About

Archive: ‘housekeeping/fyi’



My Business, and The Shark Tank ~ Pensacola Pet Photography by Allison Shamrell

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

I got back from a photography conference called Imaging USA less than a week ago. I spent three very long days (starting before the sun rose, and ending hours after it set) learning about how to best run a photography business – from the most brilliant photographers in the country. It was an absolutely incredible experience for me, and since the business side of my business has been on my mind ever since, I have a feeling the next few blog post are going to be highlighting a few of the back-end processes of things, instead of the usual peeks at the final product for any given client. Because while those kinds of posts are important too, they’re only specific to each family I work with. The way I run and grow my business (even the way I think about my business) affects everyone I come in contact with. So I think it’s worth a few blog posts!

 

One of my absolute favorite shows on television is Shark Tank on ABC. It was introduced to me by my friend Lina, and I can’t thank her enough for it! To introduce you, I was hoping to grab a video from YouTube to embed in this post. Unfortunately, that didn’t work, so I have to make you click over to Facebook to watch the trailer for this season (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151185590135103) and a great (pet-related!) example of what happens to everyone on the show: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150169908923204. Seriously, go watch them! They’re very short clips. I’ll wait till you’re done.

 

Back? Great! So as you can tell, this show is all about business owners proving the value of their product, their company and themselves. The sharks are filthy rich and could afford to invest in every single one of the contestants, but they don’t – they’re entering legal contracts to do business with these people for the forseeable future. While my heart breaks for the people who’ve mortgaged their house multiple times, dipped into their kids’ college funds, and maxed out their personal credit to fund their company’s product – and yet the sharks still say no – there’s definitely something to be said for the realism of the show. So of course, watching this (in between yelling at the contestants and the sharks, alternatively) I get thinking about Allison Shamrell Photography. Would the sharks invest in me?

 

I can test myself by the questions the sharks most-often drill the contestants about:

  • Have you made any money?  Well, thank goodness, the answer for me is yes. But the costs of running a pet photography business are far more extensive than I expected when I first started almost a year and a half ago! I thought the only expenses I’d have would be new equipment and treats for the dogs I’d photograph. Ha! Looks like I was forgetting a few things: insurance, professional associations’ fees, lab fees, product costs, website hosting, blog redirecting, online data backup, advertising materials, digital templates, product packaging materials, and a whole lotta postage. To name a few things. Plus, since this’ll be the first year I’m not reporting a loss on our tax return, I hear there’s a significant amount of income tax I’m about to owe. You’ll probably hear the scream when I find out how much. So, making money: definitely not a given. But at least I can say I have.
  • How many units have you sold?  Since Shark Tank has a primarily product-based premise, and my business is service-based, this question doesn’t entirely apply. But, I can say that I’ve been blessed with enough clients to keep me busy every day (and some nights!) for the majority of 2011. Of course, there are times when things are slow – like February, when the weather is just blegh and it’s generally too cold to be comfortable outside for a three-hour session. But that’s normal; every photographer has a busy season and a slow season. And since I’m a one-woman show, I’ve been selling enough units – wait, yuck, I hate how that sounds, I don’t “sell units”, I do custom sessions – I’ve been doing enough custom sessions to keep me working at capacity! Which, honestly, is how I like it. I’m one of those people that’s happiest when they have too much to do. Go figure!
  • What’s your plan for the future? Ha! I kind of giggle when people ask me about the future. With a husband in the military, and orders that could come literally any day (oh yes – we’re living the dream!) and take us across the country, the future is something I just can’t spend time worrying about. Since I don’t know where we’ll go, I can’t exactly plan to do much, and without knowing when this will happen, I see no reason to act as if it’ll be soon. It’s not ideal, but hey, it’s okay – and for the time being, I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing, almost as if a cross-country move wasn’t even going to happen. Whenever we do get relocated, it’ll be a struggle. I know that. I’ll be starting over with no client base, no networking contacts – basically nothing but a website and business cards. Yikes. Maybe I would have thought that was enough to start a business a year ago, but now I know that I can’t do anything alone. Relationships are everything – in business as well as life, I think – and that’ll be what the future of my business depends on.
  • What’s proprietary about your company? That’s a very good question. There’s usually a specific reason why a new start-up business grows and succeeds: they have something no one else does. Something no one else can copy (usually because it’s trademarked or copyrighted). They focus on a weakness of a pre-existing product and turn it into a strength. Can I tell you something? Back when I first started, I remember designing my website and writing things like “Contact Us” and “We appreciate your business”. I didn’t want to touch my About page (that I knew I really should write) because I was embarrassed to admit that it was only me over here. No one else. I felt like no one could trust me if they knew I was doing 100% of everything; as if I needed a staff or even a partner just to run a halfway-reputable business. Wow. It’s embarrassing to admit that now… but my attitude has turned 180 degrees! Now I know that what’s proprietary about my business – what gives it its strength – is me! I’m literally the reason this business is what it is: I’ve made the big decisions about what to photograph, what products to offer, what I want my website to look like, and how to conduct myself in my business. (I would give credit to its general success, though, to my husband: he’s talked me down from some pretttttty bad ideas!) So I suppose that’s why my business is named Allison Shamrell Photography – is because it’s all me. When you decide to have a session, you get my time, my talent, my experience, my effort, my everything. And – sometimes this still surprises me – my clients don’t seem to mind that I don’t have employees. They’re okay with this one-woman operation. Thank goodness, because now I know I shouldn’t hide it, I should shout it from the rooftops!

