From Corporate to Creative: Amy's Journey to Full-Time Photography

Want to follow Amy on Social Media:

 @amysimkusphotography

@amysimkusphotographyseniors

Summary

In this episode, we explore the inspiring story of Amy Simkus, who transitioned from a corporate career to a successful full-time photographer. Amy shares her experiences, challenges, and the pivotal moments that led her to pursue her passion for photography.

Key Takeaways:

• The initial steps Amy took to transition from her corporate job.
• How Amy built a solid brand and client experience in the photography industry.
• The mindset shifts necessary for pursuing a creative career.
• Strategies for overcoming fears and embracing change.

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Transcript

Christa (00:01.507)
Welcome back everybody. I'm here with someone very, very special. Amy Simkus is a wedding and heirloom photographer in Genova, Ohio, kind of by like Erie you mentioned Amy. And I'm excited that you're here because yes, your journey, like you already before you and I connected had worked really hard at building up a very solid brand, a very solid business, a wonderful client experience. You were already averaging $500 and

Amy Simkus (00:13.026)
That's correct, yeah.

Christa (00:29.347)
I just wanted to take a sec and have you share your story with our listeners of what it took to get to that next step. So many photographers think that's the pinnacle. You hit 500, that's really all you can do in the portrait world and you proved that wrong. So would you be willing to share just a bit about yourself and your story with us?

Amy Simkus (00:46.624)
Yes, I so thank you for having me today. It's good to see you again. It's been about a year and a half since I went through the uncapped program, which has been really great for me and really was life changing with my business. I had previously worked as a social worker for a long time. And as I started my family, I went part time and eventually about three years ago went full time with my business. so yes,

Christa (00:59.635)
you

Amy Simkus (01:12.43)
Having made that leap into the full-time world allowed me to really focus more on my business, which is what I needed. I found that there was a demand, and so I was fortunate enough to pursue it full-time. But in everything that we do in a professional realm, you're always looking at ways to kind of stand out, be a little different.

offer something that really is going to serve clients with intention and help to establish your business as something that's going to be consistent and withstand whatever the industry throws at you. I love that by switching to a little bit of a different model, not just as we say, the shoot and burn style,

Christa (01:42.595)
Yeah.

Christa (02:08.002)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (02:08.494)
I love that I've offered something different than other people in my area. So yeah, yeah.

Christa (02:13.826)
Yeah, I love that. What was it Amy that like got you? Because that's amazing that you quit corporate, we're going full time with photography. And then Amy, like when you and I connected, I'd love to hear even already at a $500 average, like what was it for you that was like, I want to take this a step further.

Amy Simkus (02:31.97)
You know, I think like a lot of people in our industry, there are a lot of women that work in this type of service industry. It really was finding a good life balance. I found myself working. I would shoot a session and I would have 100 photos that I would deliver at a time. feel like that was overwhelming for me with my schedule and being busy, but always feeling busy, never feeling like.

Christa (02:35.651)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (03:00.246)
I really had control over my schedule and being present for my kids and doing things with my family. And I have now a teenager and a tween and as the older they get, mean, truly their schedules get more and more demanding and I don't want to miss that. And so I really was very intentional about exploring ways that I could still be fulfilled as a professional in the industry.

Christa (03:12.287)
Wow.

Christa (03:28.149)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (03:29.856)
but also making my business work for me. And yeah, yeah. So it was time to make that change. that's how I stumbled upon uncapped and Krista Renee, who's kind of changed my life.

Christa (03:32.258)
I love that.

Christa (03:43.458)
I love everything you said about that. And Amy, like you also work in corporate, like you see the quote all the time. I didn't leave corporate to continue working, you know, those, endless long hours, especially with kids. And I think so many business owners, like we do that to ourselves where it's like, well, this was supposed to be better. And we find out it's just killing ourselves over and over when that's not the goal. So for you, Amy, one of the things that I hear a lot of photographers say, especially when they're established like you as Chris,

maybe already at a $500 average, but I'm so worried about past clients are being referred and people thinking I'm just still gonna throw the gallery of 100 images at them. Would you have any insight to share just about maybe even mindset, things you had to tell yourself, but like how you made that shift?

