We recently connected with Shelby Marquardt and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shelby thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I would say that I am definitely happier as a business owner. I appreciate the flexibility. The ability to go get mid-morning breakfast with a friend on a Wednesday is amazing. Complete control over my schedule is invaluable. However, I do envy 9-5ers who get to turn their work off. If I am not working, I am thinking about my to-do list. Just the other week, I was talking to my husband about it. I told him that I wish I had a normal job where I could completely turn off my work brain during the evenings or weekends. Being a business owner, do that does not come easy. But I force myself to set boundaries for what is important to me: My faith, my family, my friends… and REST.

Shelby, 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 am a food & drink photographer based in Bryan, Texas. I travel all over for my clients, though! I also take ship-to-studio shoots for those who prefer to send me their food-based products. I got my start in weddings and portraits, but I really loved cooking and baking in my own kitchen as a creative outlet. I started photographing my own food, and posting it on social media, and it just took off. Last year, I stopped taking on any other client type, and exclusively shoot food. I absolutely love it. I shoot restaurants and storefronts, and also take on wholesale brands that you will find in your grocery stores. I also provide recipe development and take sponsorships on social from time to time. It is the most fun job!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing for me is the freedom of time it brings my life and my families life. Also knowing that I am able to bring in actual money for the art I get to create. It sounds silly, but my job feels so surreal sometimes.

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

Google! SEO is so important for food photography. Chefs and restaurants are only sometimes on instagram, and when they are, they aren’t looking for a photographer. Most of the time, they do a quick and frantic google search when they realize they need their specials that month photographed by like… the next week. The food industry is very last minute!

Contact Info:

• Website: shelbytsikaphotography.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/shelbytsikaphoto