Oh, this is definitely a real business

February 20, 2020

Business, Client Experience, Personal

Evolution of RMP Part 3: Oh, this is definitely a real business

Welcome to part 3 of 4 about the start of Rachel Marie Photography! I highly recommend going back to part 1 and part 2 before reading below! Now that we have talked about my first fancy camera and my first unicorn, I wanted to share my history of walking the winding roads of entrepreneurship.

Two wise teachers I know once said, ‘most photographers don’t start a business because they like business.’ As it turns out, most photographers spend about 85% of their time working on the business and only 15% actually photographing clients. RMP is no exception. While I had been blessed enough to find photography as something I loved, I needed to learn a lot more about the business side of things in order to keep RMP’s doors open.

First order of business?

Creating and cultivating my ‘brand.’ There are two big misconceptions that many people have about brand, myself included.

The first misconception I had is that brand = logo.
The second misconception I had was that I needed to create the fully functioning RMP brand from day one. Content and color scheme, all perfectly presented.

Luckily for me and RMP, I read Simon Sinek’s book, Start with Why before I stumbled too far over my own two feet. As for my first misconception, Sinek taught me that only a logo = a logo. A brand is something more illusive. It could actually be more closely defined as the feeling you get when you hear a company’s name. And the best way to develop a brand? Cultivate and truly know the reason why I was doing this thing! I want RMP clients to feel joy, excitement, love, and comfort before, during, and after a session with me. I want to be a people-centered photographer and serve my clients. I want to use my photography skills to capture small pieces of you and your loved ones’ lives. Especially because we all know time passes by so quickly.

That moment when you choose your best friend.

That ‘we bought our first home together’ feeling.

The one-in-a-melon birthday celebrations!

The genuine giggle of your truck-touting kiddo!

The heart-melting way your son kisses your forehead.

The sweet and oh-so-precious blessing.

The brain freezes!

With guidance from Sinek and his book, I developed the cornerstone of my ‘why’ for RMP. I wanted to translate those emotions through everything I did. The words I began using to describe my photos. My emails. My interactions with clients. My photos. My website. The list goes on. By prioritizing my ‘why’ through the years, I know that I will never go wrong.

As for my second misconception, Sinek gifted an inspiring quote within his book.

‘Finding your why is a process of discovery, not invention.’

This simple quote sparked a light bulb in my mind. I was allowed the freedom to develop RMP’s brand over time? I didn’t need to have it all wrapped up overnight? This business brand can grow and change over time, just as I grow and change? As a closet perfectionist, this was a novel idea!

Guys, I didn’t even start referring to my business as ‘RMP’ until nearly a year after I started photography! Things can always evolve! The RMP business of today is going to continue to grow and change, just as we all grow and change. This notion gave me the confidence to jump into the next major technical side…developing my website.

I jumped into developing my website over the winter months. Alongside my Portrait Session Style guide, the guidelines I gave myself when selecting colors and layouts was simple. Clean, bright, and warm. Armed with the knowledge of my why, I wanted to create a website that represented my brand and was simple to navigate. After all, I am here to serve you all! The challenge for me as a new business owner on a cozy budget was to find a platform that did not require me knowing how to code. I stumbled across the Arizona-based company, ShowIt very early in my entrepreneurship journey. So lucky, as I was able to build out my first site with the same platform I use today. No data conversion. No blog movement required.

My first site was simple. And oh, I was proud. Here are a few images from that first site! I highly recommend taking screenshots of these milestone events, that way you can look back on them and realize how far you have come! I remember spending hours working on my first logo (before I decided I should probably bring in the professionals). And hours upon hours trying to figure out how to make ‘featured’ blog posts.

Designing my first website took up the majority of my 85% business-photographer time. But, I was also investing a lot of time learning about business finance.

When I think of finance, I think of my Dad. He taught my sister and I innumerable lessons about saving, spending, investing, and everything in between. I would not have the head for budgeting or love of spreadsheets without his influence. Some of my earliest memories of money come from sitting around the kitchen table in my childhood home. Playing a 1964 board game called Stocks and Bonds. I became armed with the knowledge to buy low and sell high. A bet on Stryker Drilling can be either fortuitous or ruinous. And bulls aren’t always a bad thing to find yourself face to face with. As a ponytail-touting 5 year old, I learned about the power of compound interest. I knew the power of saving for financial goals. Do you all remember when the new version of The Sims 2 came out circa 2004? I saved for months for that bad boy! Ah, the sweet satisfaction.

With a few more years of financial knowledge under my belt, I was blessed to take what I learned from that age and apply it to my very own business. I began with one simple goal. RMP is a zero-debt business, I brushed up on Dave Ramsey’s advice in his Total Money Makeover and set off. After paying myself back for my initial investments (camera gear and education), I am proud to say I have upheld my goal!

While the choice to set out as a creativepreneur has not been an easy one, it has been more rewarding than I even thought possible. I have been blessed to connect with couples and families at important moments in their lives. I have the ability to grow and change this company into the best version of itself. I am consistently pushed and challenged with this business. The question that I bring to each new day in RMP-how can I serve you better? It is this question that keeps me searching for ways to stand apart in this ‘photographyland’ industry. The best part? This business allows me the freedom to be unique and true to myself. I want to support you and your loved ones. I only want the best for you. And my hope is that RMP becomes a small part of your story. One piece that you will always look back on with a smile and a joyful memory.

Until next week,
Rachel

Recommended book list for any new entrepreneur: