We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Ellis Hardcastle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I would say 90% of the time I am happier as a business owner vs working for someone else. I don’t have someone with their thumb over me, I have been able to be around my kids as they have grown, made my own schedule and do as I please. It definitely has its own downfalls (I mean, what doesn’t).. as in there isn’t insurance, paid time off, or a steady income.. but the benefits of having control over myself outweighs the other most of the time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I run a vintage inspired women’s boudoir / fantasy style studio. We are definitely a niche style , and cater to a certain clientele. We provide a self care experience for our clients where they get makeup, hair, wardrobe.. almost like a spa day, but then get a souvenier of imagery for themselves to keep forever. We aren’t a typical in the box style photo studio, where its just your run of the mill lingerie and sexy photos. We will take you to another world with either being inspired by another era, a movie, or a fantasy land.

We have been very lucky with getting to travel all over the US with our sessions over the years as well as having people fly in from various different states to work with us. we have traveled to about 34 states over the years and been in countless publications as well.. however, helping others love themselves is the biggest payout in itself.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media has paid a main roll in our business. We actually started with a page on myspace.. without it we would have probably never taken off. It was years before we ever ran ads (and with that, only thru facebook). Social media has provided us with mainly just word of mouth advertising.

In the recent years with the way they do the algorithms.. it has proven to be very tough to build a new audience. We have to now constantly post and come up with new ideas to get seen. Social media has made it very difficult recently.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth, 100%! When women tell their friends- that is the best source for us and we appreciate it so much.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dynamitedamesphotography.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynamite_dames_studios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dynamitedamesphotography
• Other: tiktok- dynamitedames

Image Credits

Dynamite Dames Studios