We recently connected with Kendra Swalls and have shared our conversation below.

Kendra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
In 2017 I had, by all standards, a great job. I had been working in education for 13 years and after finishing my Master’s program was hired as a math specialist and curriculum coordinator for an amazing school district. I loved my job and the people I worked with, but something inside me was craving more. A few years earlier I had started a photography business as a creative outlet and way to make a little extra money. It was slowly growing into something that required more of my time and energy, and I knew I needed to make a decision. While I loved my job, I had two little girls that I was missing spending time with. I was craving time freedom that only working for myself could give me. After debating for months and questioning if I was ready to leave my safe, comfortable job for the unknown, I decided it was time to take the leap. With tears in my eyes I handed in my resignation letter and informed all my favorite colleagues that I wouldn’t be returning for the next school year. I was terrified but also really excited. I didn’t go into it with a huge savings account or any of the things that other “experts” will tell you to have in place. I jumped in with no safety net and for the first time I was betting on myself. I knew I was capable of great things I just had to prove it to myself. Luckily I made the right bet because within the first year I had matched and exceeded my teaching salary. Aside from the money I was happier than I had been in a long time. I was finally able to set my own schedule and choose how I wanted my days and weeks to look. It was both the most terrifying and most rewarding decision I have made in my life and business.

Kendra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a mom of 2, photographer and educator. In 2012 I started my first business, Paisley Layne Photography, and everything changed. What started as a hobby alongside my teaching career quickly turned into a successful business. In 2017 I left my teaching career behind to run my photography business and start the Girl Means Business brand + podcast.  Now I help women, like you, take their business from survival-mode to success-mode using the same relationship marketing strategies that have been the foundations for my business success.

How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media has been a huge part of my business and building connections with my clients. My strategy with social media has always been to create a space where my clients feel like they can get to know me better as well as share my expertise. As a photographer it was easy for me to share my photos on my social media feed, but I found that when I shared something more meaningful, such as photos of myself, tips, ideas or behind the scenes moments, that is when my audience really started to grow and engage more with my content. I now have an 80/20 approach when it comes to what I share on social media. 80% of my content is value based – sharing something that my audience can find helpful or entertaining, while the other 20% is sharing what I offer. For anyone that is just starting out in social media I would suggest looking at your social media accounts as a way to connect with your audience on a deeper level. They can go to your website or landing page for information on your business and what you offer, but your social media is where you can engage with your audience and turn lookers into clients.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Growing up I always had one vision for my career and it was teaching. I had never pictured doing anything else. However, about 5 years into my teaching career I was feeling the itch for something more creative. I had always been interested in photography as a hobby and had taken a film class in college for fun. I decided that photography could be the perfect creative outlet alongside my teaching career. In 2011 I bought my first DSLR camera and began learning everything I could about digital photography. At first I was taking photos of my pets, my husband and anyone else that would be let be. But in 2012 I took on my first paying client and fell in love with the idea of making money through photography. I started Paisley Layne Photography and began spending all my free time planning photoshoots and learning how to build a business. Over the next couple of years my photography business started taking up more and more of my time, and was bringing in a more substantial income. I realized I had a decision to make. So in 2017 I made the leap to leave my teaching career behind and give my photography business a chance to grow. It was terrified but also really excited. Once I left teaching and had more time to devote to my photography business it really took off and led to me creating my second business – Girl Means Business – where I coach other women how to take their hobby and turn it into a successful business as well. It has been such a rollercoaster of a ride, and there have definitely been highs and lows, but I wouldn’t chance it for anything. I get to do something I love (photography) while also something I am passionate about (teaching) and it’s the perfect balance for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.paisleylaynephotography.com and www.girlmeansbusiness.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/girlmeansbusiness
• Facebook: Facebook.com/girlmeansbusiness