The Side Snap Spotlight

Odette Fernandez-Lopez

In This Issue:

🌟 Odette Fernandez-Lopez

• Age: 40

• From: Cuba

• Specialty: I am a portrait photographer specializing in personal branding and headshots. I also provide photo restoration services.

• Photography Experience: Photography became my passion in 2007, and my journey as a professional photographer started ten years later. In 2017, Odette Photo+Art was born. Best choice I ever made!

• Fun Fact: I taught English at the University of Informatics Sciences (Havana, Cuba) for nine years before coming to the States. I also used to write a column about photography called "Pixels" on the university's online blog. I ran it for almost six years, and it was very popular.

🔍 In the Spotlight 🔍

Odette Fernandez-Lopez

How did you first discover your passion for photography, and what advice can you give to someone who's looking to find their creative spark?

In 2007, a friend gifted me my first point-and-shoot camera. As I started documenting my life, I fell in love with photography. When I moved to the States, I decided to pursue my passion for photography, and it has been a wholesome adventure of self-discovery and personal growth.

I want to share a piece of advice a great friend gave me when I started this journey. He told me: "Take at least one good photo a day." He was right. When I committed to practicing my craft every day, everything changed.

My advice for finding your creative spark is to take one great photo daily and find a passion project that feeds your soul.

What steps did you take when transitioning from a hobbyist photographer to a more serious photographer, and what practical tips can you offer for a smooth transition?

Building a profitable and sustainable photography business is a long journey. These are some tips that might be valuable:

- Identify the genre of photography you love the most and build your portfolio. - Create a professional website to showcase your portfolio, provide information about your services, and make it easy for potential clients to contact you. Make sure you add a blog for good SEO.
- Get legal and insured.
- Get familiar with the business aspects of photography, including pricing, contracts, and client communication.
- Develop a marketing strategy to promote your services.
- Attend workshops and industry events, join photography groups, and connect with other photographers. It's about community over competition. Networking can lead to valuable insights, collaborations, and referrals.

For someone new to the field, what are the essential pieces of equipment and gear that you recommend investing in when starting a photography business?

You don't need to buy the most expensive camera or lens. I started with a Canon SL1 and a kit lens, and some of my favorite images are from that era. I recommend saving up for a full-frame camera and the nifty-fifty: a 50 1.8 mm. It's a beautiful combination.

Can you share some of the valuable lessons you've learned from early mistakes or challenges you've faced while managing your photography business?

My main challenge is being active on social media. Building a solid online presence is very important, and I need to improve at showing up consistently. Also, the sooner you start your email list, the better.

How do you handle challenging client situations or difficult requests while maintaining professionalism and delivering quality work?

If you experience a challenging situation with a client, use a balance of empathy, effective communication, and a commitment to delivering quality work.

We must lead with kindness and have a people-first approach to provide a great customer experience.

A happy client means more referrals, more work, and more income. By prioritizing the client's perspective and maintaining professionalism, you can navigate challenging situations while delivering high-quality work.

What are the most common pricing mistakes that new photographers should avoid, and how can they confidently price their services to reflect their value and expertise?

The most common mistake is pricing yourself too low. That's not sustainable, and it also hurts the industry. Besides, every time you raise your prices, you lose clients.

When you are a licensed and insured business, you keep roughly one-third of what you charge. The rule of thumb is to save one-third for taxes, one-third for business expenses, and one-third for your take-home pay.

It's better to set aspirational prices and give gift cards/vouchers until you feel comfortable with your prices.

There has to be an equal exchange of value. Work on your art, deliver high-quality images, provide an outstanding customer experience and charge accordingly.

What are your long-term goals and aspirations for your photography business, and how do you plan to achieve them?

I want a 6-figure portrait photography business and expand my photo restoration services.

I plan to achieve this by growing as a person and a businesswoman, up-leveling the quality of my work, finetuning my systems, and going the extra mile to exceed client expectations.

Would you like to share any additional words of advice or inspiration for aspiring photographers who are looking to follow in your footsteps?

Every day, do something that takes you 1% closer to your dreams. Be patient, stay passionate about your craft, and consistently strive to improve your artistic and business skills.

Get connected with Odette!

• Find my Instagram here!

• Find my Business Instagram page here!

• Find my website here!