Category Archives: Small Businesses
Five Photos you Need on Your Business Website
During spring cleaning time, you’re probably busy with projects around the house from cleaning out the garage to storing your winter clothes for the summer. But what are you doing about your business’s website? When was the last time you gave it a fresh look, added new content, or put up interesting photos? Even if you aren’t planning a complete overhaul of your website – like I am! – it’s time to go through, sweep out the cobwebs, and make sure that the content is up to date.
And yes, I am biased when I say that great photos are KEY to a great website! Remember that we live in an age where photos and videos are king, so while you don’t want to overcrowd your site with unnecessary images and cumbersome Flash galleries, be sure you have plenty of nice photos to attract new clients.
If you don’t have them already, considering adding these 5 kinds of photos to your website:
1. A Portrait of You, the Business Owner/Principal. Ideally, this is something more than “this is what I look like.” It should be a sharp, clear, professionally taken photo that says something about your personality and your business. I have written a lot about corporate portraits and the need to make them unique, so I will spare you too much lecturing here. But if you aren’t sure if investing in a corporate portrait is worth it, you can click here for some more reasons why!
2. High quality shots of your products. This is pretty intuitive if your business is a retail store, a restaurant, or if you sell an otherwise well defined product. We know that clients like to see what they will be buying. But poor photos taken in bad lighting with an old iPhone won’t do the trick. Investing in high-quality product photography tells your customers that you care about your image, you care about your products, and that you pay attention to details.
3. Photos of your products in action. Particularly if your “product” is a service like dog-walking, legal advice, or consulting. Even though you don’t sell an object, you still need well made photos to help illustrate what you sell. A picture of you or your staff in action, a photo of the tools you use to get the job done, or a photo of the space in which you work may help illustrate your product. Again, we are a visual culture and prospective clients look for photos that say something about you and your business. I like these photos I took of my friend Carolyn Kraut for her business Hands of Time Concierge Services. Doesn’t she look busy and efficient?
4. Headshots of your staff; particularly those with whom your customers interact. Especially for small businesses that cater to local clients, including photos of your staff on your website helps make your business feel human, approachable, and likeable. And once again, no Facebook profile pictures here. Show your clients that you care about quality and make sure the photos are presentable, sharp, and uncluttered. I love the way that the Haley House Bakery and Cafe in Boston displays their staff headshots. They look like a diverse, fun, and interesting group of people – exactly the image that Haley House is conveying to the world.
5. Photos of customers enjoying your products and services. When I am a prospective customer, browsing websites of restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and salons, I want to know what it feels like to be a customer. So why not include a few shots of happy people enjoying what your business has to offer? If you can afford to, stay away from stock photos here – unique photos specific to your offerings will go a long way in illustrating the satisfaction you provide your customers. For the Cambridge Brewing Company, I photographed one of their annual events to get shots of their beer, food, and ambiance. Photos like this give your customers a sense of who you are.
Also posted in Non-Profit Groups, Resources, Tips
Tagged Corporate Portraits, Resources, small business owners, Tips
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Why Mentorship Matters
I truly believe that mentors, defined by Dictionary.com as “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher,” are critical for those of us starting businesses. After all, even if you have a degree from a business school, there is nothing like real-world experience to help you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. When I first graduated from photography school in 2009, I was terrified! It was my first time being in business for myself and my first foray into the world of commercial photography. So I went on the hunt for a mentor. I wanted someone who I could call when I had a question, someone who would offer advice and a listening ear, and someone whose experience in my field could help me find my way. I am going to write down what my search for a mentor was like – because it wasn’t easy – in the hopes that it will inspire others to keep searching! Finding a great mentor (or two or three or more) is invaluable. If you don’t have one, get one!
I especially hoped that I’d find a woman business-owner who would be my mentor, since I think women face different challenges than men in the business word (and in the commercial photography world.) I made a lot of phone calls, I had informational interviews, went to networking events, joined groups on LinkedIn, and reached out to as many other women business-owners as I could find.
Unfortunately, nothing really stuck. I didn’t find anyone who I felt like I truly clicked with – who I really believed would be a “trusted counselor.” After all, most of the women I met were themselves struggling to keep their businesses going, to navigate the man’s world of commercial photography, and to retain their clients in a difficult market. After a year of trying really hard to find a mentor, I still had nothing.
Then a friend suggested I check out SCORE Boston, a free program run by the Small Business Administration, in which you are assigned a counselor (or in my case 2) with whom you meet regularly to discuss your business. My counselors, Paul and Howard, are both retired from the world of commerce, each having achieved great success in their careers. They help me set goals, analyze my finances, develop marketing strategies, and build client lists. They have helped me with my website, my pricing structure, my promotional materials. I meet with them once every one or two months for an hour and their insight has become invaluable. That makes 2 great mentors.
Still in my quest for a female mentor, though, I stumbled upon Ali Brown who is an uber-successful business coach and, although occasionally a little too self-aggrandizing for me, a great inspiration. To work with her directly costs thousands of dollars (she lives a luxurious lifestyle in Southern California), but to access lots of great information on her website is FREE! She offers positive, realistic advice to women entrepreneurs. Her resources help keep me on track and keep me going. Even though Ali doesn’t even know I exist, I still consider her one of my mentors.
Additionally, along my way, I joined the ASMP, an association for professional photographers (again desperate to reach out to people and build my network.) Though I hadn’t found much of interest from ASMP, this winter they launched a mentoring program (um, hello!) called Mutual Mentoring Groups. You’re assigned a group of 5 other photographers – all different from you – with whom you meet twice a month. During those meetings, everyone gets the chance to talk about a challenge or a success or whatever is on their mind and get feedback from the group. I am in a wonderful group with a diverse range of talent. We’ve had 3 meetings so far and another one on Monday. It’s so comforting to know that I have a dedicated group of people, within my industry, who I can talk to. These people get it, they have been there, and they have new ideas for facing the same challenges.
Finally, as I continue to grow as an event photographer, I have begun building a relationship with one of Boston’s premiere event photographers. He actually approached me after attending an event that I was photographing. He complimented me on my work and said that he’d like to help be get better. Um, okay. I said, “Yes, I will show you my work and accept your feedback if it will help me become a better photographer, reach more clients, and cover larger events.” I can tell that he is going to be a great mentor and will offer a lot of insight specific to event photography, which is exactly what I need.
So here I am, in my third year of business, finally finding myself surrounded with talented, experienced, and professional mentors. I have different mentors for different aspects of my business. I have people I can call, email, websites full of resources, and regular opportunities to discuss the challenges of having your own business. Like I said, if you don’t already have a mentor – no matter what field you’re in – consider reaching out to some people and finding one. Finding great mentors does take work, but it truly pays off in the end.
Event Photos ‘R’ Us
2012 is my 3rd year in business! How time flies. In June 2009, I graduated from the New England School of Photography with absolutely no idea how I was going to make this work. (Actually, you can read my first ever blog post here. See how much has changed?!) I made some business cards, got a website up, started making phone calls, and kept on taking pictures. Now, I have a fully-formed, yet tiny, business. It’s amazing how much things can change in just a few years! I have so many people to thank for helping me get to where I am. THANK YOU, EVERYONE!
The best part of the last three years has been seeing how my business evolved – and continues to do so – as I learned new things, met new clients, garnered new assignments, and found new passions. After hundreds of photo shoots with dozens of clients, I have learned that I am most comfortable and happy and successful when I am photographing events. Large ones, small ones, sappy ones, corporate ones, mission-driven ones. It really doesn’t matter to me what the event is, but I love that I get to interact with people all day and evening long. I get to be part of a really big and important day – whether it’s someone’s wedding, an organization’s annual fundraiser, or a long-planned conference. I get to learn new things; while I shoot, I listen to speakers, watch performances, hear about fabulous organizations and their work around the country. I love the fast-pace and every-changing nature of event photography. And I love working with clients to help them tell the story of their big day through beautiful photos.
This, in 2012, my goal is to shoot more corporate and non-profit events, to follow this passion, and build this sector of my business. I’ll still be doing lots of weddings, food and restaurant work, and lots of portraits, too! But the one thing you may NOT see on my website is family and baby portraits. This is a piece of my business that I have decided to downplay for a little while to make room for more event work. I still love working with families – and especially little ones! – and will gladly take the jobs when they come along, but for the next 6 months or so, I will be devoting more marketing space and time to event photography.
