Episode 095: Building an Award-Winning Photography Business with Annie Armitage

The Business Awards Show

Building an Award-Winning Photography Business is the latest episode of the Business Awards Show. It features award-winning branding photographer Annie Armitage who has built her business, Annie Armitage Photography over the last seventeen years. Annie was named Best Creative Business at the 2023 Best Businesswomen Awards and was recently awarded Best Freelancer/Sole Trader at the Kingston Business Awards. Annie talks about getting her first SLR camera when her son was just three years old. She took a course to learn how to use it and realised she had a talent. Our discussion plots her journey from setting up her photography business, to creating a sub-brand to service nurseries, to becoming an award-winner. Along the way, like so many solopreneurs, she had to find ways to navigate Covid. She did it with ingenuity and innovation, allowing her to maintain turnover even when she couldn't photograph in person. Find out how she did it during our interview. Winning awards has made a significant difference to Annie both professionally and personally. She explains the credibility and validation her awards have bestowed on her, and why she chose to enter business awards rather than photography awards. As a leading branding photographer, Annie explains why having an attractive portfolio of photographs on your website and social media can be the difference between getting a customer's interest or losing them to another, more appealing business. It is a discussion that shows how hard work, creativity, resilience, excellent customer service, and innovation all go hand-in-hand to build a successful business. It is useful for anybody in a creative field, but her advice and experience will interest any small business owner.

{1:33} Why Annie set up a photography business.

{3:02} The aims of Annie's photography business.

{4:15} How she grew the business.

{6:38} Networking - the foundation of the business.

{7:26} Creating a sub-brand for nursery schools.

{8:56} How the nursery school business evolved.

{9:46} The nursery school season.

{10:25} A typical brand shot.

{12:35} Entering business awards rather than photography awards.

{14:10} Winning Gold at the Best Businesswomen Awards.

{16:15} How entering the Kingston Borough Business Awards raised visibility.

{18:05} Navigating the pandemic.

{20:40} Controlling clients' phones to take pictures remotely.

{21:24} How the business recovered from lockdown.

{22:35} Other business challenges.

{23:42} Helping women feel comfortable in front of the camera.

{24:10} Listening to your gut.

{25:14} Annie's advice for business owners.

{26:24} The validation of winning business awards.

{27:16} Plans for the future.

{28:29} Why branding photography is so important.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

Connect with Annie: https://anniearmitage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniearmitage/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniearmitage/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieArmitagePhotography