We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tammy Copenhaver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammy, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC began to form in 2019 as my husband and I looked toward retirement, just a couple of years out. After over three decades in the private and non-profit sectors, I knew I wanted something that would keep my mind active, involved with technology, and allow me to provide a meaningful service. I wanted to feel I still had a place to contribute and make a difference.

Around that same time, we inherited several boxes of photos from both of our parents. It was a treasure trove of family history, but also, a bit overwhelming. As we talked with friends of similar age, a common theme emerged: we all had these boxes of printed memories, often disorganized and several decades old. The big question was, ‘What do we do with them? They’re just sitting in boxes and often completely out of order. How do we care for, organize, store, and preserve these family treasures without sending them to a large, impersonal company where the courier, quality and service are uncertain?

One day, I started researching online for solutions. That’s when I realized there was a clear need for a personalized service like this – for people just like us, who felt overwhelmed by generations of family photos. I stumbled upon what was then the Association of Professional Photo Organizers (now The Photo Managers). Their resources and training immediately caught my attention.

I spent several weeks diving into everything: identifying the best equipment, figuring out how to structure a business, and, importantly, how to offer it as a personalized, concierge-type service. A significant positive was realizing I could operate this business from a very small, rural town, which is where we planned to retire. It became clear this wasn’t a business that needed a big city or a storefront; it could work from a home office, as long as I had internet and electricity.

I pitched the idea to my husband; he agreed it was a service that filled a gap. It didn’t require a huge initial investment, and I could start building it before we officially retired. Many people today – whether they’re empty nesters, preparing for aging parents, or simply looking to downsize – are completely overwhelmed by their photo collections.

I saw a clear problem and a way to offer a needed solution: helping individuals safeguard their family history with confidence and bring peace of mind to enjoy their memories. 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC was born out of a personal need, a shared dilemma among my peers, and a deep desire to provide a tangible, valuable service that safeguards irreplaceable memories for clients everywhere.

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 am the founder of 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC, and beyond my business, I’m a proud wife, mom, and grandmother. I have been married to my husband, Mark, for over 35 years and my greatest joys are my children and grandchildren.  In our retirement years, we took a leap of faith to become first-generation cattle ranchers, with no prior generational background, formal education, or previous experience. We’re building a legacy with our family and ranch, an operation started from scratch, to allow our children or grandchildren a similar experience and opportunity, if they choose.

This journey into ranching has given me a deep understanding of what legacy truly means, especially for rural and agricultural families. It’s more than just stories; it’s about a lifestyle, working side-by-side through challenges like blizzards, drought, and extreme cold, and building a viable operation to pass down. It’s about celebrating small wins, like a new calf, or a beautiful sunset after a long day. This personal experience directly connects to the mission of 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC: to help rural families preserve and share their photo and video legacy with a locally-focused, hands-on approach. Because everyone deserves to enjoy their photos and videos with peace of mind.

The start of 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC in 2019 was driven by a dual inspiration. As my husband and I prepared for retirement, we were faced with a common dilemma shared by many: what to do with a lifetime of printed photos, including the boxes we had inherited from our parents. We felt overwhelmed and frustrated by the lack of a personal, trustworthy solutions for preserving these disorganized family treasures. The desire to provide the stories of our family’s past for future generations was strong.

This challenge was deeply personal for me, thanks to my great-grandmother, who served as our family historian long before the term was coined. I was fortunate to become the steward of her vast collection of prints, negatives, and documents, some dating back to the 1900s. Her love of picture-taking has allowed me to piece together her story and document our family’s journey. I, like her, am the photo-taker for my family, so this felt very personal. This unique experience, coupled with the realization that others faced the same dilemma of safeguarding and sharing their own family’s memories, was the reason 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC was built.

I help clients manage their priceless photo and video memories. I became certified with The Photo Managers in 2020 and continue to attend extensive training and education, adhering to best practices and industry standards to provide my clients with the best possible service and quality for their photos and videos. For my clients, the services I provide are scanning and digitizing printed photos, slides, negatives, and converting home movies. I also organize digital media and photo collections, create photo books, and offer education to enhance personal privacy and security. In addition, I offer presentations and information about photo organizing, digital photo organizing, and enhancing personal privacy, as sharing my knowledge and giving back is important.

The main problem I solve for my clients is photo chaos and sheer overwhelm – whether it’s physical boxes of prints, old home movie tapes, or disorganized digital media files. I provide peace of mind by protecting irreplaceable memories and making them accessible for future generations. This is especially important for a number of digital media devices as well as video formats as they decay over time. Once they degrade, those cherished memories may be lost forever, including the ability to see and hear the voices of loved ones no longer with us. My services allow families to enjoy videos and printed images now, rather than letting them sit in boxes gathering dust with no way to view, safeguard or share.

