We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Margie Temme. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Margie below.

Margie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

There are so many facets of a photography business that it can be overwhelming. I’m talkin about camera equipment, camera settings, location scouting, lighting, off camera flash, posing, editing, printing, website, software and customer service. PHEW! It’s a big elephant. I joined a few different Meet Up groups and gleaned a bit of knowledge from the coordinators. I muddled my way through hundreds of You Tube videos for years and learned a lot. I attended workshops, some free, some not and I paid for online workshops and tutorials. Then, I met Scott Robert Lim through an online course call Creative Live. I just love his energy and his simplistic teaching style. I learned that he was conducting a workshop at Samy’s camera in Los Angeles about an hour from home and it was free! LOL. This is where I learned he has a mentoring program. The group I joined met once a week for a year and we either did a group shoot or we listened to Scott teach on a topic. I made so many friends in this group and gain so much knowledge and confidence from both Scott Robert Lim and from other photographers in the group. The students weren’t all beginners and the collective knowledge was a game changer. Many opportunities were provided to shoot a variety of subjects in cool locations. I felt like I was no longer alone and had many people to answer many questions. I came away with the confidence to take my business to the next level. To speed up the learning curve I may have sought out a mentor even sooner BUT I think I found the mentor at the right place and the right time in my photography career. What stood in my way was lack of confidence and thinking I was not good enough – we are our own worst critic but that is also what drives me toward getting better and trying new things.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started my photography business ten years ago at 55 years old .I serve with my clients well using my life experience and drive which is also handy for problem solving. I am equal parts creative and analytical . I worked in aerospace on the B1_B and the Space Shuttle programs hence the analytical part. In the beginning I think I was better at Photoshop than photography. This turned out to be a huge bonus for my business because I can make clients look young and thin if that is their request! I go above and beyond to give my clients a great experience, great photos and very timely delivery. I pride myself in quick turnaround. For me the editing process is like opening Christmas presents I can’t wait to see the results of the photoshoot. I specialize in high school senior photography and family photography. It is so great to see a boost in confidence when the senior sees their images. It is very rewarding to me to give them this boost at this stage in their lives.

Photography is important to the family unit. I believe that displaying photos can personalize your home and can be a focal point. When you are happy or sad you can look at your beautiful family or family member and feel the love and remember the moment we took the photos. I’m a full service photographer. I love designing albums, coffee table books, creating custom announcement cards and holiday cards. Custom wall art and gallery walls are all products that I offer. I also do light painting portraits. Using a slow shutter speed and off camera flash I wave around a device that looks like a light saber creating unique light patterns behind the subject..

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I had a pretty descent client base in Orange County CA. Then Covid hit and like everyone else the momentum took a huge backslide. On top of that we relocated to Saint George Utah. So yes, starting over is challenging. I have made several trips back to OC to service clients while at the same time building a new client base here. I do hope to build a nice client base here and slowly but surely it is happening. It just takes patience and thinking of new creative ways to get the word out. Yes, I’m back to more You Tube and online training on how to help this process along.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

For high school senior photography I have donated a photoshoot and print credit to their school fundraisers. Our high school had school wide fundraisers that had silent auctions. I made a nicely framed display and sometimes provided a small basket of items with the gift certificate. Also, there are typically different sports teams within a school that need to raise money. By donating, the exposure I got with that donation is wide spread. Other team members end up using me and the winner spreads the word. The winner will typically use me two to four times! One for the graduating high school senior, again for the family holiday cards and again for other children in the family when they graduate. And then multiple years for holiday sessions. And yes sometimes they only get the minimum, but not often. Other fundraisers are golf, charity walks, animal support and you name it. You can google fundraisers in your area. The most important tip in all of this is to get the winners name and contact info. I always reach out to them and help them schedule the shoot. The winner is going to be my best form of advertising.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.margietemmephotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margietemmephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MargieTemmePhotography
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=margie+temme+photography

Image Credits
Margie Temme Photography