We recently connected with Lauren Schoepfer and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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?

There are inevitable ups and downs as a business owner, as well as busy seasons and slow seasons in most industries. When you’re in the middle of a challenge or a slow period, it forces you to reflect on what steps need to be taken to find solutions to keep the business afloat. This often entails doing things you’ve never done before in areas outside your comfort zone.

I thought recently about what it would be like to have a regular job. I originally became a business owner because I love the craft of being a photographer, but I didn’t have a lot of knowledge or experience about running a business when I started. I knew I would grow from the experience, but I didn’t realize how much of it really relies on mental toughness. Being responsible for your schedule, income, and ultimate success forces you to confront deeper feelings tied to work ethic and self-worth. For example, if you struggle with procrastination, it will come out. If you struggle to finish projects, it will come out. If you struggle to ask for help, it will come out, and so on. Running a successful business forces you to work through the underlying causes of those issues if you want to succeed.

Even though this path is more challenging (especially in the beginning when the foundation is being built), I don’t want to go back to a regular job. I felt constrained when I did, and I’m so grateful this career choice has given me the chance to grow parts of myself I may not have confronted otherwise. The fulfillment I get from not only serving my clients, but from running a business by myself, is incomparable.

Lauren, 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’m a portrait, wedding, and event photographer based in Central FL. My work is emotional, authentic, and creative—something that was influenced by my degree in graphic design, which I was pursuing before becoming a photographer. There are other benefits of having a design background, as creating images often requires working with others to execute a specific vision. I know what questions to ask to make sure my clients are happy with what they will ultimately receive.

My main focus during sessions is to deliver high-quality, artistic imagery that showcases my clients at their most carefree, authentic self. I’m a calm, easygoing person which fits well with a variety of personalities and allows them to open up on camera. I’m also big on uplifting and empowering others through my work, especially underrepresented groups. It’s important that people see others like themselves in images, so I try to make that happen as much as possible. Most of my clients are not professional models, so I guide them through prompts and poses that look great on camera. I regularly get in front of a camera to better understand how they feel and practice some poses myself!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being a creative gives you the power to offer a new perspective. In my line of work I get to help people see themselves in a way that maybe they never have before. It gives them reason to be proud of themselves, or to love themselves more. Creatives start with an abstract idea and turn it into something tangible—it no longer lives just inside their own mind, but other people can see and appreciate it for what it is.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth is the best way I get clients, and the perk is it doesn’t cost a dime. This is ideal advertising for most creatives/entrepreneurs, but getting those recommendations often takes time and experience.

My advice here is to focus on how to provide the best possible client experience from start to finish, so that recommending you is a no-brainer. What can you do to help clients feel they can trust you? Is there detailed, clear communication? How can you wow your clients? Make them feel like they are your top priority, because they are. They will be happy to share your name with others or write a review about their experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurenschoepfer.photo/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenschoepfer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenschoepferphoto
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lschoepfer/