We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria Fossler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Maria, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
When I started my photography business back in 2012, I had named it Photography by MF. I got lots of raised eyebrows from it, and it helped me determine who “fit” my ideal client because if they didn’t laugh, I knew that we wouldn’t have fun together. When I explained to people that the MF was for my initials, Maria Fossler, their reaction let me know if we’d hit it off or not.
As my business started to grow, and I was always gone (between teaching during the week, and photography on the weekends), my husband asked if he could join me when I had weddings so he could help carry gear, etc. Well, HE got into taking photos as well, so I decided it was time to include him somehow in the business name.
Needless to say, I’m back to having to explain the “Elizabeth Douglas” name now, and have gotten used to being called Elizabeth (smile). I came up with Elizabeth Douglas by combining our middle names, then I had a friend design our logo, making sure that Elizabeth had more of a “feminine” look to it, and the Douglas looked more “masculine.”
Of course, I had some friends in the industry that had some fun with all this saying that I’d gone from MF to ED…and those are my people as far as having a good sense of humor!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
The best part of being a family photographer is having the ability to tell the parents to not worry about “parenting” at the time of their session, that I’ll handle the kids. This comes from having been in education for over 30 years now, having raised four children of my own, and being able to rapidly build a rapport with children (as well as adults).
Back in 2011, I was getting to the point in my career as a teacher that I was no longer “loving it,” and my husband recognized this. He had gotten me my first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel, for Christmas that year, and I started piddling around with family photos for people at school. When it was time to sign my contract in 2012, he told me to “take a break from teaching” and to pursue the photography. At that time I’d done several family sessions, a handful of weddings, and was really starting to get the hang of things as far as the photography.
After about five years, I missed the “routine” of having a “regular” job, and decided to go back to teaching, as I really missed the camaraderie of a school family and being part of something bigger than myself. This has worked out wonderfully, as I give parents the best gifts as far as being their child’s teacher, in addition to documenting their child’s school year through photos. Being a teacher has helped build my business in so many ways. As families get to know me and what I do outside of school, they call me for portrait session or refer me to others. Having that “connection” with them before even taking their portraits helps because everyone “knows me” already, and their images come out looking even better because they are relaxed and comfortable with me. I love being able to give back to my community through the photography by donating my services at school for events and fundraisers. In addition to donating my services at school, I also work with other non-profits such as the Televerde Foundation, where I capture headshots for women who are getting back into the workforce.
I had used the phrase, “Not just a photographer, but your photogra-friend” when I first started the business. I LOVE the fact that I get to see families year after year, capturing different moments of their lives. I’ve had the pleasure of capturing family portraits, engagements, weddings, maternity, and newborn photos for several “cliends” (client + friends).
Even though we don’t shoot weddings anymore (unless it’s a small backyard affair), Kristian is still capturing images and videos for clients (Tri-City Transmission, the Persian Room, and others), and I’m carrying on with family portraits not just here in Arizona, but in California as well during the summer and school breaks.
There are plenty of family photographers out there, so it’s so important for people to find the one that “fits”their personality and needs. I’m more than happy to pass information along of other photographers when there isn’t that perfect connection, or when I’m not able to get a client on my calendar. We pride ourselves on having this connection with our clients and other photographers in order to get what people need.
We pride ourselves on having fun at our sessions, working efficiently, and getting our clients the best images that capture their personalities.
How’d you meet your business partner?
So, I’m going to turn this more into a “personal” story and connect it to the business…
My husband and I met online via Yahoo Personals back in December of 2000. I was living in Sacramento at the time, and he was living outside of Seattle. We met in person in February of 2001, he moved down and into my place in March, and we got “married” in Lake Tahoe on Cinco de Mayo of that year. We “legally” got married the following year (fun back story behind that one!). Our children were 4, 5, 6 and 7 years old when we first met and now they are all living their lives as adults from here to California, to Oregon.
Kristian has always been my biggest cheerleader as far as life and business goes. He completely had faith in me that I could do whatever I set my mind to, and at times, pushed me to improve. I joke with him saying that he lives vicariously through me at times, because he’s pushed me outside my comfort zone with the photography, then enjoys seeing how well I do when I didn’t have full confidence.
Over the years of doing the photography, I’ve shot weddings and incorporated some great flash set ups at the reception, events with green screen and printing on site, learned how to use an ExpoDisk through a wedding photography workshop I attended, and have had to learn to use new cameras every few years because he decided I needed to upgrade and get better equipment. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably still be using my Canon Rebel with the kit lenses it came with.
Thanks, Kristian Douglas, for believing in me and pushing me to be better!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I can’t stress enough the importance of building a good relationship with your current clients. These are the people who are going to come back year after year, and who are going to help build your business with referrals.
Whenever I have a new client reach out, I would say 3 out of 5 times it’s a referral from a client I’ve already worked with. The other times it’s because of our SEO, which my husband has worked hard at building for us. It’s been eye opening to see how important good SEO is as well. Many people type in “Family Photographer Scottsdale” when looking for a photographer, including those folks who love to come and visit here, and I’m right there towards the top of the list.
I have folks reaching out all the time that want to improve my SEO, but I let them know that I’m doing all that I can currently handle business wise, but thank you for reaching out.
Always thank those who refer clients to you…it plants the seeds to growing your business. Never take that for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elizabethdouglasphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ElizabethDouglasPhotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhotographybyMariaFossler
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-elizabeth-fossler-13052928/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMy627ym94Jcy0DWoJmYV8w
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elizabeth-douglas-photography-scottsdale-2
- Other: http://voyagephoenix.com/interview/meet-maria-elizabeth-fossler-elizabeth-douglas-photography-east-valley/