We recently connected with Ines Piquet and have shared our conversation below.

Ines, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Being a business owner can be very rewarding in several ways, especially when it comes to the many lessons you learn and their impact on your personal and professional growth. I am definitely happier as a business owner. Before I became a full-time photographer, I had a corporate job and worked long hours and often on weekends. I work way more hours now, every weekend, but I love every minute of it. Sure, it is a constant hustle and, in my type of business, one week you are killing it, the next not so much, so there are no breaks. There have been some times that were extremely tough; times when a lot of unexpected challenges came one after another. During some of those times, the thought of going back to corporate did cross my mind, but only for a split second. I feel so grateful for being able to do what I love for a living, for having the flexibility to create my own schedule, to take time off without having to “accrue” time or ask permission to go on vacation. A few years ago, when I was living in LA, I used to drive to work in the morning and see people sitting at the cafés, reading the paper and enjoying their breakfast. I used to think “what do these people do for a living? I want to do what they do”. The thought of waking up in the morning and not have to rush out the door was a distant dream! Now I too can take time to enjoy my breakfast. This flexibility is priceless!

Ines, 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?

I am a portrait photographer based in North Phoenix. I’ve been studying photography since the 90’s but only had the courage to make it a full-time career in 2018. It’s a scary move, but I am glad I made it. I specialize in business portraits, which are headshots and personal branding images, and what I call personal portraits which include genres like high school seniors, couples, maternity, boudoir, etc…

Headshots and branding images are pretty much a necessity nowadays. Your image is everywhere; it’s on your social media accounts, on your business cards, on your website, attached to your email, etc… It pops up every time someone searches for your name online. No matter your line of work, your headshot is often your first impression and the first step towards building trust, confidence and credibility. Having the right image is very important and creating that image for my clients is a challenge I love taking on.

Portraits, on the other hand, are more of a “want” than a “need”, but extremely important. I see a portrait session as a celebratory event. Whether you are celebrating the birth of a child, a graduation, a couple’s love for each other, your family, or simply yourself, having a photo session is not only a great experience to have, but your portraits will only gain value with time. You will enjoy them now, cherish them in the future and one day they will become invaluable, because, let’s be honest, we are not here forever. Beautiful portraits of yourself is one of the most valuable gifts you can leave for your loved ones. One of my mentors once said that when you have a portrait session, you think you are doing it for yourself, but you are really doing it for your loved ones.

As for products, I offer wall art, albums and folio collections, which are matted prints in a beautiful keepsake box. All products I offer are handcrafted in Italy with high-end materials and unparalleled craftsmanship. They are absolutely stunning.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I create images for people. Their satisfaction is the most rewarding part for me. Hearing things like “this is the first time I liked a picture of myself”, or “I never thought I could look this pretty”, or “I am so happy, I can cry right now”, makes me feel like I’ve done my job right.

Photography is visual art. It has to make sense or mean something to the eyes of the viewer. When I look at any photograph I’m looking at lines, colors and how they complement each other. The same goes for portraits. An image can be pretty, but what makes me want to keep looking at it is the general composition; lines, colors, overall harmony. Portraits, however, add another layer to it. Anyone can take a picture of a person, but to create a “portrait” of that person is a different story. That’s the biggest challenge; to capture who they are for real, not who they think people want to see or who they want people to see, but their true essence. Yes, I want to show their beauty, pride and strength, but to create a true portrait I also have to show their fears and weaknesses. That’s pure connection. You can have a nice image, with beautiful lighting, the perfect backdrop, nice wardrobe, everything looking perfect, but none of that matters if you don’t have a connection, if you can’t see them in their eyes.

Creating a true portrait is team work. You have to create a mutual trust, or the final result will fall short. The ability to connect with your subject on a level that they feel comfortable enough to show you who they really are, is another very rewarding part of what I do.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I learn from many different people, but I have two mentors who were true game changers. Their names are Sue Bryce and Megan diPiero and both had a tremendous impact on how I create and run my business. As for books, there are many books I’ve read or listened to that helped me one way or the other. I devour the words of Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, Napoleon Hill and others authors alike. I also love business books in general. Here are just a few of my favorite titles.

“Profit First”, by Mike Michalowicz
“The Road Less Stupid”, by Keith J. Cunningham
“Never Split The Difference”, by Chris Voss
“Be Exceptional: Master the Five Traits That Set Extraordinary People Apart”, by Joe Navarro
“Game Changers: What Leaders, Innovators, and Mavericks Do to Win at Life”, by Dave Asprey
She Sells: The Empathy Advantage, by Megan diPiero
The Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace D. Wattles
“Think and Grow Rich”, by Napoleon Hill

Contact Info:

• Website: inespiquet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inespiquetimages/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ipimages
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipiquet/

Image Credits
Headshot by Kelli Leslie. All other images by Ines Piquet