Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography and filmmaking but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sandra Leung, Owner of Yaletown Photography + Film, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a photographer and filmmaker. For the past 22 years, I've been creating visually impactful images and films that reflect my client's uniqueness and celebrate their authentic human stories.

Tell us about yourself

I've had an aging mother pass away too soon, and I know the importance of capturing the essence of the people who mean the most to us during unique seasons in our lives. This is why I'm passionate about crafting art-quality images and films that perfectly tell my client's stories for them to treasure for generations to come.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel extremely grateful I get to wake up doing what I love each day and that I've established the trust with my clients that allow me to capture such important milestones in their lives. As a veteran small business owner with a marketing background and business degree, it's also been extremely rewarding growing a strong client base and helping companies share their stories through photography and films to help set them apart.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

When you wear so many hats as a business owner, sometimes it's difficult to find the time for creative projects. But it's crucial for creative people to continue to hone their craft and allow their creativity to evolve, so it's something that I strive to keep at the forefront of what I do.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Everyone is in business for different reasons. Just because someone is charging a certain amount for their work doesn't mean you need to do the same. Understanding your costs of doing business is crucial so you know what you need to charge to make your business sustainable for you.
  2. Believe in yourself and the value you bring. If you want to find clients that value your work, you need to start with yourself first, and the rest will follow.
  3. In order to grow your business, you need to come to the reality that you can't do it all. Contracting out areas that aren't your strengths and spending time on areas in which you thrive is a smart way to work smarter and not harder. When I started my business, I knew that bookkeeping and accounting were not my strengths, so I made sure to contract that out to someone else so that I could spend more time meeting new clients and working on creative shoots.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.yaletownphotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaletownphotoandfilm/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-leung-b68a7834/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user83723900

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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