Supporting Local Businesses

I think all small businesses are difficult to launch.  It needs to be a mix of paid and free advertising, word of mouth, and hard work on the owner's part to get the name and/or product out there.  In this overexposed social climate, interesting things to look at and buy are a dime a dozen.  Photographers, talented and not so talented, are also a dime a dozen.  How does one distinguish oneself from the pack?

I don't have a niche quite yet.  I started out taking headshots and then moved on to families, kids, pets, products, couples, weddings, staged shoots.  I would love to focus solely on engagements/weddings, but every time I try to focus on that, I find myself drawn back to love of photographing, well, EVERYTHING!

I do love taking pics of people.  It calls to me.  Getting that secret smile, or that faraway dream, captured in the eyes.

And I love Love.  I can't help saying it.  I think when you live your own fairytale you can't help but be enamored of the romance in those around you, especially the ones caught up in the giddy excitement of planning their wedding.

Now on to the hard part...getting maximum exposure for the business without being that annoying person who is always plugging her business.  I have some really wonderful supporters and friends...those who share my FB page with their friends, who give me photo credit when I've taken their pictures that they use...the ones who mention my name when people they know are looking for a good photog...and those who link my websites with theirs.

I wish everyone could be so great and take a minute to support a small business.  I try to pass along the word to everyone I know when I have a talented friend growing a business.  I become a fan of so many different local pages.  I tried a cupcake (pictured above) from a DC Area cupcake place and it was heavenly...so I promptly snapped a shot, friended their page, and shared the photo with my delicious sentiments with my friends.  It takes me just a few minutes to do it, and no skin off my nose.  I do it without thinking what *I* will get out of it...I think that's the only way to be.

I also need to become a little more of a shark when it comes to business, I think.  It's not my nature...but it might be the best tool for swimming and making it to shore in a very full ocean.  :)