Growing together: tara lynn and co.
Being in the printed products business means that our day-to-day is fueled by others. We bring the hustle, but YOU bring the business. The most satisfying part of having a company that aids other companies—is watching our favorite small businesses grow into larger ones.
It’s the second installment of Growing Together. This week we’ve had the pleasure of partnering with local photographer and animal lover Tara Lynn and Co.
Tara Lynn is a visual storyteller for pets, families and brands. She specializes in love-filled photography that celebrates the magic in everyday moments that happen in the blink of an eye. She draws on her 15+ years as a TV news reporter and animal rescue volunteer to put people and pets at ease in front of the camera.
When did you start Tara Lynn and Co. ?
I first started portrait photography in 2010. I officially started my business in 2012.
Tell us a little about why you went into photography?
I’ve always had a camera in my hand. As a child and teenager, I was always capturing family moments and scrapbooking them so we could all look back at them to enjoy them. It’s even more important to me now in this digital age that other families have tangible photographs they can see and enjoy everyday versus scrolling through thousands of photos to try to find a moment you can now barely remember. Life changes so quickly. Photographs have a power to capture magic in the everyday moments allowing us to revisit them again and again. My goal with Tara Lynn and Co. is to help pets and family celebrate the love-filled, everyday moments and enjoy them for years to come through photo albums and wall art.
What have you learned since opening your business?
It always takes more time than you think it will to complete a task. As a one-woman show, all social media, blogging, invoicing, editing, marketing etc. falls on me. I have thousands of ideas that I know could help me grow my business. I am constantly reminding myself to focus on what I can do the most efficiently and not be distracted by shiny objects. If I had to give advice to somebody wanting to start a photography or service-based business, it would be this: just because you may not have a retail space or other employees, you are still a business and need to start with the legal and financial basics in order to set yourself up for success.
Tell me about your favorite success:
The best part is when I walk into a client’s home and see the photos I took all over their walls. This is especially true for the families I’ve been photographing since before their kids were born and now those kids are five or six years old. I am also always deeply touched when I get a phone call or email from a client to let me know that their pet has passed away. Sometimes, I receive emails several years later and my clients tell me I’m the first person they have told about this huge moment in their lives. They thank me for the special images they have with their pets and how grateful they are to have those memories. (and then I go grab a box of tissues and cry)
What’s the next step?
I plan to launch a photo album design service for families. In the digital age, it is rare that all the photos we take with our phones ever make it to print. I make yearly photo albums for our family and my kids love looking through them. I want all families to have tangible versions of their stories and history.
How was your experience ordering on PrintedProducts.com + How do you like your products?
Check out her work at TaraLynnAndCo.com
