Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Dufour and Renee Gooch.
Erika and Renee, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
A few years ago, I had a photo shoot booked with a client’s new online clothing boutique. There was a lot of back and forth about rates and fees. The client understandably didn’t have the budget for my usual photography rate or even my lowered rate. After mulling this over and over – “what do they need, what do they want and why? And what do I have that they need?“ The answer is the lighting. I had the lighting gear and knowledge of how to set it up. Once the camera and lighting is set up, nothing changes except for what’s in front of the camera. Why not prepare the studio for the shoot, hand them the camera and charge less? I tried it, the clients tried it, and they were overjoyed! BOOM, it worked! SnipSnapGo was born!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Erika: Creating a business and making it a reality is different than you imagine it will be in your mind. The hardest part is to remain focused on the mission and to also be flexible with changes that you didn’t expect. When I conceptualized SnipSnapGo, I thought it would take off like wildfire right away but the challenge has been communicating clearly that SnipSnapGo is actually really simple and easy to use, and dispel the idea that photography and equipment are complicated, scary, and that you have to be an artist to take photos. Overall, it’s easier to conceptualize than to actualize. We’re getting to the actualize.
Renee: We’re introducing a new concept to photography, which opens up a few hurdles in which we’re learning daily how to navigate through. It’s important we’re able to astutely communicate our model so it actually makes sense and at the same time educate our future clients they’re more than capable of holding a camera and taking fabulous photos of either their product or their person.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We provide a ready-to-go photo studio for either product or portrait photography and you (the client) takes the photo. It’s a perfect solution for those in need of professional and affordable photos in a flash. All the elements are in place, tested and on: lighting, computer, camera, tripod, software and sweep. We’re also on site to help solve rigging problems as well as adjust the lighting. We’ve found that people learn a lot about photography and lighting when they’re shooting, which has become an awesome unexpected bonus! We feel proud and excited that with every shoot, each client always yells with excitement their photos look “amazing and I did that!” Hearing this makes us certain we’re on the right path and offering something special to each person that uses it and that’s just great. We get to help people feel empowered.
What were you like growing up?
Erika: I’ve always been interested in creative endeavors. At 6 years old, my grandmother would sit me in front of a still life and we would draw and paint. And my mom would help me cook in the kitchen. As a kid, I was quiet, introverted, and thoughtful. As I got older, I signed myself up for art classes and ballet. The shyness went away when I entered the arts as it was a world I felt comfortable in.
Renee: As a kid, I was super curious about everything: wanted to be a playwright at 7, a chef at 11, and a race car driver at 13. My summer days, included playing in the streets, digging for treasures in peoples yards, building forts, creating a pond in my given lot of land which was uber tiny, putting on plays and playing teacher, cook and business owner. I had my first camera at age 12 and hid in corners shooting people without their knowledge. Basically, I was into everything and drove my parents crazy but they let me explore and have some independence which was amazing and just what I needed.
Pricing:
- $100 an hour (includes unlimited photoshoot)
Contact Info:
- Address: 2258 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60612
- Website: https://www.snipsnapgo.com/
- Phone: 312.525.9645
- Email: info@snipsnapgo.com
- Instagram: @snipsnapgo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snipsnapgo/
- Twitter: @snipsnapgo
Image Credit:
snipsnapgo, wehatevegetables
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