IAM556- Photographer Specializes in Children Portrait

Ayesha Lakes is a married mother of one son, currently living in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She started her photography studio back in 2003 and has been full-time in her business since 2005. Ayesha's specialty is portraits of children but she also provides other types of portraits, as well, including business headshots and branding.

• CEO Hack: PocketSuite
• CEO Nugget: (1) Find a mentor when starting out  (2) Not everyone is your client
• CEO Defined: Being able to control or manifest your destiny

Website: https://phoartgraphy.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/PhoArtgraphy
Instagram: https://instagram.com/phoartgraphy
https://instagram.com/brand_you_portraits

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Transcription:

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Intro 0:02

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 0:29

Hello, this is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Ayesha Lakes of PhoArtgraphy. Ayesha, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Ayesha Lakes 0:39

Thank you. It's wonderful to be here.

Gresham Harkless 0:41

Yeah, super excited to have you on it. What I want to do is just read a little bit more about awesome Ayesha so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. Ayesha Lakes is a married mother of one son, currently living in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She started her photography studio back in 2003 and has been full-time in her business since 2005. Ayesha's specialty is portraits of children but she also provides other types of portraits, as well, including business headshots and branding. Ayesha, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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Ayesha Lakes 1:09

I am.

Gresham Harkless 1:10

Awesome. Let's do it. So to kick everything off, I wanted to hear a little bit more about what I call your CEO story and what led you to get started with your business.

Ayesha Lakes 1:17

Well, I used to be a software consultant. I loved that job up until I did it. I wanted to do something else that I would enjoy and I could make a living from, I didn't want to go to another job and go through the whole cycle, liking my job and not liking it and hating it and having to go find another one. So I want to do something that I continue to enjoy and continue to live. While I was a consultant, I actually attended the Art Institute of Atlanta. I started out self-taught. But I mean, there are things that I just needed to know. I want to know them a lot quicker than I can find out myself. While I was taking those courses, I was working part-time on the weekends with all my photography and full-time at my other job.

Because my job had become so soul-sucking my husband, I talked about it and we decided I was going to leave the following January or February. I had my son that May so I went back to work like three months later. Then shortly after that, I was laid off. So I was pushed out a little sooner, which was great because I got severance that helped. Then they also sent me to London twice as a contractor because it was proprietary software, you just thinking about it off the street to do it. Well, that added more money to our coffers and helped to smooth the transition. I've just been working for myself ever since.

Gresham Harkless 2:53

Oh, nice. Well, obviously I know when I've been laid off. I know it's never a great time. But it sounds like you were already planning and maybe just had the landing path a little bit further down. But the universe has a way to work and to put things a little bit closer when we need to go ahead and make that leap.

Ayesha Lakes 3:11

Yes. People asked me, when did you make the jump? I said, Well, I was actually pushed.

Gresham Harkless 3:17

Exactly. That's how that works out. But a lot of times it puts us in the right direction. It definitely sounds like you've landed on your two feet, which is awesome. So I wanted to hear a little bit more about your business. Can you take us through some of the things that you do and how you serve the clients you work with?

Ayesha Lakes 3:30

Well, my portrait studio is mobile, because I feel people are more comfortable in their own surroundings, especially when they have children and, it's more convenient. So I usually do my consultations either on the phone or in person. Then the course photography is at their location or a selected location. As far as services, like I said, Well, as you said, I specialize in portraits of children. But I also offer portraits of maternity and family. I do business headshots, and branding images, as far as products for the family sessions and children, and I offer printed products, because I am an artist, and I want my work to be shown.

I provide products that allow you to display them on your walls, on your tables, or whatnot, and they're ready for you to hang when I come to your house. I'm like, Here you go. I can even hang it for you if you want. But I like for it to be complete. So you have to do as little as possible. For the branding and the headshots, those are digital products because they're so versatile. You can use them to market your business and promote your marketing materials, websites, and things of that nature. So that's why they're they're two different offerings.

Gresham Harkless 4:53

Yeah, then that makes so much sense. I know when we first connected we talked a little bit about the process and making sure people were comfortable from a podcaster standpoint, but also I imagine that you probably go through that exact same process. I think it's probably a great step to be able to say, Hey, where are you most comfortable and be able to kind of take the shots there and be able to have that mobile aspect?

