Please tell us more about your business. How did you start? Who do you work with? What are some of your offerings? What do you love about it?
I offer wedding and family photography based out of Canton, Georgia. I've loved taking photos ever since I was a child- my parents were kind enough to get me a little point and shoot film camera and I still have boxes and boxes of those photos. I work with couples and families who value timeless, colorful, and a stress-free photography experience. What I love most about my job is meeting people, helping them feel confident in front of the camera, and helping people create beautiful images that will last forever!
Achieving a balance between personal life and business demands is a hot topic. What strategies have you found effective for maintaining harmony in your life?
I try to stay on top of my editing as much as I can, as well as make plans for my business that allow breathing room for my personal and family life.
How do you leverage community and collaboration in your business strategy? We're keen to explore how female entrepreneurs are strengthening ties and creating synergies with other businesses and community members.
At every event and wedding that I photograph- I make sure to go above and beyond to serve everyone there, including other vendors. I always send vendors photos from the weddings I photograph, in case they are of value for them in their marketing. I am always looking for ways to help, and make sure I stay on top of my timeline so that other vendors have the space to do their jobs too. I love being a team player and making connections in this way!
Failure is often seen as a taboo subject, but it can be a powerful teacher. Could you share an experience where you faced failure and how you turned it into a learning opportunity?
In one wedding I photographed- I didn't realize the hallway that I was doing the first look with the bride and groom was actually an overlook and the groom downstairs could have looked up to see her. The bride realized this and quickly ran back to her room, and I felt terrible about this mistake. I don't think he ended up seeing her, but I later apologized profusely and took full responsibility for the oversight. Since then, I will always make sure the coast is clear in unfamiliar settings for first looks.
Every entrepreneur faces hurdles along the way. Can you talk about a significant obstacle you've overcome and what you learned from it?
I think a big obstacle I've had to overcome is the urge to quit when things get hard, or when inquiries are low. I get very emotionally invested in my business, and it is easy for me to feel discouraged when things aren't picking up speed the way I would want or envision. In these hard times- I go back to the drawing board to refresh my website, learn new marketing tools, and try new kinds of lead conversions to breathe life back into what I think is lacking.
What advice or tips would you have for other female founders starting their businesses?
You have to wear many hats! Owner, accountant, social media manager, website designer... and it takes time to learn it all and get proficient at all of the small tasks that come with owning your own business. It's so rewarding, however!
Find Shanna on Instagram at @shannablackburn_photo
Photos by Shanna Blackburn Photography
Know A Small Business Owner?
We love highlighting female founders. If you know of someone and want to give them some recognition for their hard work, please nominate them!