Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nathalie Amlani, founder of Pictonat Creative, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

I am the founder of Pictonat Creative. I help women entrepreneurs stand out online with ease and confidence through a branding photography experience that showcases their inner beauty and their visual story resulting in building trust with their audience and revenue growth.

Tell us about yourself

I am motivated to help women shine online and showcase their inner beauty and their purpose. Being an entrepreneur is hard, let alone being in the spotlight; however, there is so much power and strength in leading in your own business, and I feel it's important to celebrate that and bring it to light. I started off my career working 17 years, climbing the corporate ladder at the bank, and completed my MBA. My career path was to become an executive. I left as a Senior Project Consultant and started my own business shortly after returning back to my corporate job after my second maternity leave. I changed; I was reborn when I became a mom. I desired to be closer to the customer, to make an impact, to have creative reign, and have flexibility in my schedule so that I can take care of my kids and take them to appointments as needed without feeling guilty. I started off doing family photography and still do today.

When I organically started helping brand owners tell their story through brand photography... and saw the impact it made on their audience and revenue growth, it fuelled a fire within me. It became my mission and vision to create an experience that is detailed, comfortable, and fun... making it easy for female entrepreneurs to showcase their authentic selves and the experience of working with them in front of the camera. I capture more than just the aesthetics of the person. I capture the energy that comes from within, their brand vibe. It motivates me to see the growth it brings to each person's business as they launch their new offerings, are featured on TV, in the magazine, on podcasts, hosting podcasts, and their face is literally everywhere. Yay!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is becoming a thought leader, leading myself, and trusting in the process. I used to measure my worth by my outer success, the title I had, the amount of money I made. When I started to hone in on myself and take care of myself, celebrate my successes, celebrate other people's successes, and saw the impact and inspiration I had on others, that's when I saw a shift in myself as a leader. I co-authored a best-selling book titled Life, Love, Lemonade and am the host of the Focal Tangent: Perspectives That Shift podcast.

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

When I left to become an entrepreneur, I was faced with doubt and skepticism by those around me, it was really hard, but it also fuelled me to grow. Being a business owner, you have to make the hard decisions and face the fears and the unknowns, all of which can be heavy at times and hard not to take it personally. If there's a change in the world, such as a pandemic, it can throw off everything, so you have to be ready to roll with the punches and oftentimes without any padding!

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

  1. Ask for help - hire a coach and join a networking community of entrepreneurs. You don't have to do it alone or try to. There's a lot to learn and a ton of ups and downs.
  2. Start selling - you're never fully 'ready', start putting out an offer and get started; the rest will flow into place.
  3. Trust in the potentiality - sometimes we don't know the answers or 'HOW' we'll get there. Trust that what you desire will come and keep true to your mission and vision. It doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks along the way.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

It is so easy to be thrown off by one unhappy client or fixate on why only a few people showed up to the event. Start small and honour each person, each client and deliver the most amazing experience, and your business will grow and thrive.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://pictonat.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pictonatbrandingcreative/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-amlani/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.