Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gina Weston, co-owner of Weston Photography, LLC, located in Carmel, CA, USA.

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

Weston Photography is a family-owned and operated photography business located at Edward Weston's former home in Carmel Highlands, California. We are a leading provider of fine art photography workshops and offer hand-crafted silver gelatin photographs by Edward, Kim, and Zach Weston. Our customers are art collectors, artists, photographers, and historians.

Tell us about yourself

When my artist husband decided he didn't want to do a manual labor job anymore, we needed to find a lucrative way to make a living selling his photographs. At that time, we didn't have the funding to hire any employees, and we didn't have any gallery representation, so in 2001, we decided that we would open an online gallery. That was early to be on the internet. Everything was so new.

I was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula and grew up in the family hotel business, "The Homestead," located in the heart of Carmel, California. This experience gave me extensive hands-on training in management and directing, which led me to be the co-owner and creative director of Weston Photography along with my husband, Kim Weston. Self-taught, I became proficient in sales, web design, social media, graphic design, directing, and production. I applied these skills in our business, selling black and white fine art photography, producing and managing fine art photography workshops, and mentoring young photographers by spearheading the Weston Scholarship since 2004.

The Weston Scholarship is a portfolio competition for students studying fine art photography in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. The scholarship was established in 2004 to preserve the legacy of black-and-white film photography set forth by Edward Weston and Ansel Adams. Every year, students are encouraged to submit a portfolio of photographs for the opportunity to win a scholarship to support their photographic careers. The Weston Scholarship is now part of The Weston Collective, a non-profit community photography center located in Seaside, CA, headed by our son Zach Weston since 2016. Keeping the tradition of 4 Generations of Weston Photographers alive and sharing the beauty of black-and-white photography.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

To educate and enlighten the community about the richness of film photography and to keep the traditional process of black and white film photography alive on the central coast of California.

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

The long hours of working solo.

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

Build a good comprehensive website. Commit to your everyday business tasks, and be prompt with your email responses. Network with your local community and people with like-minded interests.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.kimweston.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimwestonphotography
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weston.photography/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealWestonPhoto
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kimwestonphotography/

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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