Ayesha Lakes 5:12

Yes, it is, I find it's easier to photograph people when they're comfortable. Because when they're uncomfortable, it shows. So it also gives me a chance to get to know them, especially through the consultation. So they're already comfortable with me to a certain degree and then we talk through the whole session. I work with people that sometimes don't like having their picture taken. But by the time it's over the way, that was so much fun. I loved hearing that because that's what I'm out to do to help you have fun and give you great images.

Gresham Harkless 5:46

Yeah, that makes so much sense. And I think that as with most things, I think anytime anybody is really great at what is that they do, and an expert at their craft, a lot of times you see the image and you just see that you see the finish line, you don't see the process or the thought that you did to have that consultation to go through and take the time and figure out where they feel best fit or come together with a place and a lot of that behind the scenes that gives you that product of the photo you don't always see.

Ayesha Lakes 6:12

Right. So since I mostly deal with children, I have a lot of patience, which I'm figuring. That translates to working with adults as well. We can still have fun, even if you're an adult. I did a branding session about a week ago, and she did not like having her picture taken and say I don't like having my picture taken. I totally understand that dynamic. I know how I get over it, and I help them get over it. By the end, she's like, that was so much fun, I might schedule another one.

Gresham Harkless 6:48

There you go. Yeah, being able to have that empathy of putting yourself in somebody else's shoes, especially if they're not comfortable, and how to make them comfortable. Because how to make yourself comfortable is definitely a huge thing. So do you think that that's kind of like what you would consider to be your secret sauce or thing you feel kind of set your part in or your business that makes it unique?

Ayesha Lakes 7:05

I do. Well, I think that was one of the things because I feel that I'm very personable, I like to get to know people. Photography is a very personal type of industry because your photograph is because you're trying to bring their personality out in your images. So you have to get to know them and make them feel comfortable. I think my other prospect is convenience because everybody is so short on time. I mean, it's harder to get things scheduled. But if I can bring everything to you, and then I just leave and you continue doing what you need to do. It saves you a lot of time.

Gresham Harkless 7:43

Yeah, and also probably puts away a lot of the I guess the things that could prohibit somebody from taking those pictures sometimes that can get in the way I know especially here with the traffic is crazy. So just driving and having busy professionals and busy families that that trying to rein everybody answered, Go to take a picture and all those things. I'm sure there's a whole process to align that too.

Ayesha Lakes 8:04

Oh, yes, there is. My main goal is to make it fun and make it easy.

Gresham Harkless 8:10

Absolutely hit that easy button. So I appreciate that secret sauce. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit and I want to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an app or book or habit that you have, or something that makes you more effective and efficient.

Ayesha Lakes 8:25

One app that I use it, I use several but one app that I use a lot is called Pocket Suite. You've heard of it?

Gresham Harkless 8:33

I have not.

Ayesha Lakes 8:34

Pocket suite, allows you to, do a myriad of things. You can do online scheduling if that's what your business uses. You can also create classes for people to book, you can bill people through it, and you can send contracts for them to sign on an app on your phone. So they have different levels depending on everything that you want to do, but it's very useful, and they actually give you your money quite quickly.

Gresham Harkless 9:05

That's the important part, especially in business.

Ayesha Lakes 9:10

That is a plus. But they usually I think it's usually like next day like by three o'clock. They keep you updated. Their support is very, very helpful. They also have videos on how to use different parts of the application. So that's what I liked a lot.

Gresham Harkless 9:26

Nice, definitely sounds good. It sounds like a Swiss army knife, I guess for your business. So you'd be able to use it for different aspects. But of course, the convenience as you demonstrate your business to be able to have it in the palm of your hand a lot of times and send that invoice or do whatever you need to do to schedule a time.

Ayesha Lakes 9:43

Yep.

Gresham Harkless 9:44

Awesome. I definitely appreciate that. Now I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget. So this could be like a word of wisdom or piece of advice or if you can happen to a time machine what would you tell your younger business self?

Ayesha Lakes 9:55

Well, there are two things one when you're first starting out find a mentor, it just helps things along a lot faster. I probably wouldn't be, have gotten where I am a little bit sooner had I gotten a mentor, but I was trying to figure everything out on my own. I'm very independent like that. I guess that could be considered hard-headed but either way. The other thing is not everyone is your client. I found that out some years ago, you want to try to please everyone, but you can't, because not everyone is looking for what you want to give, and perhaps at the price you won't give it. So everyone is not your client? So somebody says, No, that's fine. Find someone who will say yes,

Gresham Harkless 10:45

Yeah, I definitely appreciate that. Because I think so many times that we don't, especially when you're starting a business don't have that abundant mindset and realize that if somebody says no, it doesn't necessarily mean that, Oh, you don't have a great business, you don't have a great product, it just may mean that that person is not the best fit for your business at that time, or however it is they come to that decision. I think so many times we forget to really drill down and be very focused on who we're trying to serve.

