Q1)Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: I started the Washington DC Photographer in 2019. Being a native Washingtonian, I wanted to show DC, not like a tour guide, but in a unique way, because my city is one of the most unique places on the planet. Our goal is to create timeless memories of your DC Experience, whether it is an engagement, a wedding, honeymoon or anniversary or even a birthday or a just for fun event.
Q2)Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I am a photographer based out of the Washington DC metro area. I actually studied and graduated with a Management degree in Graphic Arts Management at the University of the District of Columbia. In 2008, Being around so many artists allowed me to see the world differently and artistically.
I started the company Memories of Bliss Photography, where our primary focus was photographing weddings and families. Since then, we have expanded our range to include couples photography, and individual photography.
People often tell me they’re not photogenic and I love proving to them that they are. My job is to direct and coach our clients into looking their best. Putting them at ease while we work on the subtle movements of their facial muscles. It is these subtleties and attention to detail that can make a photo shoot go from something ordinary to something spectacular.
Q3)What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: A trip to Europe made all the difference in the world.
Q4) What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: 1)Don’t expect to be an overnight success
2)Go out there and network
3)Just because you can do everything, doesn’t mean you should
Q5) How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 10 hours
Q6)To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: A lot of blood sweat, tears, dedication, and determination. Sorry for the “cliché” answer, but it’s true.
Q7)How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans)Marketing for artists has gone through so many levels in the 10+ years I’ve been in business. It’s gone from Print and direct-mail marketing to social media. Social media is here to stay and is the best way to market to most photographer client base. Whether it’s paid or unpaid marketing, online and social-media is the best way to get your business out there.
Q8)Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: Again… A lot of blood sweat, tears, dedication, and determination… oh yeah and discipline. It becomes easier to fight the urge to spend your earnings when you become more focused on your future versus the present.
Q9)What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: On the personal side, Live right by others, honor and care for your parents. Afterall if it wasn’t for them you wouldn’t be here, right? One the business side, Be business savvy, have great management and delegation skills, and most of all, do right by your clients.
Q8)Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans:My business? Thriving
Myself? Enjoying life!!!
Q9)Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Hartbeat Productions – Kevin Hart’s (the comedian) company. Why him? He is the epidemy of working tirelessly to not just be a successful comedian but to be a success… Period.
Q10) How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Having people around you that you can trust is essential in the success of any business.
Q11) How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: When your market decides that it’s not what they want.
Q12) What motivates you?
Ans: The pursuit of being happy.
Q13) What are your ideals?
Ans: In such an imperfect world, there is no such thing as an “ideal”
Q14) How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: Glean from other creatives
Q15) How do you define success?
Ans: Feeling that you’ve made a difference or have positively impacted people’s lives
Q16) What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Being able to make my own schedule is liberating!
Q17) What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: When our client love and respect us enough to say that “we’re family”
Q18) What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: I think many people “thinks” about owning a business at some point in their lives, but it’s easier working for someone else. Less volatility.
Q19) In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Rewarding
Q20) If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: Study business more than my craft.
Q21) How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: As with most owners, it had a negative effect. You can’t be in 2 places at once so sacrifice and having a work/life balance has to be learned and implemented.
Q22: What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: 1.Running out of money
2.NOT running out of money
Q23) Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Hard work, sacrifice, team building skills, perseverance, and a little luck.
Q24) If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans: Jesus… for obvious reasons. But in a “little more recent history”, it would likely be the architectural team to built the roman empire or the Egyptian pyramids. The planned many years out with the end result in mind.
Q25) Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: My Mother, without a doubt. She saw the artist in me long before anyone else did. She didn’t know it would be photography that I would excel in but she enrolled me and virtually every art program you can think of during my developmental years.
Q26) What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Ans: Wow… too many to even quantify. I’m so perfectly flawed that it’s mind blowing.
Q27) How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: This is a trick question because mistakes are inevitable. The only thing that you can do is to minimize them. Damage control is done by understanding the customers complaint and offering a solution.
Q28) If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask?
Ans) Why do you want to be a photographer?
Company Name – The Washington DC Photographer
Website Url – https://www.thewashingtondcphotographer.com
