This month’s inspiring business interview is with photographer Rachel McClumpha. Getting some branded photographs taken of me is something that was on my to-do list for far too long. I successfully obtained some funding through the BIPC leading me to Rachel.

I had a photo shoot with her on Blyth beach which is on the stunning Northumberland coast. I’ve never done this type of shoot before and was very nervous but Rachel put me at ease straight away and took some amazing shots. They’ve transformed my website and social media so if you’re based in or near Northumberland and are looking for some branded images, I’d recommend Rachel.

What was your first job? Did you enjoy it?

My first job was as a graphic artist in a computer games studio, which included working on 3D environments and using editing software like Photoshop. I did enjoy it for many years but my real passion from being a kid was photography.

What do you do now?

I started my own business in 2007 after doing dark room photography courses. I really enjoyed capturing the joy and personalities of people, especially children. I also loved taking photos of nature too.

When people started asking me to take photos for them – and pay me for it – I realised I could create my own business. Since 2007 I have niched more into commercial photography which includes brand portraits and product photography. I still love capturing the personalities of my clients, but I also enjoy being creative with products.

You can find out more about my work from my website and come and say hello on Instagram.

How do your services help small business owners?

I get a lot of satisfaction from helping small businesses get images that are going to make a positive difference to their business. My clients often feel frustrated with their own photos if they are trying to create imagery themselves, so it’s great to see their relief after they’ve handed the job to me and got the great results they want.

They often say that they wish they had done it sooner as their shop or website looks so much more professional and their customers comment on it too.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve been given? How did it help you?

The best advice I’ve been given is to ditch perfectionism; ‘done – not perfect’. Sometimes things will never be perfect, or we worry about putting something out there because we think it might not be spot on. But that usually just leads to procrastination and inaction.

So, creating something that’s pretty good but not perfect is still better than nothing at all.

Which do you prefer, tea or coffee? Beach or pool? Seaside or countryside?

I like both tea and coffee – coffee for breakfast, and tea any other time.

I like the beauty of a beach but I prefer to swim in a pool as I’m a little nervous of the sea. The countryside is my favourite- I love trees and streams and all the nature and wildlife that comes with them.

What’s your dream job or client?

My dream job would be to do travel photography, perhaps for the National Geographic magazine. I love travelling to new places and experiencing different cultures, so if I could blend my love of travel with portraits and nature photography, it would be amazing.

Head to the blog section to read more interviews with some amazing businesswomen who share a bit about their work and what makes them tick.

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