Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Danny Hicks, owner of Danny Hicks Photography, located in Brookland, AR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a photographer, and the majority of my clients are models, family photos, senior/school photos, and some engagements/weddings.
Tell us about yourself
I first started photography when my mother gave me a film camera before a family vacation to Disney World in 1987. My mom loved taking photos, and we have very few of her due to her being behind the camera, and to me, this is a way to be closer to her since we lost her to cancer back in 2006. Since switching from photography as a hobby to a profession in 2014, my biggest motivation has been to grow my brand and to try new things.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
For me, my biggest accomplishment has been getting published, but the best was winning first place in a local competition. One of the judges was a photography teacher at our local college, and the photo that won was of a model with a masquerade mask on. The judge said that it was the way I captured the model's eyes through the mask in the photo. I'd taken the photo to where her eyes stood out. As someone that hadn't gone to college or taken any photography courses, this made it more special and made me aware that I had a gift.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
For me, it's a variation of things. I have friends and family that say that they support me and my business but yet don't ask me to work on their events or projects. Models have told me about bad experiences with other "photographers" that turned out to be fake or only wanting to take advantage of them, which puts me and others in my industry in a bad or negative light. To me, no one builds anyone up anymore, yes we are all trying to get that client or project, but everyone's trying to undercut or lowball their price to get it when everyone keeps ignoring that everyone has a camera phone and it's just a matter of time before a photographer will become extinct. There needs to be more building up and working together than knives being shoved in people's backs.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. You're only going to succeed if you try, and there are too many people that would rather see you fail than succeed.
- It's too good to be true. I know this is an old saying, but it's truer today than ever. As a photographer, I've dealt with just about every kind of scam that you can think of. Research is so key to any project.
- Work at your own pace. This is another tried and true statement as when I started. I started off doing photography as a hobby with landscapes and trips. After I started doing models and portrait photography on a semiprofessional basis, I had people coming out of the woodwork saying I needed to do this or do that, and I needed this camera because it was better than what I had or needed this gear because it was better than that. Don't listen to those voices. Trust yourself and go at your pace. Work with what you have and not with what you don't. For example, I'm still using the same digital camera that my wife gave me back in 2010. Yes, one day, I'll have to upgrade to a newer model, but for now, I'm happy with the gear I have, and I'm not spending hundreds or thousands of dollars that I don't have extra due to the economy.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.dhpma.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dhphotoma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhp_ma/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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