We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Dory a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
So my business is named Rabbit & Fox Photography.
As long as I can remember I have had an affinity for rabbits in stories – not domesticated rabbits but wild and wily survivor types of rabbits. When I met my husband I discovered he had an affinity for foxes.
We got married when my oldest child was 4 and we had a wedding that was themed around woodland animals – including a rabbit & a fox! Since that time 11 years ago we have accumulated a fair amount of rabbits and foxes from friends and family and our two younger children have also embraced the rabbits and foxes.
When I created my business – photographing families and children – I loved the idea of a playful, storytelling name that was also a part of my own story so that’s how Rabbit & Fox Photography came to be.
Jessica, 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 photographer who specializes in newborn, children, family, birth photography & videography. I first picked up a camera in high school when cameras still used film! I have a bachelor of fine art but spent many years working in the hospitality industry including working as a chef and a wedding coordinator.
I offer family photography with a documentary angle. I love to find the small details that capture the relationships and personalities of the families I work with. Photography has always held a special place my heart and I get a lot of joy out of making artwork for the families I work with.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
As anyone who has their own business knows, starting and running a small business is not easy and there is such a learning curve, especially the first time around. Maintaining resilience and persistence in the face of challenges has been so important to my success.
I decided to start creating my photography business in the Spring of 2019. I purchased a camera, took lessons, built a website, built a portfolio and was feeling pretty good about my progress and just about ready to really launch my business by late winter of 2020 when COVID hit in March.
There was so much uncertainty at that time, I was home with my three children who were still quite young and it was a big challenge to just continue working towards an uncertain goal. I tried to pick up my camera every day and document my family and I think that really shows through in my photography that I am making today.
A story I align with is the Tortoise & the Hare. I am definitely the tortoise (the hare in the race is my own expectations for myself) and the act of staying the course is powerful unto itself. Just keep going!
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
As someone who came out of hospitality and the service industry I know how important it is to provide a great experience from start to finish.
As a photographer, creating imagery that reflects each family and a positive overall experience is the best strategy for gaining new clients. Happy clients will promote you on social media and tell their friends and that is so helpful!
I love getting to watch the kids grow up – building real relationships with the families I work with is the best way to do that!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rabbitandfoxphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbitandfoxphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rabbitandfoxphotography
Image Credits
Kylie Bree Jessica Dory