Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Tannenbaum
Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my business in the fall of 2018, almost on a whim.
Earlier in the year I quit my job. I was working as an attorney at a small law office and realized I wasn’t well suited for that life. Though I enjoyed law school and did well academically, the practice itself wasn’t for me. Working in an office all day, being away from my dog all day, and having people’s lives in my hands started to weigh heavily on me and for the first time, I started experiencing anxiety. It all led to depression which led to me quitting with no backup plan in place.
Luckily, someone I knew was starting a business and wanted promotional photos taken. She encouraged me to take them for her because she knew I loved taking photos and trusted my abilities. Then she wanted to team up for a project where I would host a mini photo session. To do that, I needed to create a business. Within a few weeks, I had my business up and running.
I do not recommend starting a photography business this way. It makes for a bumpy first year. But, I found a mentor early on and improved my skills and business acumen fairly quickly. I was also lucky enough to have people in my life who supported my decision to go from lawyer to creative entrepreneur.
This life and business suit me so much better. I love working from home with my pets nearby and being able to step outside and soak up the sunshine anytime I need to feel the sun on my skin. Photographing families during precious moments of their lives, creating tangible memories for them, and incorporating places that are special to them in their photos is truly something I love doing. It’s brought so many opportunities and joy to my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the biggest struggles I’ve faced are ones that I think many creative entrepreneurs deal with on a regular basis. Whether we’re just starting or have been in the industry for 15 years, I think many of us struggle with social media’s effect on our mental wellness and being prepared for the ebbs and flow of different seasons.
I’m sure you’ve heard the quote “Comparison is the thief of joy” by Theodore Roosevelt. Well, social media makes it hard not to compare ourselves with others we see online. Creatives often fall into the trap of seeing other people’s work online and thinking “I’m not as good”, or “I’ll never create something this beautiful”, or “I wish I could do something like that.” It’s easy to forget that we don’t know everyone’s backstory, their struggles, or the steps they took to achieve what we’re seeing. We see curated feeds, not the mistakes. I still struggle with this. When I start having these thoughts after scrolling social media too often, I remind myself that not everyone follows hundreds of photographers and doesn’t see what I’m seeing daily. I will mute accounts that no longer inspire me but instead make me doubt myself. I’ll also take breaks from showing up on social media altogether and instead focus my energy elsewhere like my website and email newsletter.
Most photographers will struggle with periods of ups and downs. And I’m no different. In the beginning when inquiries are low and they see other photographers talking about a “busy season” they’re not experiencing, it can be hard. I remember that time period. But then one year you experience your first “busy season” and by the end, you’re burnt out because you weren’t prepared. So you put systems into place and learn how to balance the work and your personal life during those months. But a busy season means there’s a slow season. And that period of rest, where you have fewer photo sessions because people are recovering from the holidays or because the weather is 25 degrees or maybe it’s summer and 110 degrees, can be just as difficult to manage as the busy season. As much as I enjoy having downtime for sitting on the couch watching my favorite TV shows, it’s a weird feeling to not be handling a normal workload. It can also be scary because you rely on sessions to pay your bills, so it’s important to plan for the slow seasons as much as it’s important to prepare for the busy season.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a lifestyle photographer specializing in maternity, newborn, and family photography. Lifestyle photography blends posed and documentary imagery to create authentic family photos. I strive to capture a family’s personality and natural interactions while they have fun together. Whether it’s at a park or inside their home, I help families feel comfortable in front of the camera so they can be themselves.
My style of photos has a warm, nostalgic feel that makes the viewer look like they were there with the family in the moment. When families look back at their photos I hope they remember the memories they made and relive the emotions they felt while playing with their kids or holding their baby for the first time.
I’m inspired by the types of family photos I have from my own childhood. We weren’t making sure everything and everyone was perfect before we snapped the photo. We were kids being kids – running around, getting dirty, having messy hair and messy faces, and laughing wildly. I want families to let go of the idea of perfection when it comes to family photos. Being who they are with their kids is already perfect and deserves to be photographed.
Although I take a couple of posed photos where everyone is looking at the camera, the majority of my images showcase families looking at each other. They are doing an activity or sitting quietly as they enjoy a peaceful moment together. Most of my sessions take place outdoors as I love incorporating sunlight and the great outdoors, but I have a special place in my heart for those in-home sessions that capture everyday moments.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Entering my 8th year of business, I’ve learned a lot of things from how to run my business to refining my skills, but there are a few things I wish I had done better or earlier on in my journey. I’ll share my top 2 lessons learned.
First, I wish I had put myself out there more. As an introvert, asking strangers to trust me with their precious moments and memories can be nerve-wracking, especially when I was starting out and doubting my skills. But the only way to improve is by constantly practicing. If I had been a little braver in the beginning, I think I would have grown in my skills more quickly. If I had risked “failing” a bit more in the beginning I believe I would reached “success” earlier on. So I encourage anyone else starting on this journey to step out of their comfort zone and advertise your work, and your business, and don’t be afraid to ask people to get in front of your camera.
Second, do more of what makes you happy. I spent too long taking photos that I thought people wanted, that were safe, that would get me hired, and not enough of the photos that I wanted to take. I spent a good many years in the beginning only taking a few photos per session that fueled my creativity and were the type of images I loved because I was afraid my clients wouldn’t love them as much as I did. But over time, I took enough of those images that I could showcase that type of imagery and that type of imagery alone. Now, I know when someone hires me it’s because they love the types of photos that I love because that’s all I share.
Pricing:
- Session pricing begins at $600 + tax.
- Clients can bundle sessions and receive a discount.
- Clients receive all edited digital images (approx 70+ images) in an online gallery
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohtannenbaumphotos.com
- Instagram: @ohtannenbaumphotos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohtannenbaumphotography
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/ohtannenbaumphotos