What truly sets 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC apart is my personal, client-centered concierge approach, especially considering we live in the middle of nowhere Montana. We’re 45 minutes from a Walmart, 2.5 hours from a Sam’s Club, and 4 hours from a Costco, near the Canadian border in a very small rural community. This means that while some clients do ship items, I make every effort to meet clients in person and provide clear communication from start to finish, building trust and relationships. This is vital because many of these memories are one-of-a-kind, treasured, delicate, and fragile.

I’m most proud of the trust my clients place in me and how I help preserve their family legacies. It brings me immense joy to help families connect with their past and share their stories. I want potential clients and followers to know that 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC grew from a personal need, a shared challenge among my peers, and a strong desire to offer a valuable service that safeguards irreplaceable memories for clients everywhere. We truly understand the importance of sharing those stories of the past to help shape the future and learn from experiences.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

For 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC, the most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been a culmination of consistent efforts, with in-person engagement and networking being the most impactful.

It’s about actively putting myself out there, whether as a vendor at events or a participant in local community gatherings. Attending networking groups, even via Zoom from our rural area, has been key. This direct, face-to-face (or screen-to-screen) interaction is the best way to build rapport and get our name out. When you meet people, you can share what you do and discuss your services, often building relationships before they even realize they need help. It takes time; a client might not sign on immediately, but they might remember you a year or two later because of that initial connection. Opportunities to present or share information at workshops also help greatly. You can’t put a price on word-of-mouth referrals from colleagues or acquaintances.
The other strategies support this core networking, ensuring consistent visibility:

Participating in community events: Attending social gatherings with business cards and contacting local community education programs to offer informational sessions.
Leveraging print and digital media: Appearing in local newspapers or larger publications, actively sending out email newsletters, and maintaining a consistent social media presence.
Joining local organizations: Becoming involved with Chambers of Commerce or local B2B groups helps spread the word.

Ultimately, it boils down to consistency and distributing information through various forms. While social media is important, it often works best as a follow-up to in-person connections, encouraging new contacts to connect online. It’s about constant networking, always promoting the valuable services we provide

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Imposter syndrome is no joke; it can be debilitating and challenging. We often have to get uncomfortable to grow. What truly helped build my reputation in the market was a combination of factors. One pivotal moment was investing in and attending an intensive workshop with a respected mentor in our industry. After that, I gained greater confidence in my abilities and found a strong inner circle of colleagues. I realized I was indeed providing a great product to my clients; all my education, trial, and error were paying off. I had been filled with imposter syndrome and a lack of confidence, often intimidated by so many smart people around me. But that intensive education helped me see that I was consistently delivering quality work.

Another key aspect was actively engaging with our industry organization, The Photo Managers. Whether through social platform groups, volunteering during their conferences, presenting information, or actively participating in professional development, this involvement built both my confidence and my reputation among my peers. I met some of my dearest friends and supporters at my first in-person conference in 2021. I went in not knowing anyone and felt very intimidated, believing others there were smarter and more experienced. Their encouragement and accountability, combined with the recent intensive workshop, gave me the confidence I needed to embrace the uncomfortable and put myself out into the world. 

This strong inner circle of colleagues and peers is truly invaluable. We meet often—some monthly, some weekly, and have for several years—to celebrate wins, troubleshoot project challenges, give a necessary push, or navigate being a small business owner. It’s a trusted group that fosters vulnerability and candid interactions. Even though I’m in a rural area, video conferencing with these colleagues helps me stay centered and gives me the push I need to grow both personally and professionally.

Beyond this, I’ve also been part of a dedicated mastermind group since starting 406 Digital Imaging Services LLC. This particular support from like-minded individuals is crucial for staying focused, for gaining knowledge, and for moving through the trials and tribulations of owning a successful small business. The combined information and shared experiences from both my peer network and this mastermind group are incredibly valuable to me, and ultimately, to my clients.

Since that intensive workshop and with the ongoing support of my colleagues, I’ve delivered multiple workshops on photo and digital organizing and personal privacy enhancement. As uncomfortable as it was, I started putting my name out in the world as a trusted leader and professional in our industry and area. I began living and working the vision statement I had created more than three years ago: ‘To be the recognized solution for rural families to secure their treasured legacies, photos, and stories.’

I believe the culmination of all these efforts has built my reputation within the industry, with my peers, and with potential clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.406digitalimaging.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/406digitalimaging/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/406digitalimaging
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-copenhaver-60875926/

Image Credits
Tammy Copenhaver
20 Degrees Media