Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Parker.
Hi Nina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The journey to ‘photographer’ began as a hobby: my sister was expecting her first child and I wanted ‘good’ photos of the baby. The years that followed were filled with taking pictures of babies, growing children, and our family, while honing my skills. Eventually, I began taking portraits for other families, and added wedding photography on weekends. After several unfulfilling office jobs, I took the leap and began my small business in 2010. Quickly, I saw that being a photographer and running a business were two different things, but going back to a 9-5 desk job did not appeal so I persevered. Doing wedding photography initially was a great training ground, as it often encompasses challenges like timelines, managing people, dealing with gear and lighting issues, and creative problem solving. Within a few years I realized that weddings would be a limited season for me, and I began thinking about other genres of photography. As I scaled down the wedding side of the business I worked on growing headshots and dog portraits. While those are very different in practice, they share a similar trait of being valuable to those who need them. Business people NEED polished headshots that make a favorable impression and foster trust and connection. Dog owners NEED portraits of their beloved companions that capture their personality and will serve as priceless heirlooms once the pet is gone. Both types of photography have great value to people who need them, and it’s important to me to offer a high level of sensitive and service to guide clients through the process, and offer a fantastic service and end result.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The early years were challenging because I was still working on technical skills such as lighting, framing, exposure, and softwares like Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as marketing and administrative skills for the business. The varied requirements of managing workflow, client relations, accounting, and cultivating leads demanded far more time and focus and resources than I’d initially expected. Making decisions about which resources or instruction to utilize also became a pain point, because there were and are many services and products being advertised as solutions, and not all are effective or worth the time and investment. It was discouraging to realize that there were companies actively and intentionally pushing a tool or program or coaching service that would enrich them without truly creating value for the small business owner desperate for help. Becoming an entrepreneur seemed more than I’d bargained for many times, yet it also was gradually growing me as a person and offering flexibility and opportunities I would not have had while still on the path of corporate jobs.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professional business headshots and dog portraits are the images I create the most.
Everyone needs a headshot, whether it’s for a company website, LinkedIn, an email signature, social media, presentations, advertising, online dating, side hustles, consulting, speaking engagements, or simply to capture their appearance and personality at their current stage of life. We are living in a digitized world, and a current headshot is an essential tool for a wide variety of tasks.
Underscoring the value of a good headshot has been the feedback I’ve heard about bad headshots. When a client books a session to replace a current headshot they don’t like, it’s common to hear about how negatively it has impacted them to see the unflattering or despised headshot again and again. Having a business portrait that conveys confidence, charisma, and professionalism can make a huge difference for people whether they are striving to move up in their current role or embarking on a new career.
Dog owners often tell me that they’ve tried again and again to get good pictures of their pet, and haven’t been successful. Lighting, timing, and an understanding of pet behavior are vital to creating a safe and calming environment to get the best out of a pet in front of the camera. Photographing dogs in a studio setting is less common than photographing them outdoors, and it offers benefits for dogs and owners as well as a unique and classic look in portraits. While many people could use a smartphone, or a DSLR camera, to take pictures of dogs outdoors and get reasonably good results, it is essential to be well-versed in flash gear, angles, and light color and quality in order to create studio portraits of dogs. Many dogs do much better in the private and controlled setting of a studio where they are not exposed to distractions, other dogs or people, the stresses of movement and weather that can be present in an outdoor setting.
It’s been a particularly gratifying endeavor to do portrait sessions for clients with an ill or elderly dog who is nearing the end of life. These can be bittersweet, intense, unpredictable and delicate situations. But getting those intimate and tender shots is extremely meaningful and rewarding, knowing the portraits will live on after the pet is gone, and that the client will treasure those images for years to come.
What were you like growing up?
Looking back I can recognize that I was a visual and expressive person from an early age. Some of the qualities that have stood me in good stead as a professional photographer were already evident during my childhood. My personality was bubbly, sensitive, verbal, and I was highly relational and drawn to animals. Although my parents were not fans of indoor pets, I seemed to be a magnet for stray kittens and puppies. One of my earliest jobs was at a pet store, so naturally an assortment of critters made its way home with me over that time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.NinaParkerStudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninaparkerphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nina.Parker.Photography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninaparker/
- Other: https://www.NinaParkerPets.com
Image Credits
All photos taken by Nina Parker Photography
