Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica & Chris Griggs.
Hi Jessica & Chris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always been interested in photography, but it wasn’t until I took a photography class in college that I really fell in love with it. After I graduated, I decided to turn my passion into a business and started offering my services as a freelance photographer.
To get my business off the ground, I focused on building a strong portfolio by taking on any photography work I could find, whether it was shooting weddings, portraits, or events. I also spent a lot of time networking and marketing myself, reaching out to potential clients and sharing my work on social media and other online platforms.
As my business grew, I began to specialize in certain areas of photography, and in the last 6-7 years, those niches quickly became Headshot, Product & Real Estate Photography. I also continued to invest in more equipment and took additional training to improve my skills and stay up-to-date on industry trends.
In 2020, my now husband, Chris, joined me in LaRuche photo, and revenue doubled that year, surprisingly. Looking forward to an amazing 2023.
Today, our business is thriving and we are grateful to be able to do what we love every day. We have had the opportunity to work with some amazing clients and have even been recognized with awards for our work.
Overall, starting a photography business required a lot of hard work, dedication, and persistence, but it has been extremely rewarding and we continue to be grateful for the journey so far.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting and running a photography business, like any small business, can come with its share of challenges and struggles.
One common challenge is finding and retaining clients. As a photographer, you are competing with many other photographers, both amateur and professional, for business. This can make it difficult to stand out and find enough work to sustain your business.
Another challenge is pricing your services. It can be difficult to know how much to charge for your services, especially when you are just starting out. You want to be competitive, but you also want to make sure you are being fairly compensated for your time and expertise.
Other common challenges for photographers include staying up-to-date with industry trends and technology, managing finances and taxes, and balancing the demands of running a business with the creative aspects of photography.
Overall, starting and running a photography business can be a rewarding but also a challenging journey. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and persistence, but with the right mindset and approach, it is possible to overcome the challenges and build a successful business, which we have done successfully.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a headshot photographer, for example, Jess is known for her ability to capture candid, natural moments and for an attention to detail. Her clients also recognize how she can tell when they are giving a genuine smile or not. She is easily able to get a real smile out of her clients, and it might just be her empathic ability.
As a real estate photographer, Chris has many skillsets that set him apart for our clients. He has great attention to detail. He can offer a variety of products, such as 3D tours, floor plans, drone photos, videos, and more. He is also great at his angle and lighting, removing objects that don’t belong, etc. The editing process, by far, is the most important part of the process, and we have created a process that makes it flawless.
We are most proud of the relationships we have built with our clients and the trust they place in us to capture special moments in their lives. We take great care to understand our client’s needs and preferences and strive to create a personalized, enjoyable experience for them.
One thing that sets us apart from others is our dedication to continuous learning and improvement. We are always seeking out new training and resources to enhance our skills and stay up-to-date on industry trends. We also make it a priority to use professional-grade equipment and editing software to ensure that our clients receive the highest-quality images.
In addition to our technical skills, we believe that our ability to connect with our clients and create a warm, relaxed atmosphere is a key factor in our success as photographers. We are passionate about capturing authentic, meaningful moments and strive to create a positive, memorable experience for our clients.
One last thing that we feel sets us apart is our consistency. Consistency is key in the real estate industry. Delivering a product that adds value for our client is just as important as amazing customer service.
What makes you happy?
We think maybe dialing in on being a married couple might be the best way to answer this question. Here are some reasons why being married and running a business has made us successful but also happy:
Shared passion: Being able to work together on something you are both passionate about can be incredibly fulfilling and bring you closer as a couple.
Creativity: Photography allows you to be creative and express yourself in a unique way. Being able to pursue this creative outlet together can be a source of joy and fulfillment.
Flexibility: Running your own business can offer a level of flexibility that may not be possible in other careers. This can allow you to balance your work and personal lives in a way that works for you as a couple. This is especially important as we are a blended family with 3 children. And sometimes schedules can get quite tricky. So it’s really nice to be able to have the flexibility in our business that allows us to have time with our kids also.
Personal connections: Photography allows you to connect with people and capture special moments in their lives. Being able to work together to provide this service to others can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Financial stability: Running a successful photography business can provide financial stability and the opportunity to pursue your goals as a couple.
Overall, there are many things that can make running a photography business as a married couple a happy and fulfilling experience. By working together to build a successful business, you can pursue your shared passions, be creative, enjoy flexibility, make personal connections, and achieve financial stability.
We are looking forward to 2023 and the next several years as we continue to scale and grow our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laruchephoto.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/laruchephoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/laruchephoto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeFMf0cdXBmkhTEF1fGL7fw
Image Credits
All photographed by LaRuche Photo, LLC
