We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Beth Parkhill. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Beth below.

Beth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I definitely think about that often. I love photography! Being in business by yourself is really tough. Especially as a creative person! My mind just doesn’t do the same things a business-minded person’s does. But being in business by yourself, you have to be all aspects of the business. On the days I spend hours answering emails/inquiries, planning social media content, and honestly, editing, I think about how much easier it would be to just back in a 9-5 working for someone else, with just one job to do. I fantasize about being able to close my computer at 5PM and kick back and not think or worry about work. Sometimes, I imagine spending all weekend long with my family without even the slightest hint of work coming into view. It just doesn’t happen as a business owner. You are the only one responsible for the work, and if you just fall behind, no one is there to help. It’s a lot of pressure.

But then the days that I get to spend traveling to new places, meeting new people, photographing the beauty we often forget about… it makes it all worth it. I am reminded of the freedoms that come with being my own boss (like an occasional midday nap or being able to have New Girl playing in the background while I edit). I have the opportunity to stay home with my son and watch him grow and change every day! I have the flexibility to meet with a friend for lunch. I get to implement anything I believe in without having to ask permission.

All in all, I love what I do, and even though it is hard, I am so happy to be where I am.

Beth, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am from Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. I grew up on a farm with my family. Summers were spent working on my family farm and selling sweet corn at the end of our driveway. I attribute most of my success to the values I learned growing up on that farm. That, and my incredible friends and family, who have supported me every single step, celebrated my wins, and helped me work through the tough times. After high school, I attending Northwest Missouri State, where I graduated with a degree in Psychology. I pursued a social work career out of school and quickly realized that this was not my calling. So there I was, one year after graduating with a degree that I didn’t think I could use, at a complete crossroads, living with my parents, WAY deep in college debt. Then a friend (who also was my teacher and coach from high school) asked me if I would take photos of her children, after seeing a photo of a flower I posted on social media. I definitely doubted my abilities, but thought “what do I have to lose?” After delivering her gallery to her, she responded that she was in tears she was so happy. This was the beginning of my career.

I dove into photography, trying to soak up everything I learned like a sponge. I practiced with the help of my beautiful friends and family as models. YouTube was one of my biggest resources for learning editing software. I often times would catch myself staying up until 3AM without realizing it, just editing or studying. This is when I realized this was my passion.
Now, 10 years down the road, I have learned SO much about myself, photography, and owning a business. I am proud of the work I have created for my clients, capturing some of their most treasured memories. My original goal in my photography was to create images that evoke emotion and capture relationships. I have worked hard studying, practicing, and learning techniques that achieve just that. I am by no means a master, and continue to learn with every photograph I take. When I look back at the photographs I first captured back in 2012 in comparison to where I am today, I am proud of how far I have come in developing my craft and am excited to see what my portfolio will be in 10 more years.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Current and past client referrals remains to be my strongest lead generator. Even more than any paid form of marketing I have ever tried. How do you get people to refer you to their friends? It’s simple really. Be kind, work hard, and ask for feedback. Maya Angelou said it best “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” I believe that is truly the biggest piece of advice I would give anyone in business and in life. It is pretty much the simplest thing that everyone can do.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

I felt something change in me as I started to observe the world around me in photographs. It’s the same emotion I felt when I would watch a sunset. It’s like some weird time warp where everything slows down, but still feels like there is not enough time to take in all of its fleeting beauty. You could just keep looking for hours. Photographs have that same ability but can preserve that moment in time forever. My mission is to give people that sunset feeling when they look back at my photos.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bstratbuckerphoto.com
• Instagram: @bstratphotofa12
• Facebook: /bstratbuckerphoto

Image Credits
Beth Stratbucker Photography