Today we’d like to introduce you to Esther Ayers.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve been taking photos my whole life. No, really! I have a picture I took of one of my favorite dolls when I was little framed on my desk. True story. 🙂 Growing up, I was the friend, sister, classmate, whoever, that was always taking photos. However, it wasn’t until I lost someone very close to me that my love of photography took on a whole new meaning. Unfortunately, this person passed away very suddenly and it wasn’t until after that when I discovered I didn’t have a single photo of us together. I was heartbroken. Now, it’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t always have a camera on our phone ready whenever we need it. But despite being friends for a year and spending a whole Summer together, I had zero photos of just the two of us. Photographs and their value immediately took on a whole new meaning and level of importance with me. These pieces of paper are invaluable. They are precious. They are fleeting. They are a part of us and represent a moment in time that will likely never happen again. They are our stories. Creating and freezing these beautiful and fleeting moments became my purpose and passion. I specialize in newborns and family milestones and love being a part of these once-in-a-lifetime family experiences. Every client is special and has their own story to tell and I’m here to help tell and capture that story.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting, owning and running your own business definitely has a lot of challenges and struggles along the way. At the end of the day, you just have to ask yourself, is this worth it? And to me, the answer is always yes. The main challenge I find is that I wear so many hats, no matter what stage of my business. There are days, where I find myself filling several different roles or positions. I handle the social media, sales, customer service, creative department, accounting, administrative, editing and research, just to name a few! Other struggles include lots of trial and error when I was just getting started, but I just look at them as learning experiences and growing pains! Every company will have them, you just have to embrace them, learn from them and move on.
Esther Ayers Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My photography business focuses on newborn and family sessions, though my heart also extends to travel, event, and pet photography. My work has been described as breathtaking, natural, beautiful, fun, and exquisite. What I’m most proud of is not only the final product I deliver to my clients but all of the fun we have in the process! I love connecting with my clients. I want them to think of me as a new friend because that’s how I think of them! And through this connection, we are able to create lasting memories and images to last a lifetime. The connection I make with my clients is one thing that I feel sets me apart from other photographers. I’m easy-going, like to have fun, am a little silly and am also all heart, I like to infuse all of those things into each one of my sessions all while providing an exceptional client experience.
What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
There are days when I think about timing, whether I run into a friend or miss a traffic light. All of the things and little moments that have to come together to make that exact moment happen, it’s wild! Is that luck? Or coincidence? Or some predetermined fate? I’m not sure. When it comes to life, whether it’s business, relationships, or anything else, I believe in hard work. Is there some form of luck or coincidence, or fate along the way, probably. But, I don’t think that luck is 100% responsible for anyone’s success. Just like the quote, “luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity”, I think as long as you prepare and work hard, the right situations will present itself to you at the right time. As for bad luck? Bad luck is just a matter of perspective. Just like struggles, you can look to learn from them or look at them as obstacles. At the end of the day, I work hard and pour my heart into everything I do and I know if I do that, success will follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.estherayers.com
- Email: info@estherayers.com
Image Credit:
Headshot Image Credit: Jenna Alexander
Image Credit: Esther Ayers Photography
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