Christa (04:45.726)
Okay, Amy, I'm gonna stop you real quick and I'll clean this up in the recording. I think your mic is going in and out. Do you know if there's something plugged in, if that's coming unplugged or?

Amy Simkus (04:57.73)
list. I know what's going on. Let me take a look and make sure that my

Christa (05:02.67)
yeah, now you're clear.

Amy Simkus (05:05.17)
good. Okay. All right.

Christa (05:06.561)
Perfect. So if you want it, and I just marked that, I'll cut that out, but it started popping right after I asked that question and you were going into transitioning past clients. So feel free to just jump on in.

Amy Simkus (05:10.733)
Okay.

Amy Simkus (05:18.52)
Okay, where was I again? me what I said.

Christa (05:20.707)
no problem. I don't know what you said, but I had asked about photographers that are already established. And yes, like them being concerned just about my past clients paid, you know, this much and got all these digital. Like I'm changing what I'm doing and how scary that is.

Amy Simkus (05:26.681)
and mindset, yes.

Amy Simkus (05:37.826)
Yes, I think mindset was a huge hurdle for me to jump over. Sometimes we do get in our own way and it's difficult sometimes to shift things in your business. I was worried about clients that maybe had been loyal customers for a long time and we're going to find that my price point was a little bit different, unaffordable for them, whatever that may have looked like. But in reality, I think that

Christa (05:45.328)
you

Amy Simkus (06:06.996)
I had to really see the value in what I was doing and how it was truly different from what other people were doing so that other people who felt like they were seeking something different found that in me. We're in a very competitive industry in some ways. There are a lot of people who see the value in working for yourself and working from home and having that flexibility.

Christa (06:11.105)
Mm.

Amy Simkus (06:36.552)
but a lot of people do get burned out. And so I wanted to be that photographer that became known as an expert in doing something a little bit differently. I've done a lot of education over the years and one educator talked about, don't know if this is, I'm just Mary, had an opportunity to meet that one a couple of times. Talked about staying out.

Christa (06:49.886)
Yeah.

Christa (07:01.536)
Hey Amy, I'm so sorry, I'll write down this time stamp. It's cutting in and out again. So even if you need to use like just your computer microphone, that is totally fine. If it's the headphones going in and out.

Amy Simkus (07:06.608)
no.

Christa (07:19.424)
can't hear you. I know, I'm so sorry. And like, I hate the technology side of this is always like the worst part.

Amy Simkus (07:19.765)
still connected.

Christa (07:34.418)
Okay, if you say something now, let me see if I can hear you.

Christa (07:42.272)
Okay, I'm, I'm still recording. So you're set there. So, oh,

Christa (07:58.033)
Okay, you're back. Perfect.

Amy Simkus (07:59.455)
I'm back. hope that doesn't screw things up for your recording. Okay. Okay.

Christa (08:01.959)
No, that's totally fine. literally edit these like all the time for that. I can honestly hear you fine now. Are you good with this?

Amy Simkus (08:09.037)
I'm great with this. This is wonderful. Thank you. Sorry about that.

Christa (08:11.562)
Perfect. I'm so sorry about that. The technology side of Riverside is always the most frustrating. And what you were saying was so, so good. And I wrote down kind of the timestamp. But you were saying just like seeing the value of like offering more. Do you just want to pick up there?

Amy Simkus (08:27.041)
Yeah, yeah. So I think that in our industry, it's super important to stand out, to make yourself relevant, to stand this test of time. know, a lot of people burn out in their businesses in the first few years. And I really wanted this to work for me and for my family, but also, you know, I think it's really important not only...

to offer something that's different for your clients, but also to keep your own spark and your own creativity still moving forward. so for me, know, taking things a next step and not just doing shoot and burn, here are your images, good luck. I wanted to do something that felt more like art. I really wanted, you know, people to see their images in display and really

Christa (08:56.643)
Yeah.

