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

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.

When you jump in, you tend to think that everything needs to be “perfect” by the time you start your business. If I were starting over, I would have taken a chance on myself a whole lot sooner.

If you want to start a Photography business, you don’t have to own the best equipment on the market or edit like a pro. We all start somewhere and when you grow, you can make improvements along the way.

Another choice I would have made would be taking business classes in order to have a better understanding about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. There were so many headaches that I could have avoided if I dedicated the same amount of time being creative as to learning about the operation side of the business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Currently, I am a Lifestyle Portrait and Couple Photographer based in San Antonio, TX and Beyond.

Being a photographer allows me to make genuine connections and instill confidence in my clients no matter the occasion. It is my job to create a safe environment that is fun and stress-free while they embrace who they authentically are.

Everyone has a story, no matter the age. It brings me such joy that I am able to capture my client’s milestones and celebrate their achievements with them so they are able to share them with their loved ones through photography.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I have always heard that it takes about $10K upfront to start your business. In my experience, you can make the most of what you have while making improvements along the way.

Before I started my business, I wrote down all of the basic necessities that I would need to run my business on a yearly and monthly basis. This included purchasing a ton of SD cards, investing in an external hard drive, and budgeting for multiple digital subscriptions. Then, I divided the year and set monthly financial goals in order to maintain the monthly/yearly expenses.
Personally, when I booked my first client, I realized that my laptop struggled to run programs that were absolutely necessary to edit. Editing took many grueling hours to complete one session and it got to the point where I had to edit on my phone. Upgrading my laptop was the next goal for the business. It motivated me to promote myself on social media and book as many clients that I could to earn a new laptop.

Little by little, as my business started to grow, I had more funds available to invest in better equipment and to improve my client experience.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I believe that building brand loyalty starts before a client even books a session. The photographer and client need to know if they are a good fit for each other.

For example, I showcase who I am and what I can offer to the client through social media streams and my website. If the client vibes with my style and personality, then we work together as a team to bring the vision to life.

Secondly, set yourself apart from other photographers, even if it is something small. Besides your editing style, you can offer something that will make the client experience more memorable. For example, what I like to do for my graduation sessions is to provide a confetti popper. Also, after every session, I give out a Polaroid to remember their moment.

After I provide my service, I try to stay in touch by engaging with my clients’ social media posts. It brings me so much joy when I see my client’s milestones and achievements beyond the photo session.

Finally, fostering brand loyalty doesn’t only mean the same client continuously coming back to your business. It could also be the client referring you to their social circle. Word of mouth and testimonials are helpful ways to generate leads and establish a reputation in how you conduct your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jenlucerophoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenlucerophoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenlucerophoto
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenlucerophoto