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

Iryna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, folks often look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight – but that often obscures all the nitty, gritty details of everything that went into the growth phase of your business. We’d love to hear about your scaling story and how you scaled up?

Scaling up our business in the creative industry involved a deliberate shift in our approach and roles. Initially, when my husband Dennis Aliaksandrou founded the business, we operated as a small team, with me assisting in photography as a second shooter. However, as demand grew, we recognized the need to expand our operations and specialize in our respective areas of expertise.

To facilitate this growth, we made strategic decisions to restructure our business model. I transitioned into the role of studio manager, overseeing administrative tasks, scheduling, contracts, and social media management. Meanwhile, Dennis focused on the core photography services and began hiring additional photographers to meet the increasing demand.

This shift allowed us to scale up effectively by streamlining our operations, increasing efficiency, and expanding our service offerings. By delegating responsibilities and hiring talented professionals, we were able to accommodate a larger client base while maintaining the quality and integrity of our work.

Additionally, we invested in technology and digital marketing strategies to enhance our online presence and reach a broader audience. Leveraging networking opportunities and industry connections also played a crucial role in our scaling process, enabling us to forge partnerships and collaborations that further fueled our growth.

Despite facing challenges and setbacks along the way, our commitment to excellence and strategic planning propelled us forward. Each decision made during the scaling process was carefully considered, with a focus on sustainable growth and long-term success.

In essence, our journey of scaling up involved a combination of strategic restructuring, investment in technology and marketing, delegation of responsibilities, and leveraging industry connections. Through these efforts, we were able to evolve from a small photography team into a thriving creative business, serving a diverse clientele and achieving our goals of growth and success.

Iryna, 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?

Hello there! I’m Iryna, and I’m thrilled to share a bit about myself with you. I’ve got a master’s degree in history and social studies, and I’ve spent some time working in the tourism industry. But what really gets me excited is photography – it’s been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember.

My husband is a photographer, and I’ve always been his biggest supporter. So, when the opportunity came to help him out in his photography business while I was working in Charleston’s tourism scene, it felt like a perfect fit. Since 2020, I’ve been working full-time as the studio manager at his company – Charleston Photo Art.

One of the things I love most about my job is getting to use my knowledge of history and culture to help our clients find the perfect locations for their photo sessions. We specialize in weddings, elopements, and proposals, and a lot of our clients come from out of town. So I’m always happy to assist them with recommendations on anything they may need. Being organized is one of my strong suits, so I handle all the communication with our clients to make sure everything runs smoothly.

While my husband is busy taking pictures, I’m there to assist our clients and make sure they have an amazing experience. Together, we make a great team, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

During the early days when both my husband and I were photographers, we faced a near-crisis situation when our son was just two years old. We had simultaneous projects scheduled, and our babysitter canceled on short notice, leaving us in a bind. With no family nearby, the stress was overwhelming. Thankfully, our fellow photographer Shannon came to the rescue, connecting us with a reliable sitter just in time. However, that scare led us to reevaluate the risks involved in juggling both our professional commitments and childcare. From then on, I transitioned into the role of studio manager to ensure such close calls never compromised our clients’ experiences or our children’s well-being.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I began building our social media presence, I started by creating a comprehensive plan. This plan outlined my goals, target audience, content strategy, and posting schedule. Being consistent was key; I made sure to regularly post high-quality content that resonated with my audience.

Additionally, I actively engaged with our followers by responding to comments, messages, and participating in relevant discussions. I also followed and interacted with individuals and businesses in my industry to learn from their successes.

Podcasts became a valuable resource for learning and staying updated on industry trends and best practices.

Moreover, I strived to strike a balance between presenting our content as personal and professional. Authenticity and relatability are essential for connecting with audiences, but maintaining professionalism is equally important.

Above all, I consistently shared our knowledge and expertise to provide value to our audience. By offering valuable insights, tips, and advice, I established our company as a trusted authority in the niche, which ultimately helped us build a loyal and engaged following on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://charlestonphotoart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlestonphotoart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlestonPhotoArt
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@charleston.photoart?si=ZD32p82vIgCJL8ze
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/charleston-photo-art-mt-pleasant

Image Credits
Dennis Aliaksandrou and Meggen Marr (Charleston Photo Art)