortable with people they know. And once I show them a few shots at the beginning of the session, they see that I know what I’m doing and I’m good at, and they’ll relax and let me do my job.

4) Equipment and knowledge. It might sound silly, but if you don’t have the nice camera, you’re pictures can’t compete with others in the market. Although a large investment, your camera will reap results that will more than double your investment. Research lenses. (i.e. A 50mm f 1.2 will produce an incredibly better picture than a 50mm f 1.8.) Also, you need to know your equipment. If you can shoot in RAW compared to JPEG, your pictures will be sharper and more vivid. Choose lenses and filters that fit your specific style. Never stop learning!

5) Style. Develop your style that will differentiate your product from the others. STICK WITH IT. By having a consistent, professional, and artistic style, your product will be more easily recognized and widely advertised by word of mouth.

Lessons Learned: Know the risks (personal and financial) before you begin. If it’s too much of an investment or the cons outweigh the pros, know when to throw in the towel. But if it’s your dream and it’s feasible, listen to Winston Churchill’s advice: Never, never, never give up. Starting a small business is a risk, and in order to be successful, you have to be persistent: with advertising, with your style, with yourself.

have a great Monday! :)

Can I just call in sick?

I didn't want to go to work yesterday. I mean, even city halls were closed due to the snow-storm. Why on earth would I want to go to work? But then today, my parents, grandma, cousin, and her baby girl, came up here to visit my new nephew. Why...HOW...could I go to work when they were here. I was able to stop by for 10 minutes before leaving for work, but it broke my heart to put on my coat, pick up my lunch-bag, and walk the long driveway to my car.

Being an adult stinks.

And since posts are so much better with pictures, here's a picture of my newest nephew. The one I had to leave to go be an adult and work. More to come from his session later. :)

snow-topped muffins.

Last night, snowflakes descended on our world with a fury. A 13 inch fury to be exact. And while I'm not necessarily looking forward to shoveling out of this mess for work tonight, I am loving this morning where I can look outside and wish with all that's in me for a pair of snow pants. Because there's nothing more inviting that a foot of unaltered snow that's just begging to be played in. However, all of my snow gear still resides at my parents's house, so...in celebration of snowpocalypse 2011, I baked. Snow-topped muffins.

And if you've never had a blue-berry, snow-topped muffin, come on over. I'll share-- well, at least one bite.

February: a month for resolutions.

If anyone were to choose a resolution that involved doing something for an entire month, they'd choose February. Unless their resolution was to eat as much chocolate cake as possible. In which case they'd most likely make it a multi-month resolution. But I am not going to be eating cake (all the time). Instead, I'm making a resolution to write: every.single.day for the entire month of February. I will be updating my blog with recent sessions and maybe dash in a bit of personal blogs here and there as well. If you come to my blog and I haven't blogged in a day, then you will probably find me here-- at my personal blog. Blogging often was so easy when I wasn't working nights and weekends weren't filled with sessions, but I'm hoping to s-t-r-e-t-c-h myself and my business through disciplining myself to be artistic no matter what busy season my life is in.

To start off the month of February, I'd like to introduce Jeremy + Rebekah. They're getting married in May, and Adam and I couldn't be more excited for them! We have known them for the past couple of years, and when Bekah asked if I would be willing to photograph her wedding, I nearly leaped out of my skin for the chance!

Rawr, Bekah! Gorgeous!

They've been together for over two years, and they've attained a level of comfortability that is only possibly from truly knowing each other. They couldn't be better matched. Many great things are yet to come! :)

Can't wait to post a few more!

-B. :)

Happy New Year!

After a brief reprieve from blogging and business for the holidays, I'm back in the office (which thankfully still includes yoga pants and hot cocoa). So now it's time for a bit of catch up in the form of numbers. Because I'm OCD. And that helps.

1.

Cue love. Ah, sweet love.

Chelsea was the first senior to ever contact me for professional pictures. You could say she was the one that really pushed me into my business. And for her, I'll be forever grateful. So when she contacted me for a last-minute Christmas session with her boyfriend, I couldn't say no.

We had a gorgeous day in my home-town, walking around, laughing, and LOVING. Seriously, high-school sweethearts just doesn't begin to cover it.

Thank you, Chelsea, for another wonderful opportunity to do what I love-- documenting love! You guys are adorable!

2.

New Year, New Love.

And this year, I'm in the process of booking two weddings for May! As a bride myself, I pride myself in knowing what these couples want...after all, I'm going through all those processes myself!

To see my updated packages (and galleries), just lead your mouse to my website.

3.

New Year's Resolution? Blog at least once a week here. It's harder to blog in the winter when sessions are more sporadic, but if you see a lagging blog here, you can always click on my personal blog where I update more frequently. Plus, you'll get a taste of just who I am when I'm not on the job. :)

Happy Monday, all! Hope you are feeling blessed today!