We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kim Ortiz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kim below.
Kim , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
To be successful in the photography industry with so many new photographers entering the industry due to the ease of digital cameras and low barrier to entry, the photographer must first understand the business of photography. The challenge is most new photographers don’t understand how to run a profitable business and often start their business with a business model that does not sustain their business for the long term because they charge so little for their services. They don’t price for profit and think that charging a few hundred dollars for a portrait session for 30 minutes and include all the digital photos to the client is a great business model. This is often someone who does photography on the side and doesn’t have an actual studio or over head. They may not need the income to support their family or they just need some extra fun money. With 11 years as a portrait studio owner with a storefront studio, we understand what it takes to be profitable to stay in business these 11 years when most small businesses barely make it past 2 years before closing and the average is 5 years. How I differentiate my photography studio from others is offering high quality art work and printed products with a full service experience. This includes an in person consultation at the studio to learn more about the vision of the client and discussing all the details of the session, going over wall art and products offered so clients can see and experience the difference. It also includes guiding them through their wardrobe options and installing their wall art in their home of any wall art collection they purchase. This way they don’t have to worry about it sitting in the corner for month and are able to enjoy their art work of their family and dogs immediately.
Kim , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a professional portrait studio owner, and portrait artist. I own Kim Ortiz Portrait Art in Austin, Texas. My studio specializes in beautiful wall art of dogs, families, high school seniors, and headshots, branding and real estate media. I built my first studio 11 years ago in 2014 specializing in high school seniors. However, over the years, I have niched down to dogs and families and I am known for beautiful wall art because I believe that portraits are meant to be hung on the walls and not locked up on the computer or on an iPhone. My studio does not offer digital only. I want clients to have products they can touch and feel and look at daily. The wall art my studio offers are made in Italy so the quality is very high end. My clientele deserve and expect the highest quality products.
Recently I decided to expand the business by bringing on my husband to the business to offer real estate media. Having been in business 11 years full-time with a studio, I enjoy what I do and I find it is important to continue to grow the business with genres that helps serve the needs of new clients. Adding real estate media allows my studio to be a complete full service studio. I can photograph a home listing and offer the realtor a professional headshot or branding session also. I am very active in the Lake Travis and Austin community giving back to many animal rescues through fundraisers that I do each year. In addition to fundraisers, I also donate my time to photograph dogs in rescues to get them adopted. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and a professional photo of a dog will help it get adopted quicker. I also serve on the Boards of two non profits, Magnolia Musical Theatre and Bee Cave Chamber of Commerce. Giving back to the community by serving is an important part of my studio’s mission.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I started my career in 1990 in public accounting at Ernst & Young right after college. I worked in Auditing and moved out of public accounting into the corporate environment. I had a variety of positions in many Fortune 500 companies including Verizon, Zales, Bombardier Aerospace and Baylor Healthcare. Although I am a number’s person with my degree in Accounting, I am an extrovert which is unusual for an analytical person. I find that analyzing can be boring so I started using my creative side to do fun things like scrapbooking, jewelry making and photography. I decided to do a side hustle in 2008 as a high school senior photographer part-time while working full-time. While doing my side hustle, I dreamt one day that I would own my own portrait studio. I had a frame that I framed with the quote “Do what you LOVE, LOVE what you do” which I displayed on my desk at every job I had for years. Then in 2012, I got laid off from my position in HR. I decided this was the turning point in my career to pivot and do something I have always dreamed which is to do photography full-time and open a portrait studio. I reached out to a mentor who used to own a studio and he said don’t do it. It’s too risky. However, my gut said just do it or I will regret it. What is the worst thing that could happen? If it doesn’t work out, then at least I tried. Now 11 years later, I don’t have any regrets. I learn that my background in business and Accounting help me as a business owner but my perseverance, people skills, hustle and approachable personality as an extrovert help grow my business. I believe that whatever you are passionate about, you should follow your heart and do it. The worst that could happen is it doesn’t work out and the best thing is you realize that it may be what your calling is and you have made a positive impact to society.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
If I have to start my business all over again, I would invest money to hire a coach to guide me through my business. They can help skyrocket your business if you find the right business coach in your industry. Finding the right coach is sometimes hard because there any many photographers turned coach who try to sell the magic bullet when in reality there is no such thing. It comes down to understanding business, marketing, having a system, process and learning your craft. A coach that is a good fit is someone who has been in the business/industry for over 10 years and are open to understanding your goals and get to know you. It is about relationship and not every coach you hire is the right fit. If they are all about doing it their way without understanding your needs or perspective, they may not be a good fit. Find a coach who you can feel comfortable with, who cares about your ideas, and you as a person but who is also established and not just selling the magic pill.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.KimOrtiz.com
- Instagram: @kimortizportraitart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimortizportraitart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kimortizportraitart
Image Credits
Kim Ortiz Portrait Art