I have recently wrote this for a blog post but haven’t published it yet and thought it would be perfect for this article.

Finding the sweet spot in your business

One of my favorite places to eat is Five Guys.  They focus on one thing, and do it exceptionally well.  The process is simple, easy to duplicate, and consistent.

That’s the model I decided to emulate when I rebranded my photography business at the beginning of this year.  I started my business in October of 2017.  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, so I experimented with a variety of photography.  Food, dance, family, baby, cars.  You name it, I photographed it. As time passed, I realized I really enjoyed photographing people.  Specifically portraits and headshots.  But being a people pleaser, I rarely said no to request for my services and continued to spread myself thin trying to accommodate any and all request.  I was successfully building my business, but my brand was lacking focus.

My wake up call came 7 years later in the fall of 2023.  If you are a photographer, you understand what the fall months can look like.  Everyone loves the colors of autumn and it is actually my favorite time of year to photograph outside.  This coupled with festivals, weddings and the upcoming holidays, I overcommitted myself and it reflected in my work.  I pride myself on my organization skills and live by my calendar.  But Fall of 2023 said “hold my beer” and chaos ensued!  The breaking point was a day in November when I inadvertently TRIPLE booked myself.  After doing damage control and giving some free services to a client, I had to re-access my priorities.  I was exhausted, stressed, and it was reflecting in my work.

At the same time, an opportunity arose for me to upgrade my studio space.  This was the perfect time to rebrand.  I was going to focus my photography in the area I enjoyed the most and where I felt my strengths were. I was going to open “Jenny Lynn Photography: The Headshot Lounge” in the heart of our beautiful city.  I did a complete renovation of my website and my tag line became “Photographer to Professionals”.

Was I scared?  YES.  This would mean saying “no” a lot more, turning away business, and praying clients would support my decision.  Would anyone call?  Would I make enough money to cover my rent?  In my heart, I knew it was right and dove right in.

My fiancé and I spend a solid month updating my new commercial space.  New ceiling tiles, fresh paint, tearing up carpet, laying new floor (all while running my business).  Then came the day that my signage was installed and it was time to open for business.  We did it!  We built it!  Now, will they come?  YES! They did!  It was like the gates opened up and everything I had manifested was coming to fruition.  I generated 75% of my 2023 total revenue in just the FIRST QUARTER of 2024! I was working less, my stress was in check, and the quality of my work was on point!

I’ve often used the term “leap of faith” when it came to my business.  It took a leap of faith that day I applied for a business license, created my business Facebook page, and officially declared myself a photographer in 2016.  It was a lot of trial and error with my nose to the grindstone.  But it was that journey that lead me to where I am today.  Thankful, blessed and humbled by the support of my community.  Listen to your heart, and keep it simple.  That’s my business motto.

 Having a physical studio in the heart of my town also makes my business stand out and gives me great visibility. I’m one of the few local photographers who use off camera lighting. This is key in creating high quality headshots for professionals.

I work a lot of corporate events and fundraisers. I always dress for success as I am representing my brand and my client. It really makes a difference and my clients appreciate this.

The phrase I hear the most from clients is “I hate getting my picture taken”. I emphasize with them as I know how it feels on the other side of the camera. I joke with them, and we do some “photo yoga” where I tell them to take a breath and let it out. Just when they smile and relax, I’m able to get a natural relaxed smile, and they are happy.