We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kimberly Brooke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kimberly below.
Alright, Kimberly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
I think about what it would be like to have a “regular” job ALL the time. Sometimes I think about what I do on a daily basis and I am so beyond thankful that I get to set my own terms, schedule, projects, prices, interactions, time with my family, etc. And sometimes, I think of the same idea, and I feel stress over the exact same things. Some days, the stress of ALL of it being on me, no one else, is a lot. There are times when you need a sick or personal day, and sometimes you can have one, but other days you have to push through because there’s just no one else who can do the work for you when you are basically the entire company. But at the end of the day, I simply wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the work I do and all of the pieces that make up this beautiful career I have now.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started photography on a bit of a whim, but not really. I had always been really interested in photography as a child. I loved photographs… Old family photos, National Geographic, editorial magazines and even beauty campaigns. I just loved looking at photos. My Dad let me play with his old Olympus camera. He bought some film and I relentlessly photographed every animal, tree and person that I could. My best friend and I would set up shots and model for each other. Somewhere in growing up and going to college I kind of forgot about photography. After a few lackluster job experiences post-college, I was lost and didn’t know what to do. My sister got married and I saw the images from that day and fell in love. I’d never seen wedding photography like that, and it was this woman’s job! I was so intrigued. So here’s the “whim.” I decided then that I was going to work for a photographer, see how I liked it, and learn everything I could. And I did. I found an established photographer that needed an assistant and the rest, as they say, is history. What I learned during my time with her about the business, art, technical side and customer service was priceless. That makes it sounds really easy, but this is a hard industry to stick with. I think there are a lot of people who set out in the business thinking it’s all easy and all fun. The truth is that like any small business, it takes a lot of hard work, determination, and grit to stay in the business. It’s a lot more than just taking pretty pictures. I think that’s what I’m most proud of. I’ve been doing this since 2007, and through all of the peaks and valleys, I am still here. I believe that photographs are so important in our lives. Other than memories, they are all we have left of a moment that’s passed. They will live on beyond us as proof of life, love, and the stories that make up who we are. That’s why I love what I do and think it’s so important.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
In my opinion, reputation is really big in the photography industry. While it is an art, it’s also a service-based business. I have built a strong reputation among my clients in a lot of ways. Consistent work, great communication, doing what I say I’ll do, meeting deadlines, having professional systems in place, treating them well and also making the experience as fun and easy as possible. All of these things and more, have helped me build a business based on a good reputation and delivering a quality product. I do not believe you can have a successful business without both aspects. My reputation also helped me grow my business through word-of-mouth referrals because happy clients refer you to their friends.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’ve had to pivot in this business more than once. The most impactful times I can think of were when I moved, which happened twice. Moving to a new place is basically starting your business over from the ground up. You don’t know anyone or have a client base. These situations were difficult and I had to make sacrifices and do a lot more work than if I had stayed in one place. That’s where grit and determination come back around. I made it work by taking on part-time jobs during those transitions. And I used that time to create relationships and grow awareness of my business. It was difficult and tiring, but as a small business owner you have to do what’s necessary to make things happen in those types of situations.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://kimberlybrookephotographic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlybrookephoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberlybrookephotographic
Image Credits
Kimberly Brooke Photographic