Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julie Doro, founder of Julie Doro Photography, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Julie Doro Photography, a full-service photography studio located in Vancouver, Canada. I offer a wide range of photography services, including family photography, maternity and newborn sessions, wedding photography, as well as corporate photography, such as business events coverage and professional headshots.
My ideal clients are coming to me to update their photos on a regular basis, starting with an online dating session, continuing to an engagement session with someone they met using the images I took, progressing to wedding photos, and after that, maternity and newborn sessions, with annual family sessions going forward. I have a few families I am honoured to photograph throughout their life journey, and I am immensely proud as they trust me to capture these precious moments for them.
Tell us about yourself
I started photography as a hobby, and at first, I mostly photographed landscapes and captured my travel adventures. Gradually I learned enough technical skills to try photographing people and started practicing portraits for friends and family. Eventually, a friend asked me to photograph her wedding. I was thrilled and terrified at the same time. I don’t think I slept a wink before the big day, and after that, I got hooked. As challenging, stressful, and demanding as it was, that day was so emotionally charged that I still remember it in detail, even though it has been over ten years now. The idea of capturing the moments to be cherished forever mesmerizes me to the day, and it is something that drives me to keep going. Having three little kids myself, I know how precious those moments are and how quickly they slip away from your memory. I want every family to have these memories captured and framed. We all deserve it!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think after eight years of doing photography professionally, I learned to trust my style without comparing my work with someone else’s. Even though it is critical to follow your peers` work, it is as important to know your own worth and have confidence in everything you do. I am also very proud to have fellow photographers as clients for their own family sessions. I know how nervous I get on the other side of the camera, and having their trust in me is very important.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Uncertainty and lack of stability, for sure. When COVID hit, it affected my business immensely. Along with many others, personally and professionally, I was in limbo for almost two years. I guess it teaches one to be humble and adaptable, as the modern world changes very fast, and it is the only way to keep going. Only when you are able to have flexibility, adjust on the go and have the drive to keep moving will you succeed.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Have a five-year plan, and be prepared to adjust this plan much sooner than you expected. Work hard, be open-minded, try new things and ways of managing the business, and always believe in yourself.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.juliedoro.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieDoroPhotography
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_doro/
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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