Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenn Chen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jenn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

I have such a clear picture of what I would do differently if I was able to start my family photography business from scratch.. I have a lot of thoughts, but it always comes back to I wish I had run my business like a business from the start.

And that doesn’t mean being profitable from day one. But if I were able to give 10 years ago Jenn advice, I would say stop working for free / exposure. Determine your niche, and don’t be afraid to say no to gigs that are outside of that. And don’t shy away from “failure”.

I think working for free is different than doing model calls where you control the styling, location, you’re picky about the families you work with, etc. Model calls, while not bringing in money, are incredibly valuable for defining your brand and attracting your ideal client. If I was starting over, I would stop wasting time on the $50 sessions, and instead to a handful of stylized, “free” model calls where I control the outcome completely.

Similarly, I would stop photographing every gig that came my way just because it made me feel good to get the gig. While exploring different niches is totally valid, I knew quickly I wanted to photograph young families and newborns.

Finally, and for me, most importantly, I would tell myself to just go for it! I spent so much time working for pennies because it felt good to book tons of sessions (even though the rates were incredibly low). I knew that if I raised my prices to allow me to make a livable wage, certainly some families would think it was too expensive. I would face rejection as potential clients would decline and “go another direction” or possibly worse, just ghost me entirely.

All the things I would do differently come down me seeing the value in the service I provide sooner, and harnessing that into a business. I’ve learned to set goals high enough that some will not be met. Instead of feeling like I’ve failed, I know that I’m pushing myself to continue growing as an artist and business owner.

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

Like tons of others, I’m a family and newborn photographer. However I’m also a toddler mom and a nurse and I’ve learned this mix of critical thinking skills, toddler management abilities, and a pretty intuitive empathy has allowed me to put all my clients at ease, even the little ones! Moms frequently tell me after their sessions that they are surprised how quickly their children open up to me. It’s like a little game I get to play every time, figuring out how to get even the most stoic toddlers to laugh and smile!

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

The biggest turning point in my business turning from a hobby / occasional side hustle is when I started investing back into my business. I started using a CRM to handle my scheduling and my clients. Not only did this make me appear massively more professional, it allowed me to set up automations, saving me time and keeping my business organized. I also invested in some education on the business side of things. Not only did I learn more than I ever could have from reading blogs and watching YouTube, I made some friends in my industry and we still lean on each other today!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I originally began my photography career trying to chase the latest trends on social media, as it seemed that was the best way to gain new clients. Now, I actually focus considerable time on SEO and get a large portion of my new clients from Google searches.

I also try very hard to provide a customized experience for my clients. This has led to my clients feeling cared for and not only coming back for additional sessions, but also recommending my services to their friends!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennchenphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennchenphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennchenphotography

Image Credits
All photos by myself, Jenn Chen Photography