Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Noire Mouliom, a professional commercial photographer based in Montréal, QC, Canada.

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

Hello, my name is Vanessa, also known as Noire. My area of expertise is portrait photography, but I also offer a variety of other services, such as creative photoshoots, content creation photography, event photography, and lifestyle photography, with an emphasis on art direction. Based on my experience, I have noticed that the majority of my clients are looking for corporate headshots, artistic portraits, and photos for families and newly engaged couples.

Tell us about yourself

I used to take a lot of photos on my phone of my surroundings and anything that interested me. A friend gave me a digital camera in 2015, but I didn't start using it until three years later because I found it intimidating to learn about the technical aspects. However, I began learning about photography by watching videos and reading blogs. I started taking pictures at music festivals and found that I enjoyed capturing live music events, even though it was challenging because the subject was constantly moving.

Within a year, people started to notice and asked me to take pictures of them. Although I was happy that people trusted me, I felt that I lacked knowledge in the business and technical aspects of photography. So, I put together a portfolio of my live music event photos and applied to the Commercial Photography program at Dawson College. I got accepted and graduated two years later during the COVID-19 pandemic. Right before graduating, I got my first studio and have been able to make a living from my art for almost three years now.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In 2022, I was approached by an organization called Educonnexion, which commissioned me to teach a series of photography workshops to teenagers aged between 15 and 17 years old. The goal of these workshops was to showcase photography as a viable career choice outside of traditional professions. A few years ago, I never would have imagined myself teaching workshops to others, as I am a shy speaker. Therefore, being able to not only speak publicly but also inspire young people with my career choice was my proudest achievement as a business owner.

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

One of the most challenging aspects of being a business owner for me is managing my time and staying consistent with my creative process. As someone who suffers from chronic illness, I often feel weak and tired, which can make it difficult to stay on top of my work. Unfortunately, this can be misinterpreted as laziness or inconsistency. In the past, I often ignored the warning signs from my body, trying to push myself to do more. However, last summer, I ended up in the hospital because of it. Since then, I've learned that as a creative and business owner, it's crucial to rest and listen to our bodies. While time management used to be an issue for me, I've been able to improve it with the help of tools like Google Calendar and Siri reminders.

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

  1. Build a Strong Portfolio: Before starting a photography business, it is important to build a strong portfolio that showcases your work and demonstrates your skills to potential clients. This can be achieved by taking a variety of photos, experimenting with different techniques, and finding your niche or specialty.
  2. Develop a Business Plan: Developing a business plan is essential to the success of any business, including a photography business. Your business plan should include a marketing strategy, a pricing strategy, a financial plan, and an operations plan. You should also consider your target market, competition, and how you plan to differentiate yourself from others in the industry.
  3. Build and Maintain Relationships: Building and maintaining relationships is critical to the success of any business, and this is especially true for photography businesses. You need to be able to connect with your clients, understand their needs, and build a rapport with them. It is also important to network with other professionals in the industry and build relationships with potential referral sources, such as makeup artists, stylists, and other businesses in the field for possible collaboration.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://noiremouliom.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelittleblackone/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/___sel_de_mer/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noire-mouliom-03960b203/

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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