Oh it was SO nice to have time for coaching sessions again, especially with this super special lady!  Sarah is my virtual assistant, editor, and guest blogger (in addition to past student, babysitter, friend, occasional second shooter, and #jillgumbride!) who just 2 years after tiptoeing into the photography industry to help me with some small behind the scenes work here and there has now built her Virtual Assistance and Photo Editing business into a full time gig that supports her family!  This woman has honestly just been blowing me away in many ways for 10 years now (Sarah! TEN!) with her heart, talent, and dedication.  She is so giving of her time and creativity to my business and to all of her clients, and I shout her name from the rooftops every time I can because she truly has 100% changed my business, and is doing the same for other photographers– it’s amazing!

Anyways, Sarah joined me for a coaching session a couple of weeks ago and it was so fun to do because she isn’t a photographer– she is a creative small business owner, and I just love working with business owners who aren’t in my exact field! Why? Because we aren’t really focusing on taking better photos, editing styles, or other photography related things (though I do love talking about those!). We are talking about marketing, client care, time management…and honestly, these are the topics that really get me excited!  Because these are the topics that distinguish the difference between a mediocre business owner who might not keep and grow their business long term as they dream and a business owner who is running their business and living their dream life– and no one deserves that as much as this woman!  And she is killing it in her own business making it happen!  One of the hardest initial jobs of a new work from home creative business owner is to set up a schedule that allows them the freedom of owning your own business while also the structure to get everything done as needed and be done at the end of the work day!  We spent a lot of time talking through techniques to make this happen in her business!  There is so much we covered in our half day together, and I can’t wait to see her put it all into practice!

Sarah has this beautiful quote on her website: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another” (Charles Dickens), and this is what Sarah does with her heart and life. I am so grateful for her, and loved getting to dig into her business a little instead of the other way around!  We did some branding shots for her and I just love them!  Check out her website here!!

If you are a small business owner or a photographer and are interested in one on coaching to go through the specifics of your business, I’d love to help!  In a couple years while working another job part time and being home with my growing family part time, I grew from a starting business to a thriving one that continues to allow me part time work while supporting my family with a nearly 6 figure income. I’d love to teach you some of the tricks! Email me at jill@jillgum.com or click here for more info!