by Liz LaBianca
In the next entry in our ongoing series, Photographers Who Inspire, Liz interviews Allison Parker, a Houston area photographer who creates classic and timeless portraits with a stylish flair.
Who was your original inspiration when you started your business? Who inspires you now?
These two inspired me from the beginning . . . they continue to inspire me (and possibly frustrate me) every day!
A lot of people (not all photographers) inspire how my business runs and how I look at art/design now. My best advice is only follow photographers who absolutely inspire you . . . I follow design blogs & designers of all kinds because I feel like I get more true inspiration instead of the “aww man – I wish I’d thought of that” blues. I think pinterest can help you take a look at what you like & why and really organize your thoughts. I can be all over the place – so it helps me rope my ideas in and do something with them. It can be overwhelming too.
What was the hardest part of starting your own business? What do you wish you would have known?
I don’t think starting my business was hard. When just starting out, it was all exciting and new & shiny. The hard part came once I really got to a point where it was “successful” and I was able to replace my “old” income with the business I was choosing. Setting limits and hours & having family respect the time invested because that time is just as worthy if not more than the old 9-5. Just because most of that time is ”at home” does not mean I “stay at home.” I’m working just as hard - really harder than I would at a “job.” The hours are random and all encompassing hours – but it also allows for more time being where you love and flexibility. It can quickly take over your life though & I’ve really spent a lot of this year backing up & getting control of our life again. Working around the clock is not ok. You have to set limits and boundaries. You have to say ‘no’ and you should be paid well for your time – all of your time. It’s time away from your family & that is priceless. That’s how I constantly evaluate the value of my time. And, that is the hard part to this day – being confident enough to stand by it.