Of course, you can still find my family portrait photographs here. Please let me know if you’re interested in family photographs and I can gladly send you more information, more samples, and a price list. In the meantime, though, if you know of anyone looking for an event photographer, I hope that you’ll send them my way!
Thanks for reading and for being part of this journey of my business! Can’t wait to see what comes up next…
Jimmy’s Cafe
Last week, for the Wellesley Townsman, I photographed the chef at Jimmy’s Cafe preparing the restaurant’s most popular dish: Baked Haddock with Crab Stuffing. As you may already know, I absolutely love getting to go behind the scenes at a restaurant, get to know the chef, and make pictures of the cooking process, so I always enjoy these assignments. In addition to seeing (and sampling) the wonderful food, I learned that Jimmy’s Cafe is all family-owned and operated and is one of the few BYOB places in the Boston area. So you can bet that I’ll be making my way over there – with a bottle of wine and some friends – before too long for a nice dinner.
Two of my photos ran on Page 4 of the Townsman and arrived on doorsteps on July 21. Here are those and a few others that didn’t make it into print. As usual, this establishment has a great story to tell and I am pleased to have played a part in the telling it.
The Evolution of Business
In 2007, I decided to change careers and enrolled in the New England School of Photography with the goal of becoming a professional photographer. I spent two hard (expensive) years learning the craft and technique of photography; how to make excellent pictures, how to work with varying light situations, how to maximize the features on today’s newest cameras. In 2009, I graduated with a Certificate in Professional Photography and launched my own business.
Next month, I will have been in business as a commercial photographer for 3 years. I am not even close to being “established” but in the 5 years since I set out on this path, I have finally begun to envision what the future of my business looks like.
Yesterday, I met with my fabulous counselor at SCORE, an arm of the Small Business Administration. Every month he and I sit down and go over numbers, solve problems, make a plan for the next month. Since I began meeting with him last fall, my business has definitely grown. But yesterday I sat down and said, “I want my business to grow more, and I don’t know how.” He looked me in the eye and said, “It’s time that you learn how to sell.”
The way I see it, for the first two years I was in business as a photographer, I was in school learning editorial and wedding photography, dabbling in photojournalism and discovering my passion for visual storytelling. Then I graduated from school and spent a year just figuring out how to be a professional photographer. I made a website and business cards; I learned how to work with clients, price jobs, deliver products. I held a couple of part-time jobs and I cried a lot and was always nervous about the future. In my second year of business, I built upon these foundations of business-ownership. I upgraded to a new and better website and blog. I built up my presence on social media sites. I developed a brand and a logo. I created accounting systems. I learned about Search Engine Optimization. I networked like a crazy person and built a list of prospective clients. I started producing a monthly email newsletter that I send to over 125 people. I made more money and bought new equipment. I learned how to describe my business: editorial and event photography serving families, restaurants, non-profit groups, universities and small businesses in New England.
Now, I am entering my 5th year of business and as my counselor told me yesterday, it is time to learn how to sell. Creating a system for selling and learning how to sell confidently is a brand new challenge for me; I am starting at ground zero. The first thing I am going to do is analyze my workflow and my time management, to find out how I can work more efficiently and make time for direct selling. Then, of course, I will learn just how to make those cold calls and actually see results. How not to go into a selling situation assuming I will be rejected, but how to anticipate the clients’ needs ahead of time and communicate, confidently, that I can fulfill their photographic and communications needs.
It’s been 5 years and I am finally able to see a glimpse of my business’s trajectory. The fear that I am going to fail is much less prominent in my mind today; it has been replaced by a new confidence that my business will continue to grow. I see many challenges ahead – selling is absolutely terrifying, actually – but in looking back I can see that challenges can be surmounted and overcome. There is a lesson in here about faith, but I am not a good enough writer to break that down here without it sounding incredibly cheesy. So use your imaginations.
Tomorrow, I will go to my 10-year college reunion. I never would have guessed the rollercoaster that would bring me here, to being in business for myself and building a career out of my passion for photography. With incredible clarity I can all of a sudden see my successes and failures – and all of those yet to come – and know that I am doing alright. Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far in this journey.
Onward!
Relish Personal Chef & Catering Company
My good friend Laura Zientek has started a personal chef and catering company called Relish. Her focus is on affordable, healthy, organic meals for families and her cooking is absolutely delicious! We had a fabulous food photo shoot at the end of April where we styled and photographed five dishes and made a lovely corporate portrait of Chef Laura. You can see the final products on her website.
