Dreamy, Whimsical, Custom Dogtography

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jess Rodriguez, owner of Pet Project by Jess, located in Henderson, NV, USA.

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

I'm a photographer offering dreamy, whimsical, custom dogtography and digital art for the pet obsessed. The people who consider their pets their families take them everywhere, from the dog park to the brewery to vacations, and believe that their dogs deserve better than just cell phone photos. I'm a huge dog person who decided to take my hobby to the next level because you can never have too many photos of your dog.

Tell us about yourself

I graduated from the State University of New York College at Fredonia with a BA in Media Arts and was drawn to the photography and video side of things. For the past 16 years, I have worked in the corporate events world as a video editor who was also a major photo geek in my spare time. After so many years of doing the same thing, I wasn't sure what my next move would be with my career.

Covid really changed my perspective on life because, during quarantine lockdown, I realized quickly that I wasn't a person who could sit around and do nothing all day. I was limited with my subjects to shoot, so I ended up photographing my dog, Eleven, in crazy Photoshopped scenes and taking requests from friends and family to post for fun.

It passed the time, and I also learned a few new skills. After returning to work, I found myself doing less creative things and wanted to get back to photography and digital art and decided I was the only person standing in my way of living that dream of combining my two favorite things - dogs and photography - and turning that little pet project into the real deal. I'm not getting any younger, so I thought, why not take that chance?

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner so far is hard to narrow down. I'm living the dream of doing what I love and couldn't be happier realizing I can do this. I've also learned how to create a fully functional website with zero experience in record time. How quickly I was able to network with others in the dog industry to collaborate on offerings was impressive. And lastly, being recognized in public by a stranger who follows my Instagram page was pretty cool (they actually recognized my dog first, but I don't blame them.)

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

Aside from learning exactly how many licenses, permits, approvals, and notarized forms are needed from your state and city just to legally do business, being a business owner not only means putting yourself out there in person but also with social media content. You instantly become a content creator to promote your business and yourself but also, if you're introverted in the slightest, you'll learn quickly that you need to talk to people more than ever and put yourself in front of the camera.

It's forced me to get super social, which has been a great thing because I've already met so many people in such a short period of time that could really help boost my business. Also, you know that whole work-life balance thing you wanted from your corporate job? You have to remember to create that for yourself because, at least in the beginning, I feel like some days can be nonstop with getting all the little things into place.

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

Find your niche, and then find your niche within your niche. It's one thing to become a photographer, but there are a lot of different types of photographers out there. By narrowing myself down to work with my favorite subjects instead of a little bit of everything, it sets me apart from everyone else for those looking specifically for pet photos, and there are so many dogs in this area just waiting to ham it up in front of the camera. But what else makes my offerings different from the thousands of amazing dog photographers out there already? (and yes, there's A TON) It's digital art. It's one extra thing I can offer with my collections that helps me stand out.
Network! Yes, talk to people in your industry. Find them on social media. Schedule a meetup. I was really surprised at how friendly and welcoming other businesses and photographers, in general, have been that I've reached out to. Whether it's been for information, affiliate programs, re-posting content, or collaborating on services, I've received nothing but positivity, especially from other women-owned businesses, so it's been really encouraging. When you're starting out, you can use all the help you can get with getting your business out there. People are nicer than you think with wanting to help you, I promise.
Find some podcasts and join forums or groups related to your business. I've found several centered on dog photography with amazing tips and information relating to growing your business to photography tips that have really helped.

While most of my photography is full of happy pups and creating memories capturing the bond between dogs and their humans, I also offer End of Life photography sessions at no cost. I wish this was something I had done in the past when it was my time to say goodbye, and knowing the cost of everything else that goes into it all and where your headspace is at, forgetting to get those last precious images is something that happens with many people. It's not easy, but you won't regret having those photographs.

I'm listed on both the Tilly Project and Pet Memorial Photographers network, and if you're a pet photographer who offers this service, you can add your name to these lists too!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.petprojectbyjess.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petprojectbyjess/

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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