I cringe when I hear the question, “How long have you been a photographer?” It’s a loaded question. Do I mark the beginning as the first time I picked up a film camera my senior year of college just for fun? Do I mark it when I started doing random sessions for people just as a side hustle while I was growing my family, or when I registered my tradename with the secretary of state? Or do I mark the beginning when I decided to go full time with my business after my last child was born?
I tend to give myself some grace and let people know I’ve been doing a photography for a long time, but only recently made it a full time career once my youngest was born. After sitting in that place for the last 5 years, I now feel like things have changed and shifted enough in my business that it’s time for a re-vamp. It’s time for a change. And with that change comes a new name.
Elizabeth Osberg Photography is evolving into Real Life Photo Co.
The Mission
The mission of my business will always remain the same. To artfully reflect the true heart of the people I work with in real and honest ways. That can be through my own personal passion for documentary family photography, where I simply walk alongside families and document their day to day experiences for them. That can also be through fine art school portraits, working closely with schools and students to level up the school portrait experience and create unique images students love of themselves.
The Goal
While the mission remains the same, the business goals are a little different than when I first started. My current goals are:
- Serve, and work with, more local schools.
- Contract other female photographers to help me grow my school portrait business.
- Help contracted photographers grow their own businesses.
As I grow in the number of schools I serve, I can see it growing the other arm of my business with families. However, it’s no longer sustainable for me to operate as a one woman show. In order to grow my school portrait business I have to bring on new photographers and support staff. In hiring and supporting other female photographers I hope to create a collective that I can refer people to for other areas of photography that I don’t serve, ultimately helping them grow their own personal businesses. That’s why a name change was important to me. I no longer felt as though I could operate under my own name when this business is not about me. To be honest, it never really has been. It’s about the people I work with.
The Future
I’m going to be honest. I’m doing this scared. Everything is so new and I know I’m going to make mistakes along the way, but I’d rather make the mistakes than not try at all. In the future, I hope we work with 50, 75, 100 different schools in our area providing a school picture day experience like no other. In the future, I hope I can support and help so many other creative women wishing to make their photography businesses a full time career that will enable them to support their families. I want Real Life Photo Co. to be place of encouragement and love for all the families we work with, and all the people helping get us there.
I believe that this is the start of something really special. I cannot wait to see where things are at for this little business in the next 5 years.
Know of a school looking for an amazing school portrait experience? Send us your referral! If we get them on board for the 2023/2024 school season we’ll thank you with a free family mini session.