 

Well, since I think this is one of the wordiest blog posts ever, I should stop there. Shark Tank is on Fridays at 8, plus it’s all over YouTube and Hulu. I can’t give it a higher recommendation. Go watch it and thank me later! And in the meantime, thanks for supporting this (very) small business.

 

I noticed when I was writing this that Bailey wasn’t napping in her usual spot in my office. I went to see where she was… and found the image I’ll leave you with today.

 

 

 

~ Dog Photography by Allison Shamrell in Pensacola, Florida ~

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in housekeeping/fyi, pet photography | 2 Comments »

Saber, Tayte, & Zara – and an announcement! ~ {Ft. Walton Beach, FL Pet Photography by Allison Shamrell}

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

This wise old man, sweet old girl, and crazy young lady all live together with their mom, the fabulous Nicole of 3 Dogs & A Chick. It was a lot of fun to meet them and hang out in their (awesome) yard, photographing the way they simply always are. I’ll remember this session for how relaxed it was – more than just because we didn’t try for any running and jumping photos! There is a calm about these dogs, this household, that is enviable. You could feel the sense of harmony as these pups happily wandered around, sniffing the leaves and monitoring the squirrel activity among the trees. It was almost therapeutic, so thank you, Nicole, for opening your family to me and my lens.

 

Plus, a big piece of good news from the Porch Patrol!

 

 

Allison Shamrell Photography will officially be INVADING 3 Dogs & A Chick for mini-sessions at the end of this month!

 

That’s right, you can sign up now for a time slot on Saturday, May 28th to get photos like these of your own mutts! Here’s what you can look forward to:

~  30 minutes of session time with Allison, which will be spent capturing the personality of your dog(s) in a fun, no-stress, non-posed way!

~  That’s enough time to result in at least fifteen images you’ll want to frame. I guarantee it. (Probably more, but I like to under-promise and over-deliver.)

~  Completely amazing backgrounds to work with: the spacious park and dock area behind 3 Dogs & A Chick, the cute courtyard of the shop’s previous location, and a studio backdrop inside. Basically, more variety than you’ll be able to handle.

~  A private, password-protected online gallery of your images, so you can look them over dozens of times before deciding on your favorites.

~  A hands-on look at the entire product line-  there’s so much more than prints! You’ll see everything I have to offer.

~  20% off all of these products for timely orders!

~  A custom video slideshow like the one you just watched in this blog post.

