We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Candy Meynarez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Candy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about cost-management? Growing a business is always exciting, but often businesses run into issues when costs grow faster than revenue – have you experienced such an episode? Any advice for other operators around how to keep costs in line?

Keeping costs under control is big for me. I have wasted so much money on things I never used. Whether it be equipment, props, templates, presets etc etc. Lots of lessons learned.

So my advise to my fellow photographers is, do not go crazy buying all of these gadgets and equipment.  Do not fall into the trap of buying all of these new presets. I have hundreds and I use the ones I make on my own. I don’t buy expensive props. I personally do not like to have what everyone else has.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Photography has always played a role in my life but never in a million years did I think I would make a career out of it. I went to college for hospitality management with a cruise line concentration. I loved everything hotels and I still do but becoming a GM at a Ritz Carlton or JW Marriott meant that I had to make a lot of sacrifices on the family front. I had to miss out on a lot of important moments and a lot of memories. That is something I wasn’t really willing to do so I jumped ship over to the cruise side (see what I did there?). At this point in my life I was going to school full time (Johnson and Wales did not offer online classes or night classes). With two part time jobs working 7 days a week and to top it all off, pregnant with my first baby girl! So when people tell me it’s too much I let them know that it can be done. I can be lazy but when I put my mind to something, there is no stopping me. Once I graduated I realized that there was no way to move up in my current position. I was a cruise coordinator at port Everglades with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Man do I love the cruise industry, but I just spent so much money on a degree for such little pay and zero room for growth? It was a tough decision for me but I couldn’t keep making such little pay with a baby on the way. I took some time off to enjoy time with my baby and then after 6 months I attended a job fair and that is when I picked up my gig at carnival cruise lines as a personal vacation planner. Let’s just say I’m not a sales person so that was short lived. As a new single mom I had to make ends meet. I got a job as a pharmaceutical rep and did that for 4 years before getting laid off and starting my photography business cold turkey.

I told my husband that this was my chance. I knew it was going to be a huge risk. I was making really good money with gas, car, tolls and parking paid for. I had nothing after the lay off! Just a camera. I literally dove in head first. I knew there would be sacrifices to make and I was ready. 10 years later and here I am. Getting better and better every year that goes by. They always say that slow and steady wins the race. Although I’m not racing anyone but myself, I am extremely proud of how far I have come given the circumstances and challenges along the way.

Moral of the story is! Never give up on your dreams. No matter how hard you think it may be at the moment, take a step back and look how far you’ve come! You have no idea how many times I have wanted to throw in the towel and quit. But I look back and I am damn proud. I also have two beautiful girls to work for and an incredible husband and family that is constantly pushing me to do better. I can’t give up! I have too much to be proud of.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I love talking about this because till this day people don’t believe it. Remember how I said I was making really good money with that pharmaceutical job? That went to zero real quick and that also meant that I was left without a car. So I had to start from scratch. The only thing I had was my camera. I started reaching out to friends and family and asked them to let me take pictures of their kids. I did quite a lot of free work in the beginning trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I instantly fell in love with photographing kids. I knew this is the route I wanted to take. I ordered a cheap light set from Amazon and made room in my home office. Most of my sessions were outdoors and I always said I didn’t want a studio. I did the indoor shoots at home in my living room or office. I have clients that did those shoots in my home who are still with me till this day.

Do keep in mind that I did have to pick up a part time gig to make ends meet while my business was taking off.

So yeah, initial capital? What initial capital? No loans here. Till this day I have never asked for a loan. I want a new camera? I save for it! I want a new lens? I save for it! I don’t go crazy buying expensive props. I thrift, I repurpose, I make my own. Creativity is key!

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

Honestly? Word. Of. Mouth!!! Yes I post here and there but social is not my best friend. I do not have a huge following but I do have a steady workflow. 98% of my clients come recommended by other clients.

Treat your clients well and they will recommend you to everyone they know.

Personally I prefer it that way. I have a special bond with the majority of my clients and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.modernimagebycandy.com
• Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/modern_image_by_candy
• Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/photographybycandy

Image Credits
TickledpinkbyKris