We were lucky to catch up with Laura King recently and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?
I would love to have started my business sooner. I see a lot of photographers saying they’ve always had a camera in their hands since childhood, but I didn’t discover my passion until later in life. My degree is in journalism, and I worked as an ad agency copywriter, then a graphic designer. I hadn’t even really heard of newborn photography until about ten years ago, and sadly my babies were well past the newborn stage then.
Once I knew that newborn photography was a thing, and something I could actually do as a job, I set out to learn everything I could about it. I started out photographing babies in the hospital for a company, then after a couple of years went out on my own. I took lots of classes and workshops, and mentored with some of the best in the industry, and I opened a newborn photography studio in my home. I’m now in my ninth year of photographing moms-to-be, newborns and babies.

I spent a lot of years in my life without a real sense of purpose, professionally, and now that I have one I only wish I’d found it sooner. I truly love newborns, and photography, and creating beautiful artwork for families of the thing that is most precious to them.

Laura, 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 create beautiful images for families to help them hold onto the fleeting, precious times when their babies are new. My years of experience and numerous awards make me a great choice to capture these memories. I’ve also been called a “baby whisperer” and told that I make clients feel comfortable and at home as I work with their little ones. I offer both digital images and prints, with options including gorgeous heirloom albums and artwork.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2018, my then business partner and I were approached by one of the top photographers in Houston, who had run a successful studio for many years. He was looking to retire and wanted us to take over his business. It seemed exciting and like a way to quickly jump forward in our careers, so after a lot of thought, we decided to go for it – complete with employees and overhead, and taking on a lot of different genres of photography I don’t typically do.

Unfortunately, I soon learned that I really wasn’t interested in the other genres of photography, and I only love babies! The financial stress, the daily commute to downtown Houston from League City, trying to fit myself into the mold of something I was not, it all made me miserable. So I decided to pivot! I left that business and moved back to my home studio. Thankfully, I kept the most important thing that came from the experience – my friendship with my former business partner. She stayed and is still running that studio in downtown Houston, and I am back in League City specializing in babies again, where I am much happier!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I learned that I am my business, and being true to myself is the best way to be successful.

As I described in my answer to the first question, a few years ago I tried to fit myself into the mold of a fancy downtown photography studio serving prominent inner loop families and commercial clients. It was someone else’s name, someone else’s business, and I found myself floundering.

Now I’ve realized that clients actually want me for ME – my skills, my images, my personality. It feels great to run my business as my own authentic self.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laurakingphotography.com
• Instagram: @laurakingphotography
• Facebook: @laurakingphotographyhouston