We recently connected with Erin Jachimiak and have shared our conversation below.

Erin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has Covid resulted in any major changes to your business model?
I didn’t want to pick a question related to Covid because well, I am so tired of talking about it. I am physically, mentally and emotionally TIRED. With that said, as a photographer of expecting mamas, the tiniest of humans and young families, the last 2 years have been a literal rollercoaster. Their safety is always of the upmost importance and having to stay up to date on the ever changing restrictions and guidelines has been challenging. We had to shut down for quite some time during 2020. That was a struggle on many levels. So much of my business is serving others, I was challenged with trying to figure out a different way to serve my clients as well as keep my name out there so people still find me on google when we were allowed to work again. I had very little cash flow coming in so I had to be smart about how and what I spent it on. I was forced to let my social media manager and my blog writer go and had to take that daunting task on myself. All the while having 2 kids homeschooling and a husband working from home. Sounds familiar I am sure. We got through it though. It was not always pretty, in fact there was a lot of shall we say disagreeing in our house, but we were thankful to have each other, our jobs and our health. During Covid I changed a lot of my business to electronic vs. in person. Zoom is my BFF and having an efficient client workflow have really helped me stay focused and figure out creative ways to grow my business in the middle of a global pandemic. I started selling gift cards (which were a staple in my staying afloat during the lockdown), I learned social media, I created a list of new and exciting things I wanted to offer my clients, and I took classes. ALOT of classes! Now that we are sort of coming out on the other side of this (at least in my mind that is what I NEED to be thinking to keep moving forward), I found myself really re-evaluating how I ran my business. I created working hours for myself. No longer am I answering emails and text messages at all hours of the night, I am not taking on so many sessions that I am burnt out before fall even gets here (for us photographers fall is our crazy busy season). I am choosing my family more, putting them first where they should have been all along. Personally and professionally the last 2 years have been full of growth for me, I have elevated the services for my clients to provide more of a personalized experience from styling all the way to image delivery. This has finally allowed me to start booking my ideal clients which to me is what I have been working towards since I started my business almost 10 years ago. I have so much hope for the upcoming year and truly so much to be thankful and grateful for.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a wife, mother, storyteller, soccer mom, coffee addict, wine lover and beach bum. I grew up in a little town in Maine called Kennebunk and made the trek across the country to Colorado many years ago. Erin Jachimiak Photography came to be in the Spring of 2013 after my husband gave me 6 months to follow my passion. I ran with it and have not looked back!

I believe that every family has a beautiful story to be told. I create enduring portraits that are not only stunning to look at but emotionally moving as well. I love capturing connections, movement and all of the moments that are unique to each families story. We focus on taking time to SLOW DOWN and to appreciate the art of discovery, the long embraces, and the subtleties of affection. I am intentional in that I want my clients to really take the time to say the words that we don’t always stop to say that can bring out the best in those that we love. My style is emotive, real, raw and focuses on capturing the moments, that connection, rather than the poses.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
STOP comparing myself to everyone else. Seriously, that just about killed my business. I was always following the big names in photography on social media and trying to be just like them. And then I would be frustrated because I couldn’t, I mean I spent all the money on the presets they used and took their classes there is no reason my work shouldn’t look like theirs. There is a good reason for this……….I am not them. I know- its mind-blowing right? Once I gave myself permission to shoot what I wanted, what moved me- THAT is when my business really took off.

It is still so hard NOT to compare and NOT to follow whatever is trendy at the moment, but I have to remind myself that is not what I am about. I use basically 1 lens and I don’t care that So and So the amazing photographer would NEVER use that lens in an outdoor mountain session. Guess what? I do and it’s working for me. You have to give yourself permission to be yourself. In an oversaturated market like photography, staying true to yourself is what will get your ideal clients to book you and it will make your heart happy.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
This one is easy- its actually how I started my photography business. I had a 9-5 office job and a toddler and an infant. My husband is an attorney so taking time off for sick kids or no preschool days was really hard for him. My job at the time was not particularly family friendly so I was not able to take those days with my babies if they needed me to. Fast forward a couple of years and I had to go out for some pretty major back surgery. When I was able to return to my job I found out that the company had been bought and my job had been eliminated. Awesome right?!?! What am I going to do now? I had 6 months severance pay so I guess that was something.

I had always loved photography, I just never thought anyone would actually pay me money to do it. So after some soul searching and trying to come up with a way to work and be able to be home with my children, my husband bought me a canon rebel with a kit lens and gave me 6 months to make a go at it. I immediately hosted free mini sessions for portfolio building, designed a super basic website and learned everything I could about shooting manual, lighting and all the things I thought I needed to know. It was pretty awesome. I still am in absolute shock that people want to pay me money to do something that I love so freaking much. They say everything happens for a reason and I truly believe that loosing that job was the absolute best thing to happen to me personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.erinjachimiak.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjachimiak/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinJachimiakPhotography/
• Other: Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/ejachimiak/