Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cheryl Williams, owner of DelightPublishing, located in Monroe, NC, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a photographer. I love landscape photography and am fascinated with the beauty of the natural landscape, hardscapes, and softscapes. I am, at this time, growing my business as a portrait photographer.

My appeal is to customers who are looking to capture special moments in their lives through the art of photography.

Tell us about yourself

The camera has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My first camera (which I still have) was a Kodak Instamatic X15 35mm film camera with flash cubes that would attach to the top of the camera. I've owned quite a few, including a Polaroid and a disc camera too! I've since graduated to using a DLSR camera, of course, but I'm always eyeing the latest camera on the market.

A few years ago, I reconnected with my love of photography after joining a hiking group. I was looking for inspiration to rekindle my love of writing, and so I took my camera along as my "security blanket" because I don't like heights. It may sound strange, but it worked. Hiking in the mountains for someone who doesn't like heights seems like a contradiction, and my lack of experience was evident as I tackled one of the highest peaks in Southern California my first time on the trails. (I would not recommend it!) But it did the trick, and the beauty of the Southern California landscape caught my eye. Even as a native Californian, I was amazed at how much beauty there is in our local mountains. I started cataloging the photos I took along with stories of my "trail" experiences, and from the feedback and compliments I received, the idea for sharing/selling the pictures on a business website was born. (An idea that I hadn't given much thought to before).

Everywhere I went, I had my camera in tow, and soon, family and friends were commissioning me to do photography for special events, including weddings and family photo shoots. I've also done pro-bono work for young entrepreneurs who needed headshots for their professional portfolios. Admittedly, photography can be an expensive profession. But being commissioned to capture someone's special event [sometimes] outweighs the effort, it takes to get that perfect shot. It's also extremely rewarding when you see the look of happiness on your client's face.

We live in an age of technology, so there are a lot of different mediums for capturing photos, but personally, I think there is nothing like the feel of a real high-resolution camera for taking pictures. But it also makes it hard to capture that once-in-a-lifetime shot when everyone at the party has their cell phone out, so you're competing with a lot of people! That's why communication up front is so important and can prevent a lot of hurt feelings between you, your client, and their guests!

I still enjoy hiking, but now my portfolio has expanded to include much more than just the SoCal landscape. I've recently relocated to the East Coast and am in the process of re-establishing myself in my new environment through networking and local community events as a portrait photographer.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

A small business owner like myself opened his store up for me to have my first photography exhibit. It was challenging at first, but I was able to gain a lot of valuable insight into the logistics of how to plan and execute such an undertaking. The knowledge and experience of putting my work on display for everyone to see are stressful but rewarding at the same time!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Knowing your target audience and marketing yourself accordingly. Marketing is key, and having a large social media presence is a must. Social media also makes finding your niche somewhat challenging. The field of photography is very competitive. With smartphones being what they are, many people will choose to capture their own photos instead of commissioning a photographer to memorialize a special moment which can sometimes be very expensive.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Know who you are. It might sound a bit cliche, but it's important to know yourself and what you're passionate about. That will be reflected in how you present your brand to your target audience.
  2. Do your research, find your niche, and grow your business. This takes a lot of hard work and involves being dedicated to making your dreams a reality.
  3. Stay committed to doing what you love. There will be bumps, peaks, and valleys along the way but stay true to who you are!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://delightpublishing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Delightpublishingcom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryl_williams_photography_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-williams-17493136/

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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