We recently connected with Daisy Zimmer and have shared our conversation below.

Daisy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

When I first started my business about 5 years ago, I was a multi-faceted photographer who shot a variety of genres. Whether someone was contacting me about a wedding, professional headshots, newborn photos, or pet photography, my answer was always, “sure!” Even though I made a meager salary, weddings represented the majority my income, so it was hard to imagine not shooting at least a handful of them every year to keep things afloat.

But about 3 years into this haphazard business method, I felt spread thin and extremely underwhelmed by what I was creating for my clients. One day, while sitting across the table from a good friend, she asked me “so do you actually enjoy photographing all those different things?”

There was only one genre I truly enjoyed, and that was family photography. Admitting it out loud was when I realized I had to take a huge risk in my business and change my approach, otherwise I’d be stuck with my wheels spinning.

So I changed everything to focus solely on in-home lifestyle family photography. This genre appeals to a smaller audience in general, so I had to double down efforts to make my messaging clear. I invested in education and branding, redesigned my website, revamped my whole client experience, and increased my prices to boot. At times, it felt like jumping head-first into the dark; I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support from my friends in the industry, and my family (who’ve never doubted me for a second!)

I won’t lie — it was REALLY hard to say “no” to those odd jobs, especially if I was having a slow month. But it’s important to remember that saying “no” to the wrongs jobs frees up the time to say “yes” to the right ones.

Over the past two years, I’ve replaced my income from all the odd jobs with lifestyle family photography (I still photograph a few college grads each Spring, but mainly because I enjoy it!). Offering one, really stellar service has proven to be much better than offering a dozen mediocre services — for me, and for my clients too. They know they’re working with someone who’s passionate and skilled in their craft. This helps them feel more comfortable from the start, which results in beautiful photographs and keeps them coming back each year. Without taking this huge risk, I wouldn’t have these amazing relationships with my client families.

Daisy, 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 actually learned photography when I was in the military, and when my husband and I were stationed in Bavaria, Germany, I started my own business on the side. But in 2019, when my husband left the military to start Pharmacy school, we moved to Columbus, Ohio, and I decided to go all-in on photography full-time.

My specialty is lifestyle photography, or more specifically, photographing families in their homes. The anxiety of choosing clothes and locations, getting your partner/kids on board, and THEN having a camera in your face is a lot to manage. My client experience is designed to minimize the stress surrounding a photoshoot so even the busiest families can focus on connecting and actually enjoying their time together. I help with outfit planning, deciding what activities to do during the session, and tips on how to prepare the kids so they feel comfortable. My sessions are baby- and child-led, meaning I never force anyone to do something they don’t want to do (or for babies, that they wouldn’t do naturally on their own). This translates into a very low-pressure photo session where everyone’s personalities have a chance to shine.

In addition to receiving digital files from their session, my clients love that they also get one-of-a-kind printed heirlooms to display in their home. After families work with me the first time, they are invited to join my Photo Club which is an annual portrait membership with perks like priority booking, monthly payments, and an overall savings. Most of my families return every year, and I love being there to watch them go through all life’s stages. It’s always familiar, but never stagnant, because kids are always changing before our eyes.

Something that makes me unique as a photographer is probably my silliness (and encouraging my clients to let loose, too). I’m a firm believer that fun, professionalism, and great art can all coexist together in harmony. My ultimate goal is to be the living, breathing proof of that!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is helping my clients perceive their lives with more kindness. Family life can often feel messy and chaotic, making it difficult to envision how such moments can be captured beautifully on camera, particularly when we constantly compare ourselves to styled and curated images on social media. However, I approach each session with a client as a chance to transform their ordinary moments into something captivating, regardless of what it may involve—be it a spontaneous jam session in the living room, building a pillow fort, or simply sharing breakfast around the kitchen table. Witnessing the moment when a family finally recognizes — and loves themselves — in their photographs is truly fulfilling.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Almost all of my clients return again for family photos, and that’s thanks to my annual portrait membership where they can enroll in automatic monthly payments, priority self-scheduling, and an overall discount vs. booking an individual session. In addition, I offer some add-on options like a printed photo album, and an additional “short” session which is perfect for capturing kids’ milestones or when the grandparents are in town. The Photo Club is great for me because I have more predictability in who’s coming back this year (which helps alleviate so much scheduling and budgeting stress) but my clients benefit massively as well because they save money and never have to worry about missing out on family photos!      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.daisyzimmerphoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/daisyzimmerphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/daisyzimmerphotography