JC Photography is a Picture Perfect Dream Come True!

Photographer Jo Claire Robertson believes that life's precious moments deserve to be captured. She is a Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer who started her business, JC Photography, a few years ago. Starting a business is hard work that required dedication. Jo Claire understands what all goes into starting your own business. This is why she lives by the motto from coach Paul "Bear" Bryant "If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards." This along with the commitment to make her dream reality inspired Jo Claire to open her business in Shreveport, an area that was recently recognized as being one of the best cities to start a business!

Q: What made you decide to open your own business?

JC: Ever since I was a little girl, I would pose with my stuffed animals and have photo shoots in my kitchen. I would make my family come and see how I arranged everything for the perfect look. So, my interest in photography sparked at a young age. I took classes and did a lot of dark room photography in college. I knew I wanted to do photography as more than a hobby one day, but I did not know how to achieve that dream. When my sister had her first baby in 2013, she asked me if I would take my sweet niece's new born pictures. Everything really just grew from there. Facebook helped a lot. My sister shared the photos on her Facebook and people started to reach out to me to do their photos. Since 2013, I have shifted my focus from newborn photography to wedding and lifestyle photography. I enjoy making people happy. I know that is cliché, but the feeling someone gets when they see a good picture of their loved ones or themselves really makes me feel like I made someone have a better day.

Q: How did you get the funding together to start your business?

JC: Luckily, when I was a teenage dreamer, my parents bought me a nice camera for my Christmas present.  I used that camera for 8 years before I saved enough money from working to buy another better camera that I now use.

Q: What are some of the challenges you faced when your starting your business?

JC: For me, the biggest challenge in starting my own business was not putting the cart before the horse. I have a tendency to get overly excited and set high goals. Once I decided I was going to create JC Robertson Photography, I wanted to get a website, make social media pages, get business cards, and everything would be great. There is a lot more than just buying new stuff and hoping your name gets out there. There are strategic moves that must be made and discussed before anyone can move forward with a business. Luckily, my family is very supportive and helpful in teaching me the best way to pursue my passion.

Q: What is the biggest advantage of owning your own business?

JC: Well, with the photography business, the biggest advantage is being able to provide whatever I want to my clients. I do not have a boss or corporate company that is telling me how my business needs to be run. One of the biggest things I wanted to do was provide my clients with the most access possible to their photos. When I take pictures of someone or some event, I provide the client with all of the photos I took whether there are 300 or 3,000 photos. You will get them all!

Q: What is the biggest disadvantage of owning your own business?

JC: Time is the biggest disadvantage. I wish I had more time in the day to do all of the things I wanted to do with my clients. Also, sunlight and weather can cause a lot of problems when it comes to taking photos outside. God’s creation is beautiful and I thank him every day for all the beauty I see through the lens, but sometimes He likes to throw you a curve ball!

Q: What advice do you have for someone looking to start their own business?

JC: Never stop asking people questions for advice, watching YouTube videos, or reading about the business you want to start. I still ask people for help and advice. I run ideas by people because I want to make sure I'm relevant and accessible to all types of clients.

Q: Where do you see JC Photograpy five years from now?

JC: I see myself providing great photos for families and brides in the Shreveport Bossier area. I want to always be open to any clients and seen as a resource for them with different milestones in their life.

Take a look at some of Jo Claire Robertson's work below!

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