Sarah Tell us about your business:
We believe everyone is beautiful and everyone deserves to see themselves that way.
photobin photography is a boutique natural light portrait studio in Vancouver, BC. We specialize in authentic portraits for personal, professional and social use. We’ve got all the details covered for you during your shoot to help put your camera-shy jitters aside. This includes hair & makeup, styling, and posing to help you relax, as well as a pre-shoot consultation to discuss what to bring and how & where you will want to use your photographs.
Whether you need photographs for your personal brand or for your personal collection we would love to have you in!
The Skinny on Sarah:
Hmmmm…I am the woman behind the man behind the lens at photobin photography. My passion for systems, organization, post-it notes and to-do lists allowed me to systemize our business so when I suffered a dramatic brain injury in 2013 my husband was able to pick up right where I left off without our clients knowing anything had changed.
Before my accident, this would have read; I am on my way toward global domination with a passion to help small business owners succeed, striving to perfect the customer experience at photobin photography and teaching and speaking about systemizing your business to free your mind and time. From graphic and web design to consulting other photography businesses to making you feel like a million bucks in front of the camera, I can do anything! But now, well, now I am working toward figuring it all out again, much like someone fresh out of school. My world is open and my abilities and stamina are lessened but my passion to help still remains. Now the systemizing not only my business, but my daily activities, has become a necessary part of life and I have had to choose self care over world domination. Neither is better and both are possible and I guess that is what I am figuring out and hoping to inspire others to do as well.
What are your favourite business tools and books?
My favourite business Books:
Unmarketing, Book Yourself Solid (the illustrated version), The E-Myth (the book that kickstarted my Entrepreneur Brain), Why We Buy, Why She Buys.
My favourite “I can do it!” books:
You Are A Badass, May Cause Miracles, Madly In Love With Me.
My favourite business tools?
Post-it Notes!, White Boards with colourful Dry Erase markers, a large wall calendar of an entire year I can see all at once, Facebook & twitter, Ink Cards, InDesign, 17hats.com (just starting to use this but it will help automate my workflow and help keep track of all client interactions AND billing/invoices/contracts!!!)
What advice would you give to other business owners?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! but don’t expect it to be free. Established business owners, especially ones of small business, don’t have a lot of extra time for coffee dates. Oh, and if you are going to ask them out for coffee to pick their brains and they do say yes, BUY THEM THIER COFFEE! I know when you are first starting out every penny counts but the advice they are giving is priceless and well worth the investment. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your customers, clients, etc. what they think of your service/product, what else they would like to see available and if they have any constructive criticism. It is scary to ask, but again, full of huge value. Also, take advantage of your WIBN membership! Here you have access to thousands of diverse women to ask for help!
And if you are “established” business owner, don’t be afraid to give help, even to those in your field. There is plenty of business to go around. When it comes to “pick your brain” session, set guidelines and expectations for yourself and the other person. Whether you are doing it for the feel-good-giving-back feeling, a lunch at a new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try or a watch and learn for a fee, setting expectations upfront will make sure everyone is on the same page. This is why the WIBN is so great. Here you can offer one hour a month of help to someone who needs it!
I am interested and available to mentor on the following topics:
- Customer acquisition (increasing sales and profits)
- Managing your time within your business and life
- Networking / developing positive relationships
- Excellence in customer service
- Developing your personal style (Stylist)
Connect on Twitter @photobinphoto and at http://www.photobinphotography.com and on facebook
