This year was a year to remember!
I am elated with the incredibly growth of my small business, and am humbly proud of my personal growth as an artist and business owner!
This year I focused on building a stronger foundation for J.Klein Photos. I joined the Professional Photographers of America, hired Jonathon Paasch, an excellent lawyer who specialized in equine law, an amazing massage therapist, Rochelle Walker who regularly puts my overworked body back together, as well as completing a branding photoshoot with infamous Giana Terranova Photography and video with Bending the Branches Storytelling.
I upgraded my photography gear, adding back up camera bodies and additional lenses to my bag, and replacing older lenses with the latest technology. I listened to oodles of business podcasts during the 19,500+ miles traveling back and forth to 250+ photoshoots. Some of my favorite Spotify podcasts being Success Behind the Lens, The Goal Digger Podcast, and The Wise Photographer Podcast.
I not only invested in mentorships with leading equine photographers in the nation to grow myself, but I began offering mentorships of my own. J.Klein Photos Mentorships are geared toward photographers of all skill levels, customizing sessions to their individual needs, whether it was camera gear and settings, to editing techniques, or business strategies, pricing, and marketing. It was fulfilling to pass along the knowledge I have gained from over a decade of self taught photography and business skills.
One of the most drastic changes to the business was narrowing down what services I offer as a photographer, specializing strictly in equine and canine photography. This means, no more weddings, engagements, or family sessions. With the incredible support from the equestrian world, 90% of my business being supported by equine based shoots, it as easy decision to spend more time where I am happiest - photographing the horses and dogs!
I struggled with saying “Fully Booked” and sticking to my guns. I know so many of my clients personally, that I wanted to please them by making room in my calendar to suit their requests or needs, sacrificing my own personal time, and causing an absurd amount of anxiety and a heavy dose of imposter syndrome.
Mid summer, I had plans to add a team member to the business to assist with editing, marketing, and social media management. Unfortunately, due to unexpected health concerns, that opportunity fell through. It’s made it obvious that with the growth rate of the business, I am not going to be able to continue rowing this boat without a second person in 2022!
2022 is going to look a bit different…
My schedule is going to be structured with set afternoon/evenings of photographing, set days of office work, and scheduled days off for self care. This structure is going to ensure better business organization, quality time one-on-one with clients, and being attentive and artistic when I’m behind the camera. It will however limit my availability, especially for travel out of Michigan, so please plan ahead!
A second team member will be added for the busy season (May-October), to allow more time for me to be out photographing, as well as customizing and hand delivering the highly sought after Fine Art for your homes!
The NEW Luxury Equine Portrait package will be available for clients who are looking for a more artistic collection of black/white background images of their horse(s). The Luxury Equine Portrait package will include TWICE as many edited images with a much larger variety of poses, detail shots, and opportunities for tack changes!
I would LOVE to focus more of my time spent photographing horses in motion in Horse & Rider Sessions, whether this is captured through horses’s at liberty or bareback and under saddle riding.
These movement images compliment the Equine Portraits and the beloved connection shots, allowing clients to enjoy a well rounded collection of images in albums and as Fine Art in their homes.
I also want to spend more time photographing dogs! I KNOW many of my horse clients also have dogs. Yes, that means YOU! I want to dedicate more of my time photographing their personality and relationship with your families as well! They sleep in our beds, they play with the kids, and they follow behind us as smiling shadows. They also deserve to be photographed professionally. (Photography, For the Dogs)
2022 personal photography goals….
Photographing professional reining and cutting horses, barrel racers, upper level dressage, and jumpers in action. To capture the adrenaline, precision, and power in a single image.
I would also LOVE to find (private) beach access to photograph horses along the Lake Michigan. Dreamy photographs of girls and their horses with the sun setting into the lake.
I need more puppies in my life, photographing full litters! Eventually, with enough breed variety, I would love to create a puppy series either for art work or publication purposes.
I also want to capture the value and importance of working dogs, hunting, retrieving, and if I can find the connections, police or protection dogs!
And as always, snag every opportunity to learn from the best photographers around the world to better myself as an artist.
2022 is going to be an exciting year! With the past two of three years in business, consistently growing 40% overall, I am expecting 2022 to be just as busy, with more traveling, more demand for photoshoots and mentorships, and more stunning fine art adorning clients homes!
Follow along on social media, and make sure you book your photoshoot ASAP to reserve your 2022 date!
