Today we’d like to introduce you to Mindy Clark.
Hi Mindy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a graduate of The Ohio State University with a major in Fashion Merchandising. I have always had a passion for the fashion business and was a buyer for The Limited for 15 years. Ever since the birth of my daughters, Avery and Morgan, I have been obsessed with taking pictures of them and capturing their special moments. I left my fashion career 14 years ago to open Relish the Moment Photography, with a focus on High School Seniors, family, and business portraits. I have studied photography and attended numerous workshops to hone my craft. I started with as few as 5 high school seniors my first season and have photographed as many as 90 per season as the years progressed and my business grew. My business is all word of mouth, and I have been fortunate to get to know a lot of families in the Upper Arlington, Dublin, Hilliard, and Powell area.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle for me was how to start, and how to get our name out there in the market. Learning how to create my LLC and start the business, buying the right equipment and knowing how to use it properly, photography software, filing taxes, website and gallery creation, and studio rental. Once I got the studio up and running I started marketing through Senior Ambassador programs, where I would photograph students free of charge to get my name out there and market on social media. The biggest reason I did succeed was because I had a friend who had already had a photography business in Atlanta, and she mentored me through the whole process. Photographers are the best source for each other, and thats how we learn and grow!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Relish the Moment Photography is an experience. I want the client to feel special, beautiful, and comfortable every step of the way! I do everything in this business from invoicing, editing , photographing, taxes, website creation, social media, etc…because I want the client to only have to work with me for a better client experience. I get to know each client well, and walk them through the process. It starts with at booking getting an email with a planning guide and date of service. Then we schedule a meeting to discuss outfit and location of the photoshoot. I offer fashion guidance to every client on what will photograph well, what won’t, and give suggestions on what they may want to shop for to complete the look. This is where my love of fashion kicks in! I will then meet with the client for the photoshoot, and I instruct them how to pose, and guide them the entire time. The client should never have to know what to do in the shoot, thats what I am there for. I will pick the prettiest backgrounds and lighting for the best coloring. My images will always be colorful and natural looking, never over done or over retouched. I will then meet with the client a third time to review the images and show them the products we can make with them. I am OBSESSED with getting the ladies hair perfect for every shot, so I am constantly touching up my clients hair throughout the photoshoot. My images will always be flattering to the client based on how I pose them, and hair is always picture perfect! My clients turn into family to me, I love to see them over the years as they come back to me.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I was very lucky that my mentor happened to be one of my best friends. She gave me the confidence to start my business. I would suggest talking to as many photographers as you can, joining facebook groups, attend photography workshops to network. I gained a lot of knowledge in workshops that are held by other photographer’s, and they want other photographers to succeed.
Pricing:
- Sessions range from $299-$499
- Digitals and Prints start at $99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.relishthemomentphotography.com
- Instagram: relishthemomentphotography
- Facebook: relishthemoment
