Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kelly Warkentin, founder of Kindred Photography, located in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a lifestyle luxury photographer who loves to capture authentic connections and emotions and create beautiful art for fun-loving families and new parents in the Vancouver area.
Tell us about yourself
I first found my love for photography when taking journalism in college. I was required to take a photojournalism course each semester and quickly fell in love. I left journalism for other pursuits, and while my love for writing fizzled, my love for photography never did. It wasn't until I became a mother and started capturing the joy and carefree spirit of my daughter, though, that I found the subject I loved and cared about most - young children. It has given me great joy over the last six years to capture the authentic reactions and experiences of my own three children so that I can look back on those memories and remember not only what they looked like at that stage but who they were, how they acted and how I felt about them. As they grow, looking back on my images of them at different stages motivates me to give as many other families as possible that same gift of being able to hold onto these tender years.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment, I think, is sticking with it. Owning a business, putting yourself out there, and especially doing it while raising toddlers and having newborns is really, really difficult. I've poured the vast majority of my free time and energy into ensuring that I'm growing as both a business owner and an artist, often on top of sleepless nights and exhausting days. As a result, my business revenue has doubled each year for the last four years, and I'm able to serve more clients with a better experience and stunning products.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Patience. I think when we first dive in, full of passion and motivation, it feels easy. We're excited and see only the potential. But as you hit roadblocks, find out all the gaps in your knowledge, and learn that it's not easy to grow a business and it takes a long time, it can be hard to be patient and keep going. It takes a lot of determination not to throw in the towel but to continue to invest time, money, and energy when that passion wavers and the dream feels a bit hazier.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, find some cheerleaders. Make sure you have people who believe in you and your vision behind you, people who will keep you going and spur you on when your motivation and passion waver.
Second, remember that business is business. A lot of us who start businesses do so not because we're passionate about business but about the service we're offering. You need to know the business side and ensure that it's the top priority.
Third, always be open to learning. Be humble and take advice from people who are further along on this journey than you are.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://kindredphotography.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kindredphotography.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindredphotographybykelly/
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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