Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abigail Lague. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Abigail, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Becoming a full-time commercial photographer is by far the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

When I first started out, I was doing shoots for $50 while spending $15,000 on expensive equipment. I had to maintain my corporate job in order to fund my weekend hobby, and spent every night editing photos and learning how to be better. Needless to say, sleepless nights were very common.

In the beginning, you need to focus on skill-building, not profit. It was during this time that I grew the most as a photographer, and figured out the type of photography I wanted to focus on. Family sessions, newborn photography, weddings – they weren’t for me. Instead, I favored shoots that brought me closer to my love of marketing and branding.

That was important, because I learned that in order to run a successful photography business, you need to niche down. You can’t market both weddings and product photography. It’s two different audiences, and you just look like someone who can’t deliver on either. Specialization leads to higher pricing and more trust in your expertise.

After three years, I quit my full-time job and started Abigail Lague Photography (maybe a bit prematurely, but I was determined).

…I was also stressed beyond belief.

I didn’t know how to cope with never knowing where your next paycheck would come from, compared myself to others, and had unreasonable expectations for how a business in its first year should do. Filled with imposter syndrome, I never put myself or my business out there, and just relied on referrals to get clients.

In my first year, I made $23,000.

Looking back on it, I’m proud of that number. But at the time, all I could think was that it wasn’t enough to live on, and that I was failing. In short, I panicked.

But you don’t become a photographer because you want easy money. You do it because it’s your passion, and you can’t imagine doing anything else.

I spent my second year as a full-time business owner with renewed determination, and focused on really putting my business out there. That meant attending as many networking events as possible, fostering strong client relationships, and looking for more new ways to market myself.

I also took a long hard look at my business. Did my messaging resonate with larger brands? Did it look professional? In short, it did not.

That year, I was able to double my revenue and made $50,000. I also spent half the year working with a marketing agency to build a new brand, and a new website.

After months of hard work, I launched Flaire.

By moving away from a personal brand, I separated myself from the many wedding photographers in the area. I also wanted to demonstrate to corporate and commercial clients that this wasn’t just a solo operation anymore. I had a team of photographers I trusted to assist and lead their own shoots.

I started taking myself, and my brand, more seriously. And it paid off.

Within the first three months, we worked with two senators and a governor. We’ve also started regularly booking branding and event shoots with companies bringing in over $20M yearly.

There is still work to do (and an actual brick-and-mortar studio on my wish list), but the business has blossomed. We are on track to double revenue for the third year in a row, and I couldn’t be happier.

It was a long and hard journey, but it was worth it.

Abigail, 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?

At Flaire, we specialize helping brands project a professional image they can be proud of. From corporate events and headshots, to product photography and branding, we are a one-stop shop for a business’s photographic needs. We have also started offering videography services!

Your brand’s photography is your chance to stand out in a saturated market. It’s how you capture customer attention, and ensure a good first impression.

At Flaire, we believe that “business” doesn’t mean “boring.” And everything we do, we do with a touch of creative flair.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I first started my business, I wasn’t prepared for the mental toll that it can take.

I didn’t know how to cope with never knowing where your next paycheck would come from, compared myself to others, and had unreasonable expectations for how a business in its first year should do. Filled with imposter syndrome, I never put myself or my business out there, and relied on referrals to get clients.

After a year, I let it get the best of me and took a full-time corporate job.

I told myself that becoming a photographer wasn’t a viable career option, and that I could still enjoy it on the weekends.

But with every client I had to pass on, I became less and less interested in my corporate job, and desperate to get back out there.

In the end, I only lasted at that job for 7 months. I went back into photography full-time with renewed determination, and a better understanding of what I would be facing. I decided to ignore the imposter syndrome, and really put myself, and my business, out there.

Ever since then, we’ve booked bigger and bigger clients. I’ve made connections with the business owners in my community, brought on associate photographers, and have doubled revenue every year.

It’s still not perfect, but it’s been the most amazing experience of my life.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Outside of client work, one of the best ways you can spend your time is by networking. I joined the local Chamber of Commerce, made connections with the department of Economic Development, joined women-led business networking groups, and sent cold emails (not for jobs, but to connect).

All of my biggest clients and opportunities have come from referrals. Just recently, we were able to photograph a Google event after getting to know a local event planner. Connections like these make all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.flaire-studio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigaillague_flairestudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlaireStudio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flaire-studio/about/?viewAsMember=true