~  As many phone conversations, emails, video chats, and letters-by-pigeon as you need to determine what’s best for your house and lifestyle. I want to give you something you absolutely love – and nothing less!

 

Since this is half the time of The Beagle Package, it’s also half the price. $65 will get you everything listed here, plus an 11×14 print and digital image of your favorite photo! Those two goodies alone are a $55 value… do the math!

To make an appointment: call 3 Dogs & A Chick at 850.243.7297, or stop by in person. Courtesy of their website, here is a map to their (new) location.

Grab your time slot today, before they’re gone! (Can’t make it on Saturday? Call the shop anyway, and let them know you’d like to be placed on the waiting list if Sunday opens up. With enough interest, I’ll be there Sunday as well.)

Do you live in Pensacola, and driving to Ft. Walton Beach sounds like too long to spend in a car with your dog? Perhaps one of my standard sessions will suit your needs. See your options here.

And of course you can contact me with any questions you have. My email address is allison@allisonshamrell.com and I can’t wait to hear from you!

 

 

~ Dog Photography in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida by Allison Shamrell ~

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in events, housekeeping/fyi | 1 Comment »

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming…

Friday, April 15th, 2011

So, I feel like the blog lately has been nothing but Sneak Peeks and session slideshows. These are fun and I hope you love them, but they’re all “business”. So I thought I’d liven things up by giving a little perspective from the person behind the posts!

The last month of my life has been busy, and I thank God every day for that. It’s a scary thing to start your own business and hope it succeeds – much less a business as whimsical as this one! Well, maybe whimsical isn’t the right word. I provide fun, non-essential services to pet owners, in a nutshell. So sometimes I get nervous.

But like I was saying, April has been ridiculously busy for me. Lots of sessions to photograph, images to edit, storyboards to design, videos to compile, labs to order products from, posts to blog, other business owners to network with, emails to send, bills to pay… turns out owning a photography business is about 10% taking pictures! Who knew! But this week marked a semi-important milestone for my business: I got too busy to do everything I wanted to do, and certain things had to be neglected. GASP

I’m not talking about “I didn’t do a tiny little thing I was hoping to get done” or “I didn’t plan my life out 7 weeks in advance”, nothing ridiculous like that. I don’t think my goals were too big or too small. I had three basic things to do (essentially): stay on top of communicating with clients and other contacts, complete sessions and work on clients’ images, and order samples of awesome new products that I’m about to offer (and am VERY excited about). I actually stayed up until at least 10:00 every night this week, and 2:00 one night, working on these basic things. And let me tell you, it’s really not so great to watch your husband go to bed while you head back to a computer screen. (I’d make him stay up with me, but one of the Naval Flight School higher-ups would probably want to exchange words with me.) And on top of that, to feel obligated to do the same thing the next night, and to eat your lunch while navigating Photoshop, and to not feel like you have time to do the laundry for fear of getting behind? Yikes.

So I had to ask myself: do I enjoy the time I work, even for that many hours and that late at night? YES! (Is that surprising? Just goes to show this is my dream job!) So, I’m not spending my time in wasted ways. I really love what I do. Next question: do other small business owners probably work as hard as me? Yes! I’m sure they do, especially other sole proprietors. So I don’t think I’m the exception to the norm, or at least not at this point in my career. I’m told it gets easier haha! Next question: is this business my #1 priority? No. No way. It will always take second behind my family, which may be small at this point (a man and a dog… and me!) but it’s the best thing I have in life. So the conclusion is, I have to rearrange the way I spend my time, and put family first!

 

I can't believe this day was almost two whole years ago!

 

This will probably not be easy, as it turns out. I’m used to working really hard – in college, in high school, I wasn’t one of those kids who showed up for the final and passed with flying colors. More like I worked my butt off and magically passed. And that wasn’t so long ago. So I just need to slow down, keep prioritizing, and keep reminding myself what’s important. That means tonight, I am going to go out to dinner with my husband (his name is Ken, by the way) and we will watch a movie together and I will not send a single email! Before, during, or after! I think the last time those things happened without an interruption was, like, January. And who knows – tomorrow we may go to the dog park with Bailey! After sleeping in and making pancakes! It’s his day off, and I believe I should take one too.

