Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Schueneman.
Hi Lisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
While some say motherhood can be career-ending, it’s what led me to follow my dreams of becoming a photographer and business owner. Being a mom has always been the “job” that matters most to me, so I quickly learned that I would have to adapt and take risks to be as involved as I wanted to be with my kids’ lives, while also pursuing my personal and professional passions at the same time.
I was fortunate to have time at home with my oldest two when they were born just 13 months apart in age. I left my job as a teacher to do so, but it was clear that I still needed to generate some income and have something for myself to be excited about outside of motherhood. I was inspired to capture their early years, and I took that time to learn and practice as often as I could. I always had a camera in hand, and it wasn’t long before I launched my photography business, which changed everything for me!
I COULD balance motherhood with my dream career. Life changes and a divorce put that to the test, but again I found that the flexibility of owning my own business allowed me to succeed on my own terms, even as a single mom. From 2010 until 2017, I ran a photography business in the Woodstock area, became a Click Pro through Clickin’ Moms and offered workshops to teach other moms locally, too. I focused on families and babies but always enjoyed working with corporate clients as well.
A few years later, I met my husband and we blended families and moved to Watkinsville, near Athens! I am close enough to drive to Atlanta, but with a larger family now and even busier schedule, I knew I’d have to find more work locally. I was starting all over again in a town where I didn’t know anyone, but when I learned that an amazing video production company in Athens, Chispa House, was hiring for a marketing role, I decided to go for it! Chispa House introduced me to Athens and helped me to feel like I belonged here. I gained more than I can share here during my two years with the Chispa House team.
While I was working there, we had a baby girl, Colbie, and everything seemed to be going well until we realized she wasn’t meeting milestones. My gut told me I needed to be even more available for her, so just weeks before the world shut down due to COVID-19, I made the decision to return to photography to have more flexibility. Of course, 2020 had other plans for us all!
During quarantine, I started creating videos for a Miami-based bubble company who would send their WOWmazing bubble products to me to film. I am so thankful to South Beach Bubbles for giving me work opportunities during a very difficult time. And it was work that was fun to create with my kids! I enjoyed the partnership so much that I wanted to make capturing visual content easier for other family-owned, smaller businesses and personal brands, too. I decided to pivot from family photography and made this happen by forming Oconee Creative Studio.
Life threw another curveball my way when our daughter, Colbie, was diagnosed with KAND (see Kif1a.org) in October of 2020. KAND is a progressive, rare neurological disease known to affect less than 400 people in the world. Our family was devastated when we received this news and Colbie’s care has become my main priority. We spend countless hours and days at doctors and therapy appointments and are often advocating for awareness and to raise funds for treatment. I try to use my video and photography skills to help share her story whenever I can, too. We will do whatever it takes to support our sweet girl.
Thankfully, working untraditional hours and making things happen despite crazy schedules wasn’t new to me, so I continued with launching OCS. I officially began my new venture in Spring of 2021, and it’s off to a great start! Through OCS, I have continued to offer photography and video services but have also evolved into managing social media accounts and providing additional marketing services, as well. I hope to continue this growth and partner with other creatives because it’s always more enjoyable with a team!
I am in my early 40’s and my path may not be traditional, but it’s what has allowed me to do what I love and be with whom I love even more. At the risk of sounding cliché, to anyone hesitant to put their dreams into action because of age, life challenges, etc., I say it’s never too late to go for it. And it’s okay to do it your way, even if that means client calls in the car while your daughter is in her PT session or editing after bedtime. It isn’t easy, but it’s possible.
I hesitated to share my story because I don’t often feel like I have a very interesting story to tell, but I do hope to one day inspire other women to believe in themselves too. Colbie and our older kids come first always, but it’s important to still pursue my other goals, and I’m so excited to continue to help other business owners reach theirs, too!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Oconee Creative Studio was formed to create professional content that helps support a brand’s desired messaging and online image. I know how important communication and timeliness is to all my clients, and I strive to keep things easy for them. I truly enjoy getting to know more about what they do!
Oconee Creative studio is based in Oconee County, but not limited to helping businesses in our area. My next step is to hopefully have a studio space in Watkinsville within the next year, but I enjoy having the ability to work remotely, too.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Professionally, it depends on their needs! I offer complimentary “creation calls” to discuss how we could best work together. Most of my business comes from referrals and support through social media. I appreciate it all so much! I also love hearing from other creatives and have a growing list of freelancers that I am excited to partner with.
Personally, what I want most in the world is a KIF1A cure. Sharing about KAND through kif1a.org and/or donating to fund research means a chance at stopping the progression that lies ahead for my daughter and others with KIF1A.
Contact Info:
- Email: Lisa@OconeeCreative.com
- Website: www.OconeeCreative.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/OconeeCreativeStudio
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/OconeeCreative
