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Erin Barclay

Owner Erin Barclay Photography

Erin Barclay Photography is a portrait photography company. Offering corporate headshots and standard portrait sessions. In addition, frequently offer real estate photography through Homes in Focus.

How did you get started in your business?

I went to Durham College and graduated in their Digital Photography program. After working many years in retail, I decided to take matters in my own hands and create the job that I had always wanted. I started through contract work with Homes In Focus and have started to grow my business into what I have always wanted it to be.

How did the help you got from BACD impact you and your business?

This program has helped me in various ways by providing me with the right tools I need to start my business, excellent mentoring sessions with lots of information and advice from experts, but I would say the biggest way it has impacted my business is all the networking I have done. I attend more than just the grant program mentoring sessions, and through that I have met multiple entrepreneurs who need photography for their own business.

I would just like to thank the BACD for all of the support and help they have given me. I was having a very difficult time with where to start and they have such an effortless and inviting way of getting you on the path that you’ve always wanted to take.

What inspired you to start your own business?

I first found my love of photography when I was in high school and attempted to have a modelling career with ICON Model Management. Though this ended up not being the right fit for me, I found a passion for photography and art direction.

What was more difficult than you thought it would be?

Time management. I currently am so busy shooting real estate photography with spring market, that I almost have no time to sit down and finish my website, logo and ultimately because of that I have not been able to start running posts or ads as frequently as I would have liked to.

What unexpected challenges did you have?

Trying to finish all of my start up goals within a couple months has been not just difficult but not possible. Although I have essentially started every something in every category, I have not yet fully completed one. Whether that is because I am waiting on a company that I have hired to finish my logo, or confirm my insurance papers or just my own personal time to complete tasks such as writing my own contract.

How do you market your business?

As of right now I have only had time to network through the BACD seminars that I attend, but in the future I would like to target business professionals through a series of ads on Facebook.
How are people aware of your business? People are aware of my business through social media and networking in person.

What do you do to keep abreast of the changes in your business and in your industry?

The most important thing is to always be relevant. To post constantly and my website and social media current. There will always be a need for my services, so therefore I need to always be apparent.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own business?

Start with the question that needs to be answered most – What problem are you solving?
Then, of course, attend all of the BACD Business Fundamentals.
What is it that you do that’s made you a success? I put in the work, network and accept the situations that make me uncomfortable.