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

Elyse, 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 often think about having a “regular job” how much structure that creates. I have had many in my past. But when i think about that vs what I get to do now, there is no question I’m so happy doing what im doing now. I don’t have bosses, I get to work for myself and that makes me feel more valuable and driven. At a 9-5 you have almost TOO much structure, reviews from your managers, maybe yearly and they decide if you deserve more or if you’re good at what you do. Thats ridiculous. Day to day I get to do things that make me and my business better and it directly effects my success. Thats what a truly love about being my own boss, the more I hustle the more I see the results of that hustle. My clients are now my bosses, giving me gratitude and appreciation and its all in direct correlation to what I produce, how I present myself and my hard work

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

I started off planning to earn an English degree from Suffolk. After 2 years of that, I thought about what I really wanted in life and made the shift to go to photography school. That was the best decision I could have made, it gave me a clear goal and was genuinely something I loved. Once I graduated my first goal was to be a e-comm/commercial photographer and photograph objects, in a studio. I loved that and credit some of my early jobs to teaching me so much about the industry, and where I met some of my closest friends. Then, I got laid off and was lost. I started to freelance and took on more and more portrait sessions, engagement sessions and as that happened I realized Wow, working with people is where my heart truly is. so i decided to go full time into weddings, engagements, families etc.

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

I think the MOST effective strategy is truly to be yourself. My industry is very much about being a supportive photographer and making people feel happy and comfortable. My personality is what is most important-aside from good photography. Most of my clients have referred me to their friends and family and to me thats the ultimate compliment. I want to be the type of photographer that people enjoy being around, so they can enjoy the photography process as well as what I deliver.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I really had to unlearn, how others appear on social media doesn’t mean that you’re worse. or just becuase they have more followers doesn’t make them a better photographer. Be you and success will follow

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elysepono.com
• Instagram: @elyseponophotography

Image Credits

Elyse Pono Photography