We were lucky to catch up with Becky DeBoer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Becky, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
I absolutely love running my own small business. There are times where it is difficult and my patience for being a small business owner is tested but I wouldn’t have it any other way. A few weeks ago, there was a random lull in inquiries- it formed a sense of panic. How do I pay bills? How do I pay myself? Is it me? Is it my work? I was unbelievably frustrated and concerned for a good week and then all of a sudden I was back to a solid amount of inquiries per week. As a small business owner, I need to remind myself that there can be slow weeks but it is not enough to quit what I worked so hard to build.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I started my journey in photography as most mamas do. I was given my first camera a Canon Rebel T6 on Christmas Day 2016. I absolutely fell in love. I started taking photos of my family and nature. I explored the photography world bit by bit and consumed all of the knowledge that I possibly could. I started hosting model calls and when I was ready, I created the LLC. Fast forward to current day and I own an adorable studio in my tiny town. I focus mainly on maternity, motherhood, newborn, cake smashes and baby milestones. I take such pride in my business and my studio with the biggest goal of providing a welcoming and safe environment for my clients. As a mother myself, I know how important it is for my child to feel comfortable and I take that feeling and apply it to my business. Finch & Mae Studio offers everything needed for newborn sessions including diapers and wipes. The studio offers snacks and beverages as sessions can take some time. I have found that the more I offer for my clients big and small, the better the experience that they have.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I definitely can narrow it down to a positive experience with my clients. I want each and every client to feel welcome and comfortable with me as their photographer. I want to know their personal details on life, I encourage conversations. Getting to know my clients has been a huge advantage in maintaining my clientele. I also host numerous model calls per year to not only get my creative thinking going but for families to also have the experience that they may have not had before. Lastly, I communicate a lot on social media posts to keep my name and my business’s name out there. It really is so important to keep your business in the minds of people. Word of mouth really is so incredible.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Covid. I cannot think of anything more damaging to so many businesses. As the pandemic continued, businesses were struggling, they were shut down and so was I. Bouncing back from the pandemic and attempting to find a new normal was incredibly difficult. I had to essentially start building my business back up. I had to show clients that I was being safe and following guidelines. I pushed through though and continued to encourage clients that no matter the circumstances in the world, that documenting your life is still so important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.finchmae.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/finchmaephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087732258839&mibextid=LQQJ4d