I think it’s easy to get addicted to a job you love doing. If it doesn’t feel like work, and your boss is yourself, it’s difficult to know where certain lines are. And I suppose I’ve always known where those lines were, and had a slight sense of guilt every time I careened past them – but now I’m going to respect them.

Oh, and to finish the week with my sanity intact, I had to prioritize. Out of the three big things I had to do this week, two of them had to do with immediately satisfying clients and one didn’t. So guess which got pushed to the back burner?

Clients: I love you! I really do.

So anyways, that’s the story of my week. Super-compelling, I know… but important for me. And it will lead to a better future, for me and my business. I wonder if anyone else asks themselves these questions? It was a fantastic sanity check so I highly recommend it the next time you feel stretched too thin!

Thanks for listening! And now… back to business! :)

 

Tags: ,
Posted in housekeeping/fyi, just for fun | 1 Comment »

New Products: Part Five ~ {Pensacola, FL Pet Photographer Allison Shamrell}

Friday, March 11th, 2011

You’ve made it to the last part of the series! Yay! I know, it took me forever to post this… but I’m very excited about it. It’s all about New Product #5, the DVD of all images from a session! Forewarning: this post is full of writing, not pictures. I know that’s not really what I’m supposed to be doing on this photography blog, but there are some very important things which I think need to be explained. Also my husband is probably tired of me venting to him, so if at some point I sound preachy or righteous… deal with it!

You see, there’s a war going on. A war.

Not many people know about it, since it’s really being fought underground. Every professional photographer not only knows all about it, but has taken sides. It doesn’t have an official name, and the only casualties are honor and respect. So although no one’s dying, thank goodness, it’s an important and industry-changing conflict that will decide the fate of every photography business out there. It’s the war of owning the digital image.

A few years ago – less than ten – a great thing happened! Or at least it seemed great. High-end digital cameras (DSLRs) became available and affordable to the general public. Everyone was happy! Yay! More photos for everyone! Hobbyists could have more fun, and more hobbyists became professionals, and everyone was in photography bliss. Until a small number of hobbyists, we’ll call them SILLY-WILLIES, decided they should be making some money with their hobby. You know, just like people make loads of money off their sewing and birdhouse-making and other personal hobbies. Why should photography be any different? So the silly-willies said to their friends’ friends: “Hey! Don’t spend money on that expensive photographer for your wedding! I have the same camera they use, so I’ll do it for 300 bucks and just give you a DVD with all the pictures on it!”

There are several things wrong with this statement.

  1. People tend to assume that a nice camera is to credit for nice pictures. You don’t know how many photographers have been outraged and deeply insulted by this. That beautiful picture of sunrise in the abandoned cornfields? Yes, the camera got up at 4:00 a.m., drove out to the location, set its own controls to get the entire scene in focus and pressed the shutter button during the precise 30 seconds while the sun was barely peeking out through the trees on the horizon. Needless to say, while I’m laying on the ground trying to hold a treat up as high as possible while shrugging my body slightly further away from the two dogs whom it took forever to sit next to each other, I don’t really want to hear you say, “Wow, I wish I had a nice camera so I could take pictures that are exactly like yours!” Similarly, a carpenter isn’t great simply because of the type of wood he uses; it’s all about the craftsmanship.
  2. This silly-willy is probably offering his services illegally. Do you think he’ll include that $300 profit on his taxes next year? Probably not. That’s why he can afford to offer a ridiculously low price. The expenses of operating a photography business (as I have learned) are endless: taxes, equipment, computer software, studio space, studio samples, marketing materials, online hosting fees, gas for traveling to sessions, etc, etc, etc. Not to mention that it’s how we support our families. This is our “day job”. The silly-willies don’t have to deal with all this, so sure, why not charge just $300?
  3. What about everything else photographers do? I’m talking about meeting with the bride and groom to make sure they get what they want? What about putting together an album of the entire day? What about editing and beautifying the images? I normally appreciate a little customer service, and I bet you do too. I’d appreciate a little say in what you do with the images from the happiest day of my life, instead of just being tossed a DVD. Similar aspects like this apply to every genre of photography, not just wedding photography, and the silly-willies have attacked nearly every angle. Weddings are just my example for this post.

