We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Esmeralda Gonzalez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Esmeralda below.
Esmeralda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Starting a business felt like diving headfirst into uncertainty – the ultimate risk. Juggling time and money is a challenge for this momma of three and a part time photographer. With minimal resources at my disposal, I rolled the dice. Committing to an office lease, I was forced to take this business to the next level. In my opinion, it created a more professional place to invite my clients to (and not have them arrive at my home). Plus, the home office would be a black hole of distractions. I took a a leap of faith, and honestly, I had no clue how it would all pan out. Time management is a better, now, with all my kiddos in school. And the money isn’t overflowing, but it’s flowing steadily – and that’s enough to keep this photography business alive! I actually got a larger office space when my year lease came up and it was a nice feeling to be able to afford it, because I really needed a larger space.
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?
Definitely! My name is Esmeralda Gonzalez, and I’m a portrait photographer in Leander, TX. I’m originally from a small border town in South Texas, and I love being behind the camera, not in front of it ;) I’m a mom of four boys—three are mine, the other one belongs to my mother-in-law! ;) That’s what I tell everyone when I’m trying to break the ice. I started my business a year and a half ago and haven’t looked back. I love meeting new people and photographing the community. I consider myself a historian; I create memories for all to enjoy, today and for future generations.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
For me, networking events and professional associations have been invaluable for connecting with new clients. Building relationships face-to-face often leads to meaningful collaborations and referrals. I am a part of the local chamber, the local professional photographers association, and a local women’s business group. My first year in business didn’t go so well. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and connect with my community. I achieved this by networking with other moms who were like-minded and owned their own businesses. Additionally, I am a business branding photographer for a local magazine, allowing me to connect even more deeply with the community.
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
I would love to share a sales story. It deals with expectations. This year has taught me a lot. It was definitely busier than last year, which means I dealt with a variety of clients that have different values in photography. I love what I do, and I want all my clients to get it all—the album, the framed wall portraits, and the gift prints! I want them to share it with their family and friends. But that’s not always the case. I had clients purchase more than what I thought they would and others that purchased less. I learned not to judge a book by its cover. It was fascinating to experience the surprising outcomes from my clients’ purchases. We always have a consultation where we discuss design and the final product. I understand their vision of the final product, and that’s how I photograph the session. And of course, they may change their mind when it comes down to the sales appointment. Some end up wanting more, and I didn’t shoot enough. Some discussed wanting it all and ended up purchasing less than discussed. I’m thankful that I experienced all those different personalities because from it, I grow in wisdom, and this is important in business. It helped plan for surprising outcomes and enabled me to book extra sessions a month to make up for the ones that might not go as planned.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.portraitdesignbyesmeralda.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portrait_design_by_esmeralda/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portraitdesignbyesmeralda
Image Credits
These are all my images. :) I know I added a lot. You can select whichever ones would fit the article. :) Some from behind the scenes would be great to include. Thanks for this opportunity.