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

Shannon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

If I could go back in time, I 100% wish I would have opened my photography business earlier than I did! I started in 2015, when my 3rd baby was 1 year old… and I was already in my 30s.

Prior to photography, I went to college and majored in advertising and marketing. One of my first jobs was as an event planner at Southfork Ranch (where the show Dallas was filmed in the 80’s). I went on to phramaceutical meeting planning and even wedding planning. That lead into a few roles creating contracts and proposals in meeting planning and then with a pipeline company. I also dabbled in HR and recruiting.

Had I started my photography business earlier, I wouldn’t have had to put my babies in daycare, asked my boss if I could leave when they were sick or needed me, and financially, we would have been in a better place.

If I had to change anything about my experience, I don’t think I would have changed my first few years in the “real world.” I made lifelong friends with my colleges, learned so much about hard work, and different areas of business. However, I do wish that I would have started my business while I was working, so that I could baby step into it until I was ready to go full time. That’s what I would absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to open a new business as well!

Shannon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

To sum up my background, I was just a shy girl who started with film photography as a hobby because I moved a lot and wanted to remember things. From Huntington Beach, CA to Jakarta, Indonesia (where I went to middle school) I ended up in Houston, TX (for high school) and went off to college to study advertising and marketing.

Lots of life happened… I got married, worked in the corporate world for over a decade, had 3 babies in 6 years, moved a bunch of times for my husband’s career, and then finally decided it was time to open my photography business.

A decade later…I am the proud owner of a successful photography studio in Houston, TX and have been voted one of Houston’s Best Newborn and Family Photographers 2017-2023.

Here at Shannon Reece Jones Photography, we are a little bit different because we are a portrait photography studio. This means that we actually print your pretty pictures for you, and you get to choose what you love! Favorites include custom framing, museum quality gallery wrapped canvas, as well as keepsake albums. The goal of each session is to create beautiful memories that you will look back on, and treasure forever. This is a special season of your life, and It’s my job to create beautiful portraits just for you and your family.

At the studio, we provide wardrobe options for you and baby, as well as all of the accessories that you need for your session. You don’t have to bring a thing; unless you have something special you would like to incorporate into your session. As a Mommy to 3 (big babies now) I also know how overwhelming the first few weeks with a newborn are, so I am here to make everything easy for you. I also work with a hair and makeup artist that has a room in my studio to get you ready before your session. Even better… we will travel to you if you choose an at home lifestyle session.

I am the most proud of the beautiful artwork that I create for my clients, and love seeing newborn babies come back for all of the special milestones in their life.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media can be an overwhelming idea when you are first starting your business. My advice to new photographers is to start small, and post real, authentic photos that you love. This will attract your clients to you because they love your style. Post one thing every day (m-f) and over time, you will have a beautiful portfolio to share, blog, and it will grow over time. For instagram, be sure to use local #s so that clients can find you as well ;).

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

From the very beginning of my business opening, I thought that all professional photographers offered print products to their clients. Surprisingly many do not, and they only deliver digital galleries. I work with some of the best vendors in the photography industry to create my clients artwork. I think that this is one of the most important parts about running a successful photography studio, and I even teach other photographers how to do it too ;).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shannonreecejonesphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonreecejonesphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannonreecejonesphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile

Image Credits
Shannon Reece Jones Photography