Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Going Into Business

I have totally lost my mind. I have been considering for many years starting my own Photography business. There was always something to hold me back.

*I didn't have a good enough camera - I do now.
*I didn't have great portraiture lenses - I do now.
*I didn't have room for a studio - I'm going to soon (I'm converting my sun room...talk about amazing natural light).
*I didn't have great editing software - now I do and I am getting better all the time at using it.
*I didn't have a clear vision - I have decided that for now I just want to shoot newborns.
*I didn't feel like I had a special edge to bring to the table - I finally recognized that my photography talents might not be cutting edge but they are really good, but what I do have is an unusual ability to connect with kids. That talent is huge I have come to realize.
*I just plain didn't have the confidence - I almost there...

So I am on my way. We are converting our sun room into a guest bedroom / photo studio. It is going to be awesome. Pier one has some really amazing chairs right now. I am dying for one, but can't make up my mind. A few beautiful throw pillows for the futon, a nice table and some wall art and I will be in business.

Of course I still have to buy lighting, and design a Blog and Website!

I have been collecting props for a few months now. I have some great stuff. I am so excited.

I have already begun developing ideas for packaging and my business model but what I really need to start things off is a NAME for my business and a LOGO. I would love to incorporate a beautiful modern silhouette of a stork with my logo. But I am totally stumped on my name. I want to incorporate my name (for familiarity and recognition). But then I want something clever and cool that fits with my plan for newborn photography. Maybe:

Jennifer's Miracles - super cheesy
Tiny Toes Photography - missing my name
Sweet Pea Photography -cute graphic potential
Special Deliveries Photography - kind of a mouth full
Tiny Treasures Photography - ????

I have a favorite Baby poem - My Grandmother loved it and shared it with me when I had my first baby. But I can't find a way to use it. Do you know this poem:

Babies Don't Keep

Mother, of Mother
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the ashing,
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the Mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery blissfully rocking.


Oh I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo)
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek-a-boo).


The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo,
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo)
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby
and babies don't keep.
-Author Unknown

I like the message that poem sends because the whole idea of Newborn photography is to capture those precious moments that are oh so fleeting.

So any ideas....
Please, please share!!!!

17 comments:

The Roberts Rollercoaster RIde said...

DO IT, DO IT, DO IT! I have always admired your skills. You'll love it.

And I like Sweet Pea Photography, as long as you're aiming for children/babies only.

My friend has a great business out here in dallas. Check out her website. She's very popular and great with angles. www.annbeckphotography.com

The Roberts Rollercoaster RIde said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
judy said...

I know a nine year old who desperately needs your vision if you want to expand. I like Tiny Treasures, but it also missing your name.

Elisabeth Havens said...

What about something like "Lullaby Loo: photography by Jennifer Wilcox"? I'm into subtitles though, I think they are nice because then you don't always have to use the whole name, but it's there for clarification. The L-L is nice too.

Sarah said...

Ooh--I love Elisabeth's idea. Your blog or website could have your name in it, then the design showcase the stork and the logo/name.

Good luck!

Sarah said...

Just be careful because 'loo' is a word the Brits use for 'bathroom.' Lullaby toilet doesn't make anyone think of photography. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful picture of my angel, I thought about it, I like sweet pea especially since you love that flower,and it smells really good, I had thought last night of Twinkle Toes, but this morning I liked "First Impressions". Maybe First Impressions by Jen.

You have amazing talent.
Love'
Mom

Sarah said...

I vote for Sweet Pea...it is so cute and fits you! Super exciting-you will be great!

Daniel T said...

One of my favorite mottos from any prophet: Just do it.

Elisabeth Havens said...

Oh and shoot me an email, howaboutdreams@hotmail.com - I just remembered I have a stork that I created just to keep in practice with graphic design that you might be able to use!

Rebecca Pierce said...

I like Sweet Pea too. A lot. It would be a transitional name if you decided to take children or other youngsters for clients. What about Babies Don't Keep Photography? It is a mouthful and does limit you to Babies only...

For fun: Jenny on the Block Photography. Lol.

I'm super excited for you!

Familia Bethers said...

Yeah! I'm so glad you're doing it! I just might have to fly the whole fam out for a photo shoot. It'd be totally worth it! Congrats Jen :)

RCurtis said...

I love the "lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo" part of the poem. What a fun thing to do! I hope your business is really successful! And, you do have a wonderful talent with connecting with children and making dreams (including your own) come true!

Sara said...

I am so happy for you in making the leap. You will not regret it for one minute. I was drawn to the Sweat Pea Photography. I guess I am partial to sweet pea because I call my little girls that. Good luck!!!

Cathy said...

Sweet peas are one of my favorite flowers, so I was drawn to that name! Reading your poem, I also thought about using 'lullaby loo' somehow, and I liked your friend Elizabeth's suggestions. However, Sarah has a good point. But after all, we're not in the UK are we? In my pre-mommy life I worked in advertising and we did a lot of branding, which included coming up with company names and logos. With that said, I just want to add that you need to make sure that photographing babies is what you want to do, because if you incorporate the stork into your logo, it will be hard to change and 're-brand' yourself as a photographer who does more than babies. A baby-specific name with a baby-specific logo will limit you, or at least limit how people see you. Good luck! I'm excited for you and I can't wait to see/hear more about it!

Nicole said...

Sweet Pea is my def fav!

Nicole said...

i dont see the need to incorporate your name- maybe thats just me- i really love sweat pea- it is cute it rhymes and has graphic options- another great graphic option would be pitter patter portrature. Not crazy on the last word- but the p in photo or photograps sounds like an f- so the alliteration doesnt work as well- but that would have GREAT graphic options.