I think this one is my favorite:
Many things I loved about this photo shoot include:
a) I got to work with a friend
b) I got to work for a small business owner
c) food photography! my favorite
d) using my own kitchen as a studio = no commuting or transporting gear
If you’re interested in having a personal chef prepare meals for you and your family so that you can take some nights off from cooking and NOT have to resort to icky take-out food, then Laura is your gal! You can contact her through her website. She is great to work with. Call her!
Growing my Business!
This fall I am putting a lot of emphasis on growing my business, and it has been an educational and enriching project! I am working on a new website, getting a logo designed, doing more networking, spending time building a database of prospective clients, and generally doing all of the things they say to do in the “Business of Photography” books. This week, I went to a conference for small business owners hosted by SCORE, a non-profit group that helps those of us too small to pay the big bucks for consultants. I could only stay for half of the day, but here are some notes I wrote down and to which I will be devoting some real thought in the next few weeks, months and years.
1. How well do you know your customers? Who are they? How do you reach them? What do they like? Try to see your business from their perspective. How can you do business in a way that pleases them?
2. If you needed to cut costs tomorrow, what would you cut? Keep a list of easy-to-cut costs so that when hard times come, you’re prepared to trim the fat.
3. Work hard and vacation hard! Take care of yourself.
4. Be nimble and be flexible. Be ready to follow your business wherever it takes you.
5. Look at what your competitors are providing; and think about how you can do it better.
6. Ask for help. Rely on coaches, mentors, counselors, colleagues and friends. Formulating and implementing good ideas sometimes require more than one brain!
Social Media
Well, I feel like I am becoming an adult. In the past two weeks, I have attended two absolutely fabulous events about networking and social media, both of which are helping me feel way more comfortable with networking of all kinds. The first was held by the Wonder Women of Boston and was a workshop on “The Art of Schmooze,” all about how to maximize in-person networking events. Last night I attended a Social Media Business Chat held by Crave Boston, which featured two presenters talking about Twitter and Facebook. So much inspiration. And last night I came home inspired, I took a deep breath and opened a Twitter account. I vowed to post more regularly on Facebook, and I took the plunge into the world of social media and e-interactions.
So far so good. You can now find me on Twitter @leisejonesphoto where I am shamelessly “following” all kinds of food and photo people and trying to post witty and interesting things. I have been on Facebook for sometime now – you can find me as Leise Jones Photography – but I haven’t really been using it to its full extent. Last night I learned that there are 230 million people on Facebook – I have 111 friends. Seems like I have some more work to do. These days, its about who you know – virtually and in real life, so time to dig into all of these possibilities.
In the future, you can look for more of me on my blog, on Twitter and on Facebook. I am working on a redesigned website and should have something new up by mid-September. Through that website my blog posts will pop up right on the homepage, and that will be a great way to keep everyone updated on happenings and thoughts. I am really looking forward to delving into this world and look forward to see all of you there!
Interiors
Recently, I shot for an interior decorator based out of Cambridge, MA. She wanted to document two different rooms she had decorated for two different clients. First, we shot a nursery in Arlington and then we shot a living room in Andover. Beautiful spaces full of wonderful designs and furniture. Interior shooting is becoming a new favorite of mine. Unlike event shooting, the finished product is usually nothing like what you started with, so there’s a real feel of producing something unique.
This is the living room from two different angles – almost entirely shot with natural light.
And some details from the nursery. Twin toddlers sleep in this room, a girl and a boy, so its playful and warm while being gender neutral.
Next on the interiors front is a shoot in an office space at the end of April. Looking forward to the challenge!
Hands of Time Concierge Service
For Crave Boston I shot another really interesting small business last week, a concierge service called Hands of Time. This woman basically will do anything you need done, but can’t get to yourself, from grocery shopping, to picking up your pet at the groomer’s, to standing in line for hours at the RMV. If you need it done, she does it. Pretty amazing.
But photographically, it was challenging to make pictures of this service. What do you shoot? She didn’t have any errands to do that day, and she doesn’t sell a tangible product, so we had to come up with some other things. We staged a few poses where she looked “busy,” and shot a to-do list along with an arrangement of business cards to give that sense of “the woman who does everything and knows everything.” Comments welcome on how you think it turned out.
