Blue Eyes Photography

We find out what made them decide to start their own business, how they got it off the ground, the obstacles they’ve overcome and the barriers they still face. We’ll look at their hopes and aspirations for the future, and then, in six months time, we’ll go back and find out how they’re getting on.

Name: Sue Kennedy
Age: 31
Business: Blues Eyes Photography
Type of business: Photography
Start date: September 2002

You’ve just started your own business, why?
It has always been my dream to run my own business. I left school at 16 and started to work because I wanted financial independence. But after working in a bank for several years, I felt that I was working hard for little reward, and I wanted to take a risk.

My mother’s death four years ago also made me think that life was too short not to follow your dreams.

Tell us about Blue Eyes Photograpy
Blue Eyes Photography produces high quality images to clients’ requirements.

I started out thinking I would just do stock photography and supply picture libraries, and then realised I would need to do some commercial and corporate work as well to boost revenue.

At the moment I’m concentrating on stock photography, but my vision for Blue Eyes is for it to have three areas of activity – stock photography, commercial photography and the publishing of photographic greeting cards.

What gave you the idea for the business?
Once I’d gained my banking qualifications I started to study photography, completing a City & Guilds in 2000, and acquiring a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society the same year.

I’ve also met photographer Charlie Waite a few times over the years, and it was him that told me about stock photography, and encouraged me to have a good think about what I wanted out of life.

I remember very clearly the day I decided to pursue Photography as a career – it was September 1999, I was waiting for my plane to leave Glasgow airport after a brilliant four days spent in Glencoe, Scotland photographing the landscape with friends. Everyone else had left the day before; I had stayed on an extra night, which gave me plenty of time to think. Over the next two years I spent a lot more time thinking, and planning.

What makes you think there is a market for your business?
Talking to people, knowing it was difficult to find a good photographer when we needed one at work, reading widely in the professional press, and instinct.

By this time I’d decided I wanted to become a freelance photographer specialising in stock images. I’d already secured a contract with an agency, spoken to others that had done the same and read as widely as I could.

There were big changes happening at work, which threw up the opportunity for voluntary redundancy, which I was keen to secure.

My initial meeting with Heather motivated me to prepare a business plan, arrange a meeting with an accountant and volunteer as the local squash club photographer. The most important thing Heather gave me was support, she was the first person with whom I discussed my plans that didn’t either laugh, and/or tell me not to do it.

Over the course of several other meetings, Heather helped me concentrate on making my dream a reality, becoming my mentor.

Aside from Heather, what other help did you get?
I attended a number of ‘networking events’ aimed principally at women. The speakers at these meetings had given me a lot of food for thought, and I was starting to shape a new lifestyle in my mind.

I also found out about picture libraries and read widely. The Busy Girl Network (www.busygirl.co.uk), my local Women in Business Essex (www.wibessex.org.uk), the Bureau of Freelance Photographers, British Institute of Professional Photographers, Startups.co.uk and Everywoman.co.uk all helped in different ways.

Do you think that when starting a business women face more challenges than men?
I’m not sure women face more challenges, just different ones to men. It’s a thorny issue and undoubtedly there are people that struggle with the concept of a woman owned business, but they are in the minority. The best way to effect change is to have strong roles models, who are good business people and that people can aspire to become.

Did you approach your local Business Link for help?
I did briefly but decided not to continue with it as it was difficult to talk to them while I was still working and they also want you to take up their mentor scheme. I already had this in Heather.

Does the government need to provide more help for people trying to start a business?
There’s a wealth of information out there to guide people but it’s often a case of ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’. You have to wade through a fair amount of information and I guess that puts some people off.