I don’t mean to pick on bargain-hunters. I like coupons and discounts as much as the next person, but in the end, you get what you pay for. I’m sure you’ve found this to be true at some point in the past, and wished you’d paid more for something. Skimping on wedding photography – well, I’m not a fan of the idea.

But the advent of the silly-willy has posed a serious problem for professional photographers who use digital cameras. How do we distinguish ourselves from the hobbyist looking to make a few bucks? (Besides the difference there should be in the quality of the images.)

Many photographers have chosen to not sell the DVD of images. Running in the opposite direction of the almost disgustingly-simple strategy of the silly-willy, some photographers will simply not release the rights to any image files. When you think about it, it’s perfectly acceptable: they own the images. The subjects (should have) signed a waiver granting this. And for a one-time fee, the client can run to Walmart with the pictures and get infinite prints (from poor-quality paper & ink). So why provide something which will make money for someone else?

I, along with plenty of other photographers, think differently. Our clients are paying us to perform a service, which is essentially to make them happy. It’s the digital age, and digital images are what people want! So I happily provide the DVD of all the images. I also price it appropriately; I’ve seen DVDs sell for anything from $0 to $2,000. Mine are not quite that expensive. :)

So, anyways, this post is a little long-winded, but DVDs are my fifth featured product in this five-part series. So yes, you have access to everything from our session. I’ve taken sides in the war of owning the digital image, and be it right or wrong, I’m confident that I’ve made the choice that’s right for me. And you!

Thanks for reading! I promise I’ll include more pictures in my next post!

 

 

 

~   Dog Photography in Pensacola, FL by Allison Shamrell   ~

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in housekeeping/fyi | No Comments »

New Products: Part Four ~ {Pensacola, Florida Pet Photography by Allison Shamrell}

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

I’m definitely excited about this next product, because it’s the result of finding just the right business to work with and provide awesome innovation to my clients. So without further ado: the accordion book!

As you can see, it looks like a book from the outside when it’s closed, but opens up in an explosion of accordion-photo-goodness! It’s a really fun alternative to the traditional photo book. It comes with a nice frosted slip cover to keep it protected when you’re taking it everywhere to show friends:

It opens up and the cover is glossy while the pages have a beautiful pearly finish, bounded by a linen strap in the middle:

When completely unfolded, it’s a force to be reckoned with:

I can put one image over several panels, or split them all up to show more of your favorite photos from each session:

The pages are thicker than a normal book, so it’ll be sturdy each time you open it up.

You can have a title on the spine of your book, too! The covers are actually magnetized, so even if you don’t use the slip cover, the book will stay closed unless you open it on purpose, which is very nice.

Each book measures 4×8 inches, so it’s half the size of a normal book, but twice the personality! It really lets you show off your pictures in a fun and unique way, and it’s available with any session from Allison Shamrell Photography!

I offer plenty of other fun products too, such as mouse pads, mugs, and greeting cards. They’re just not unique enough to warrant their own blog post! So rest assured, I offer such things standard, and if you really have your heart set on making a keychain, dry erase board, or even a name tag for your dog out of a photo from your session, I have the ability to make that happen as well. But my last blog post in the “New Products” series is reserved for my most controversial product of all. Yes, controversial! For some, it’s essential, but for others, it’s an outrage. So stay tuned to see what it is…

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in housekeeping/fyi, new products | 1 Comment »

« Previous Page | | Next Page »
 

  • Subscribe

    Get a shiny new email in your inbox every time a new post is published!


    Your information is completely private.

  • Links

    • All Images Copyright | Blog Theme Created by LJP & SLR Lounge