Launching my business

Our photography business began in a small, basement apartment in Austin, TX, in September of 2006.  My husband and I had married that June in our home state of Pennsylvania, then returned to Austin to begin shooting stock photography for Veer Images.

Back then we often jokingly referred to our workdays as "playing work." We had just signed promissory notes for approximately $100,000 worth of business loans. Perhaps we were young enough, or just dumb enough, to be able to look at the amount, shrug, and say, "Well...here goes!" The enormity of this amount of money couldn't possibly be fully realized. For us, the loans meant being able to pursue something we believed in: employing photography to create the personal lives we desired, and to work together, from home.  We were our own bosses, and the world was our oyster.

For months, we literally "played work." We set up photo shoots, hired and paid the models, bought wardrobe, produced the shoots, edited the images - all out of our own pockets. Until our royalty checks started showing up, it felt like our "work" was just a game. We opened the door to our pretend office in the morning, typed some things on our pretend keyboards, picked up our pretend telephones and talked to make-believe clients. At least, that's how it felt.

Were we crazy? What were we thinking getting into this business? And would we make it out in one piece?

Fortunately for us, we were able to navigate out of a floundering stock industry, relocate back to our hometown of Mercersburg, PA, and expand our business to include commercial, editorial, and wedding photography. Thus far, the move has been a boon for our business. We were able to bring a collection of professional imagery to an area with few commercial photographers to speak of.  In addition, we have been able to fulfill one of our biggest personal goals: to spend more time with family.

“Playing work” has taken on a new meaning for us; it has become a term of endearment, for our “work” is in many aspects “play.” We have been rewarded for the risks we've taken, and though we are still working to gain more financial independence, our lives are quite complete. We've carved for ourselves the foundation of good, creative, whole lives before hitting 30!

Of course, imbued in this story is the idea of fun. We believe in fun, and we believe in it being the core of our work life. This is the essence of “playing work,” and our relationship as husband and wife business partners thrives because of it.

Advice for others

Remember the essence of why you began this venture in the first place.  Was it so that you could work from home?  Be your own boss?  Set your own hours?  Good rewards come from taking risks and having fun with the outcome, no matter what comes your way!