We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deni Jo Baker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Deni Jo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
I formed my business off of what I would want, a passionate photographer that understood the importance of memories no matter the budget. Whether it was $200 or $2,000, my memories mattered. This mentality has created several unique aspects to the way we operate. The most commented upon being how we cover weddings and the relaxed nature of our session.
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?
My first paid freelancing photography job, outside of family, was for a local newspaper. I made $60 & the excitement of saying “I was out on an assignment.” It felt like an eternity waiting on the publication. Now, we capture just about everything; weddings, lifestyle, portraits, marketing, headshots, live performances, personal events, and we work with several non-profits in the area.
If I had to name one thing that set us apart from other professionals, I would have to say it is our sentimental nature. We carry that with us throughout the entire process, from first consult to gallery completion. It makes me proud that our work has become such a key part of our client’s personal lives & professions.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
People trust us to capture some of the most important moments in their lives. It is incredibly rewarding to send someone a completed gallery, see their reactions, and know that our photographs will be with the families throughout generations. Plus, being behind a camera is incredibly fun. When I line up “the shot”, it is absolutely exhilarating in the moment. Loving what you do and having the ability to do so, that is also a great reward.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
As a small business owner you are constantly learning how to improve every aspect of your business. Big companies have the capital to delegate employees to fill different roles, while small business owners maybe completing multiple tasks, if not all of them. Marketing, salesperson, receptionist, accountant, editor, photographer – the list goes on and on.
Often, it’s not a matter of “unlearning” a lesson, even if you haven’t always done everything the “right” way. It’s rather how to apply that experience to better yourself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @djbproductionstexoma
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djbproductionstexoma
Image Credits
Self-portrait, All photos by Deni Jo Baker of DJB Productions