Noelle Neff is an accomplished female photographer and the Founder of the Miami based Noelle Neff Photography. Noelle Neff Photography offers a number of services, namely; wedding photography, sport photography, fine art photography and portrait photography. Noelle is especially adept at wedding photography, a feat that has seen her win public and industry acclaim along with awards of excellence. Some of the reasons that pushed Noelle towards wedding photography include the opportunity to pursue her passion to the fullest and the desire to capture a variety of human emotions. Her wedding photography subsets cover still life, portraits, close-ups, action, photojournalism and macro photography. Noelle studied at the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida. The non-sectarian research university offers over 50 research and scholarship targeting various professional studies, including photography and digital imaging.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
I believe photography is an artistic pursuit that is not necessarily driven monetary gain. I really like the idea that I can freeze a moment and recreate colors, mood and lighting in my studio to bring the best out of any frame. It is this fascination that informed my bias towards wedding photography.
How do you make money?
I use several strategies to make money i.e. performing photo shoot for clients and exhibiting and selling photos through my site and popular stock photography websites like BigStock and iStock. Over the years, I have managed to build a huge portfolio of clients who regularly request family portraits, pet photo shoots, newborn photo shoots, headshots and real estate photo shoots.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Running a new business can be stressful and time consuming, and this can push you on the edge if you are not resilient. In my case, it took a short time for the studio to pick up and turn profitable. A positive word of mouth and aggressive marketing campaign played a big role in our success.
What is one marketing strategy (besides referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
We’ve also been keen to explore networking, social media and community centered CSR. Social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn has greatly enhanced our status when it comes to reaching out. Networking, on the other hand, has made it easy for us to create lasting relationships that guarantee steady sell and referrals.
How did you get your first customer?
Getting the first few clients and tying them down can be agonizing. However, the strategy to use a multi-prong marketing approach did it for us. We started out by taking excess work from our competitors, then shooting at local sporting and public events and before long big orders started streaming in.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Like other artistic realms, photography offers several uplifting moments. I am especially enthralled by the opportunity I have created for young and upcoming photographers to hone their skills while showcasing their work to various audiences.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
That’s an interesting question that permeates a lot of imaginations. Besides helping us preserve memories, photography speaks to our emotions, and allows us to preserve history. With mediums like DSLR, ICR and point and shoot cameras dominating the scene, I am excited about the emergence of new technologies like light field recording and smell-graphy.
What business books have inspired you?
I am greatly inspired by the book, “Execution: Getting Things Done” that is written by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan along with “How to Win Friends” by Dale Carnegie. The book by Larry and Ram offers critical insight on how to pick the right business techniques and deal with people. Dale Carnegie, on the other hand, speaks about the power of networking in business.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your business?
I will quickly point to my new GiSTEQ Flashmate Ring Camera light designed to make every shot bright and colorful. The gadget feature comes with AF assist lamp and 3 level brightness adjustments, including ½ & ¼ power and full power setting. This ring camera light is suitable for off camera operations and works incredibly well in places with dim light.