Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kellie Henriksen, Founder of Kellie Henriksen Photography, located in Littleton, CO, USA.

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

I'm a newborn and family portrait photographer in Denver. I offer photo sessions in my studio, at my client's home, or outdoors. I work mostly with moms - new moms and moms with children of all ages.

Tell us about yourself

I graduated from CU Boulder in 2003 with my degree in Fine Art Photography but had been shooting weddings with some of Denver's top photographers at the time. Back then, it was all film - digital photography was just starting to show up. During my last semester at college, I took the first-ever Digital Photography Course offered there. Today I shoot with my digital cameras and like to play around with my film cameras too. The look of analog photography is truly unique and magical. What motivates me each day? The idea of creating something new and giving my clients a high-quality, beautifully crafted piece of art is thrilling to me.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I officially started my business back in 2008. Before then, I had a regular 9 to 5 job and was shooting on the weekends. At one point, I realized that I very much disliked working at a desk and took the leap to be self-employed...and then the recession happened. I'm pretty proud of how I persevered through that challenge. Honestly, I didn't know any different! I had started a business during a recession, so the challenges that come with that are all I knew. I believe it helped me cope easier with the struggles of having a service-based business during the COVID Lockdowns.

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

Wearing all the different hats. I learned pretty early on that there is so much value in outsourcing certain tasks. The first service I hired (and still use to this day) was an accountant. I love my CPA and have been working with them for almost 8 years now. I went through a handful of CPAs before finding the right fit, but it was worth it. As my biz began to grow, I found other companies that offer outsourcing services specific to the photography industry. For a while, I had a company editing my wedding photos (I don't do this anymore since I stopped shooting weddings in 2016). And just this year, I've hired a Social Media Manager to help with keeping all my social platforms consistent. There's a lot of value in not having to wear all those hats. I can focus on what I love, and my business thrives because of it.

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

  1. Make a business plan - research how to draft a business plan and know that it should be fluid. You'll learn a lot as you grow and want to adapt your business plan accordingly.
  2. Be sure to find joy in what you do and nurture that joy. It's easy to push forward when the money is rolling in, but you'll get burned out if you don't make space for the joyful parts. It's harder to recover from Burn Out than it is to add a dose of Joy on a regular basis. For instance, I'm headed to Palm Springs in a couple of weeks for a unique photo conference where a group of photographers comes together to be creative! I'm excited to share and learn. Is it an expensive trip during this slow time for my business? Yes. Will I leave there feeling joyful and excited to bring that creativity to my clients? Also yes.
  3. If you're feeling stuck, get a coach or mentor. Last year I was in a major Post-COVID Funk. I feel stuck and confused on how to re-energize my business. It took me about 8 months to find the right coach, but when I found her, it was truly transformative. The extra effort it took to find, vet, and hire a coach was absolutely worth it. I'm coming up on my 3rd month working with her, and I no longer feel stuck. My business has a pulse again, and I foresee this next year as my best year in business yet.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.kelliephoto.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelliephotodenver/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelliephotodenver/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelliephotodenv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelliephotodenver/

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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