Small Business Blog Series - Marina Walker Photography.
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This new year I’m excited to bring you a short showcase of some fabuolous businesses. Through Isabella and Us. I am lucky enough to collaborate with, showcase and share amazing small independent businesses, which is just amazing and shopping small is something I am incredibly passionate about.
So over the next few weeks I’ll be bringing you a short showcase of some fabuolous independent businesses!
Today is Marina Walker from Marina Walker Photography.
Tell me a little bit about your business...:
I am a creative documentary wedding and lifestyle photographer based near Preston. Although I sometimes do events and commercial sessions as well. I love capturing real emotions and helping people connect with an experience or relive a precious moment, and you can just see all the emotion just coming back. Those photo's to me are just so special because you can see who that person really is. I prefer that over pasted on smiles any day.
Tell us more about yourself - What did you do before your business, your interests/hobbies and any fun facts:
I used to work in a dairy and cheese packing factory in South Africa. I eventually worked as a quality supervisor before the business closed. I met my husband there, we married and I came back to England with him. The rest is history!
I love all things creative and crafty and have had a go at just about everything you can think of. I love taking photos, not just for work but for me to. Fun facts, I can speak two languages and I seem to often walk into men's loo's or shower blocks when I go somewhere new, my husband finds this hilarious!
What inspired you to start your business?
So moving to England I couldn't work at first, I took the time studying photography. After a while I found myself pregnant with our eldest and made a decision to have a go at building my photography business. It's now 4 years later and although I have had ups and downs I'm still going on.
How do you keep a good work/life balance with running your own business?
I have never been overloaded with work, my business has grown slowly over the past four years and honestly that is exactly what I have needed it to be doing. I have consciously taken months off to take care of babies and adjust each time we had a new one. So family has always been first. Then when I need time to work I have a great family network to support me with childcare and I almost always deliver photo's quite fast that way.
What top 3 tips would you give to someone starting their own business?
Be true to your vision and what You want to do. I have spent to much time meandering about on my journey, I wish I knew then what I know now.
2. Find people who support your vision and who you trust. Sometimes we need to talk something through with someone to figure things out. People who you can take encouragement and constructive criticism from.
3. Be kind. To yourself as well as others. Even if people are downright nasty, you don't have to be. The way you carry yourself reflects on your business.
What is one thing you wished you had known before you started your own business?
That there would be many closed doors and ignored emails, but my success doesn't depend on those people or opportunities. Keep working, keep trying and don't be discouraged.
You can see more of Marina over at:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
I hope you enjoyed reading the small business showcase from Marina Walker Photography.
Emma x
If you’d like to take part in the Small Business Showcase please head to the website here.
