Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cara LeFebvre, Owner of Cara LeFebvre Photography, located in Westminster, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am an editorial and event photographer focusing on community impact. I work with magazines, newspapers, small to mid-sized business owners, non-profits, and individuals to connect their messaging to their imagery.
Tell us about yourself
I’m a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute and grew up in Kansas City, MO, in a home that cared for over 250 foster children. Connecting with vastly different people helped develop my own sense of identity and also taught me to be radically present and receptive in social situations where I could learn and grow. So that’s one way I engage in the world, and a Brassai quote sums it up very well – he says, “If reality fails to fill us with wonder, it is because we have fallen into the habit of seeing it as ordinary.”
Art school taught me how to think, what was worth pursuing, and how to develop context so my vision could be translated to a wider audience. Regardless of whether or not I have my camera, truly observing another person endears me to them and encourages a greater understanding of society and the world I live in. So I would say the art form itself is what motivates me – the simple act of observation, then transforming that observation into something precious and valued.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Right now, I’d say my biggest accomplishment is feeling secure in how I show up and what I bring to the table. For a long time, I questioned if my voice was relevant, and I couldn’t see how I fit into the world of photography. However, I kept shooting through the discomfort and admitted that I would take photographs even if they paid nothing. On a daily, my favorite accomplishments are in the connection I have with my subject and giving images that exceed my artistic goals as well as my client’s vision.
Sometimes I come back from a shoot and can see the ways I was naïve to what was in front of me. I reflect on each project and create lists of what could’ve gone better as well as what was great. When I notice my deficiencies, I acknowledge them as learning experiences and try not to repeat them in the next shoot. And I see that as an accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think it’s different based on the industry, but for a creative business owner, I think the hardest part is the discipline in all forms – mental, spiritual, physical, creative, emotional, and psychological. Our creative vision is what determines our success, so everything has to be aligned and healthy in order to have a strong creative output. I have a pyramid in my office that shows all the levels that need to be functioning in order to get to the creative, and it starts with physical, then mental, followed by psychological, emotional, and spiritual before reaching the top: creative.
Life as an entire process is the foundation for what informs my work. I read a quote recently from a book called Rework that said, “copying skips understanding.” That thought resonated so deeply - I have to allow my personal experiences to mold my future instead of letting others determine my path – and that in itself is very hard to do!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Consistency, discipline, and integrity. Show integrity in all aspects of the business – whether it’s communications, product, service, or adaptability. Integrity is also being self-aware of your strengths and weaknesses, so deliver in alignment with that. Hire out your weaknesses, and promote your strengths. Be consistent and disciplined in the way you speak to your clients. Show up early, stand by your word, don’t cut corners, and create a schedule for the day.
A lot of people, myself included, thought I’d have so much more free time once I went into business for myself, but the opposite was true – I work around the clock. It’s easy for me to put something off for the next day or stay up late into the night doing it, but then it throws off my entire week. Create a time to answer emails, go for walks to clear your head, take a lunch break, send work out, etc. And don’t assume you have the client until the contract is signed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.caralefebvre.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caralefebvrephotography
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caralefebvrephotography/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caralefebvrephotography/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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