Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diane Zimerle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Diane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
I was driving my 1964 Chevy truck, I call her “Bella”, when a lady started shouting out of her car window asking if she could use my truck as a prop for a local photo shoot. She stated she was a photographer and explained her ideas. I took her card and said I would think about it. I came home and told my husband. He said I should go for it. Next day I called the photographer and we set up a date and time. Several people came and had pictures done with Bella that very day.
Every one of them loved Bella and the men had all kinds of mechanical questions. I told my friend, Kelly, about the incident and how the photographer booked clients and did a “mini” sessions with Bella. Being as adventurous as I am, she started “pimping” out Bella to help start what would soon become one of the most fun “jobs” I’ve ever had. I am having a blast meeting new people and going to fun new places. I now have a 2nd truck, a 1930 Ford Model A and I have dubbed him Beau.
Diane, 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?
Bella and Beau are not afraid of doing things your way. We love the unique ideas our clients come up with. We have done birthday celebrations, engagement photos, wedding “get away” photos, maternity shoots, fashion magazine shoots and every holiday family portrait you can think of. We have had cows, dogs, cats, bunnies and even an iguana in some shots.
One of the more unique shoots I have done was to have filled Beau with 7000 plastic Easter eggs for The Charleston Place Hotel. Bella and Beau have made us some really great friends, but as a mother, and grandmother, it makes me so very happy to see the families grow. Multi generational sessions are probably my favorite. And I love when the same people come back year after year as their children and families grow!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Early on, I had 2 big events booked. One was a corporate event on Kiawah Island and my first ever wedding almost 30 miles apart. I had very limited time in between each. My transmission started to slip on the way to the wedding and it really slowed me down. I was frantic not only that I would be late, but that the truck would completely break down. I was taking the bride and groom for their “get away” photos. I did manage to make it, on time but it was a lesson to never book events so close together!
The next day I had a very full day of shoots so I had to baby the transmission. I thought about having the truck towed just to make my events. I left my house very early that day, made it on time and everyone was thrilled with Bella!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
One word, trust!
In my business, the clients depend on me being on time with clean, ready to photograph trucks. My reputation is 99% word of mouth so I have to be 100% every time. I pride myself on my word. I am fair and honest to a fault and my clients can trust that I will do as I say every time. I have filled in last minute for other trucks that didn’t show up as they promised and I now have those people as clients too. There are other trucks out there now, but my clients come back to me every year because they know I am dependable.
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