We recently connected with Jenna Henderson and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jenna, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
In 2006, at the age of 21, I quit my part time job as a hotel front desk clerk, and officially went full time with my photography business. I was freshly married and fresh out of college, and having been in business for a year already, I was immediately earning enough to support my income. I think part of my early profitability was based on how cheaply I could operate; instead of spending a ton on my business on a lot of bells and whistles I didn’t need, I focused on what mattered most: the work I was creating for my clients, and my clients themselves. This meant I was constantly working to improve my craft while also fostering relationships. Only when I felt I had fully mastered and exploited a certain piece of equipment or software did I spend the money to upgrade. And, thanks to the relationships I was building, I quickly found myself with a loyal client base. Now, almost 18 years later, I still have some clients that have been with me since the beginning, even with all my shifts in my style and price increases. It goes to show how powerful relationships and excellent client care can be!
Jenna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a professional photographer based in Middle Tennessee. While I shoot all kinds of genres, I focus mostly on warm, loving family and baby portraits. I’m a film shooter, which gives my work a natural, classic style. In addition to being a photographer, I also am a coach for fellow photographers. I specialize specifically in working with photographers who are on the brink of burnout with their business, to help them learn how to set boundaries, claim their confidence as business owners, and ultimately create work/life balance while continuing to increase profits.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
From the beginning, I believe one of my driving goals for my creative business journey was longevity. I have always treated my photography business as my career, and not just a side hustle or part time job, or even just as a way to make money. I think that mindset of understanding that I was investing enough of my time, energy, and effort into making this creative hobby an actual career meant that I was always thinking big picture, looking for ways for my business to keep growing and moving forward. It also was an understanding that, even though I’m a solopreneur, working from home, there were still parts of my business that were non-negotiable. Setting those boundaries, like a dedicated office inside our home and set work hours, helped me create a sustainable business. Even once our kids entered the picture, there was a very clear understanding that I would continue to work, and childcare would be necessary to allow me to work. I think a lot of creative small business owners don’t have that mindset – there is a belief that, because we’re fully in charge of our schedule and business, we can easily bend and sway our business at the whims of others, or that we can bring children into the fold and expect to carry on at the same capacity. But when it comes to creating a sustainable business, boundaries are crucial. If we don’t set our boundaries, others will set them for us, and that’s a quick way to become burned out.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2018, after over a decade of being primarily a wedding photographer, I had become very burned out of the wedding industry, and it was effecting my creative energy and my business profitability. I decided to hiatus for a brief time, and then chose to pivot my business in two different directions. First, I pulled back from weddings, focusing more on elopements and family photography. And second, I began coaching other photographers to help them learn how to set boundaries within their own business. Now that I’m on the other side of burnout, I work with a lot of photographers to pull them out of their own burnout rut and keep moving forward with a business that feels more aligned with the type of life they want to live.
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Image Credits
Erin Fox, Darien Chandler