Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Saindon.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carrie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When my kids were born, I knew I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. As a stay-at-home mom though I knew I needed connections. I started joining mom’s group and met a friend who was a photographer. She ended up starting a photography mom’s group and invited me to join. Our group would meet up and set up cute, fun photography setups for our kids. It was such a great opportunity to learn while we were enjoying play dates and community. I quickly got hooked. I began looking up and learning everything I could about photography. I had found a new favorite hobby. After a few years, I was blessed to be able to start doing photography as my business.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Owning my own business definitely comes with challenges. One of the things I struggle with most is finding balance. It’s hard to balance family life, maintaining a home, all of our activities and putting 100% into my business. I find there are times when I put too much time into my business and times where I don’t put enough. It’s definitely something I have to work on constantly.
Another thing I struggle within the photography side of things specifically is learning the marketing side of things. I have enjoyed the creative side of photography – taking pictures, editing, interacting with families. Marketing definitely stretches me past my comfort levels at times. I feel like I still have a lot to learn in this area of my business.
I am very blessed though. It’s been a fun, challenging journey. I hope to continue to grow through it all.
If I could give any advice to women starting their own business, it would be to keep going even when it all feels unbalanced. Find friends along the way to encourage you and keep learning and growing always.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Carrie Saindon Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a photographer who specializes in creating customized sessions that capture the special moments of my client’s lives. Together, we capture all of their milestones from pregnancy, newborns, birthdays, senior pictures, family pictures, and everyday life.
I want my clients to get the pictures they want. Before every session, we talk about location choices, times, and any props or things that we can add to make their session special and unique for them.
One of the things I love is finding the perfect setting for every session. I work with my clients to pick the perfect location for them whether it’s in the Texas Bluebonnets, Spring wildflowers, or even finding the perfect rustic or urban typesetting for their yearly Christmas cards.
I love the creative opportunities each of my sessions provides. One of my favorites though is newborns. I work with my clients to plan the perfect props, colors, and setups for their sessions. I travel to their homes so they and their newborn can enjoy the session in the relaxation of their own home. I love being able to capture the innocence and love a new baby brings to a family!
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
One of the things I feel holds us back in our jobs and even in life sometimes is the lack of community. Owning your own business can be a lonely pursuit at times. I have been lucky to find some wonderful groups of photographers and business owners that are supportive and encouraging of each other. Unfortunately, I have also seen groups that value competition over community and tear each other down. If I could offer advice to anyone, I would say surround yourself with the people that build you up. It’s amazing what a little encouragement can do in someone’s life.
Pricing:
- Newborn Photography: $275
- Full Sessions: $175 (Includes 20-25 images)
- Mini Sessions: $100 (Includes 10 images)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carriesaindon.blogspot.com
- Email: carriesaindonphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriesaindon/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarrieSaindonPhotography
Image Credit:
Carrie Saindon Photography
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