Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tamara Kenyon, Owner of Tamara Kenyon Photography, located in Boise, ID, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a portrait photographer (dabbling in children's picture books). My clients are a collection of families I have been working with for over a decade. It starts with either a wedding or a baby, and these families are stuck with me through all of life's big moments. I am still working with families that hired me when I first started doing this full-time (13 years ago).
Tell us about yourself
The world is full of beautiful places I adore visiting. My husband, Matt, and I have cinched crampons to our boots and gripped ice axes as we hiked on the Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland, we've pedaled down dirt roads in Belize, and climbed steep stone staircases that led to unreal views of Machu Picchu. But Boise is home: It's where I attended college, launched my professional photography career more than a decade ago, and became a mother. It is here–in our foothills, beside our river, throughout our vibrant neighborhoods–that my personal life unfolds. In turn, it's where I raise my camera and capture the moments, people, and places that are important to you.
Becoming a mother helped me see the world from a new and exciting perspective. Recently, I've begun exploring ways photographs can deepen a child's world to them; everyday objects are enchanting. My Montessori-inspired books and games contain bright, beautiful photos of familiar objects. The bulk of my work will always feature people, but I find great joy in these still-life projects meant to invite observation and conversation.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I've had the pleasure of working with the New York Times several years in a row, and I recently worked with The Lonely Planet for their Best Places to Visit in the 2023 project.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Finding the balance between parenthood and work.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Practice EVERYDAY, know your worth, and outsource what you're not good at.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.tamarakenyon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamarakenyonphotography
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarakenyon/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tamarakenyon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarakenyonmessinger/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.