Ayesha Lakes 11:12

Yes.

Gresham Harkless 11:12

Absolutely did you have like a process or something that helps you to kind of drill down to find that ideal client and be able to kind of paint that picture so you can make sure that to track that person?

Ayesha Lakes 11:24

Well, it's really funny. There are people that I attract that I would think would be my target market. So it is been a little difficult for me because it's been kind of up and down. I know where I want to go and want to attract sometimes I attract other people who are the same type of people, but not quite. They appreciate what I do. I found that people will pay for things they value. That's the thing that everybody values the same thing or values in the same way. So that's the thing, try and find people who value what I do.

Gresham Harkless 12:06

Yeah, that makes so much sense. I think that definitely entrepreneurs or business owners, are always trying to make sure that we demonstrate our value, I think that's also a difficult thing, it's because a lot of times we have so much value that we are providing, but we have to be able to communicate that and put ourselves in the best light just like you do with your clients. We have to also do that with our businesses and our services and our experience and expertise that we have and be able to do that so that people can see that connection, and we can help make that happen.

Ayesha Lakes 12:34

Right. All right.

Gresham Harkless 12:36

Awesome. Well, I definitely appreciate that. Now I wanted to ask you my absolute favourite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. We're hoping to have different quote-unquote, CEOs on the show. So Ayesha what's been a CEO mean to you?

Ayesha Lakes 12:48

It means being able to control and manifest your destiny.

Gresham Harkless 12:54

I love it. I think so many times we forget that we have the power to be able to do that and to chart our course and just say we talked about you're at the beginning, where you we have that push is to start entrepreneurship and to get out and do our own thing. But once you realize that we have a lot more power and decisions that we can make in order to make that destiny our reality.

Ayesha Lakes 13:17

Yes.

Gresham Harkless 13:19

Awesome. Well, thank you so much again. I appreciate the definition, appreciate your time, even more. What I want to do is pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional, you want to let our readers and listeners know. Then of course, how best they can get ahold of you, and find out about all the awesome things you're working on.

Ayesha Lakes 13:35

Well, one thing is I just published my first book.

Gresham Harkless 13:39

Congratulations.

Ayesha Lakes 13:40

Thank you. It is called, If God gave it to me, it must be good. It's actually a compilation of women's natural hair stories. I had an epiphany, shortly after I got out of corporate America regarding my hair because I was in IT. So generally the people that you run into with IT, they don't normally look like me. So I had an epiphany because I just felt the need to straighten my hair to feel presentable. I figured that there had to be a woman that felt something to that extent. I just started documenting and photographing women and talking to them about their stories. So it's all compiled in my book, and it's available at barnesandnoble.com.

Gresham Harkless 14:30

Awesome.

Ayesha Lakes 14:31

To get in contact with me there's my website, it's phoartgraphy.com. Shall I spell that?

Gresham Harkless 14:40

Absolutely.

Ayesha Lakes 14:41

It's P as in Paul h o a r t g r a p h y .com. I'm also on Instagram under Phoartgraphy and also brand_you_portraits. I try to keep both of those separate so people don't get confused and there's always email Ayesha, a y e s h a @phoartgraphy.com.

Gresham Harkless 15:10

Awesome. Well, thank you so much again, Ayesha. We will definitely have those links and information in the show notes so that everybody can follow up with you. But I appreciate you for writing that book. I think so many times we forget that what God gave us is for us to use and so many times we're trying to fit into a, we try to be a square peg trying to fit into a round hole and try to be presentable to whatever should be how we should look, or how we should act and so forth. So I appreciate you for one doing that yourself as far as reminding us to do that, but to be able to celebrate the women that can do that as well too, because we all are special and we should celebrate our specialness if that's a word. So thank you so much again, and we will have information as well for your book in the show notes. I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

Ayesha Lakes 15:55

Thank you. You do the same. Thank you so much.

Outro 15:58

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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