Christa (09:00.083)
I love that.

Amy Simkus (09:20.321)
get excited about them over and over and over again. you know, to be honest with you, when it's kind of an interesting philosophy to me to talk about shoot and burn being the old way when in reality, when I'm old enough to have been in high school when film cameras were the only way to go. And so back then, this is what we did. You know, we chose our favorite images to be perfected. We saw them in print. In fact,

My parents still have my senior photo hanging up in their foyer downstairs, you know, on the stairwell and my brothers. And it's been there for quite a long time. But I feel like that to me takes me back to that time, you know, when I was that age. And it's really, really cool. Even now, I mean, now that I'm a little older, I'm like, I would, I wouldn't give to be that young and vibrant again.

Christa (10:03.752)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (10:15.629)
It is really, I think, something to see something that's going to make a difference for people and just become part of their legacy and heirloom that they can see for a long time. And so that's one of the reasons I shifted. to me, it's been very, very rewarding because it takes my creativity to the next level. I'm able to walk people through the full design process of their portrait experience.

and then help them finish the project. I mean, I have had people say to me, I'm so glad that you helped me through this whole thing. Either we've never done this before or, you know, we do it every year, but when I got my pictures taken last year, they're still sitting on my computer because I had choice overload and they just cannot take it to...

Christa (10:48.478)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (11:09.963)
you know, the next level to get their images printed for their family to enjoy because they're just like, I just don't even know where to start. So it's been very, very rewarding for me to do something different and keep that excitement for me.

Christa (11:25.169)
I love that. And especially being like so seasoned in the space, I think some photographers, Amy, like you said, get to the point where they're like, what's next? Right? Like you've scaled, you mastered 500 shoots. Like I know you booked a lot of weddings. Like is, is there another step? And I think that offering products and being full service is just that organic next step of like, this is how I can get to the next level of even growing my income.

Like you said, can tell your kids are incredibly important to you and like being present with them. Maybe that's a reason, you know, maybe you even walked away from corporate. And I want to ask if you'd be willing to share like what your average was shoot and burn. And then after you started offering products and like what that income difference looked like.

Amy Simkus (12:04.075)
Yes, so again, I was established. I've been doing this for 10 years. so my average over the years, of course, has increased a bit. And even back then, increasing your prices $50 at a time felt like it was a lot. And again, that's your own mindset. Like, my goodness, is because it's scary to be different sometimes.

Christa (12:10.203)
Wow.

Christa (12:19.239)
Yeah

Amy Simkus (12:29.197)
But I did go from offering one or two hour sessions with an average of about $500 per session to now I'm averaging about $1,300 or more. That was last year's average. Things look a little different this year. As I just kind of find my footing in this process of how to serve clients. And you do learn a lot about what's important to you.

and how you value photos. I work a lot with seniors, high school seniors is the primary focus of my portrait side of my business. And it's bittersweet for them. And we've walked through it in our home too, but it is a bittersweet experience. And for a lot of them, this is the last time that they're having their photos taken, probably until they get married.

Christa (13:00.285)
Yeah. Yeah.

Amy Simkus (13:27.417)
And let's be honest, seniors and this generation of teenagers love to feel empowered. They love to feel flattered. They like to share their photos. They're a part of the process. And they love to have something that feels different and kind of exclusive to them too. And so involving them in that process.

Christa (13:36.509)
Yeah.

Christa (13:47.906)
I love that.

Amy Simkus (13:51.681)
You know, it does, pulls at your heartstrings sometimes, you know, to talk to families through, know, how do you want to use these photos? What does this mean to you? It's different oftentimes with, you know, with the parents versus the students, but, you know, it is, it is an emotional time for them and you want to serve them in the best way so that it's a really positive experience. And I found that walking them through the entire design process of planning for their session down to,

what outfits you're gonna wear, where are we going to go? But taking it a step further than I used to in how do you want to display these? How do you use these photos? They aren't meant to sit on your computer. That's something that I say all the time. These are not meant to sit on your computer. Let's do something with them, whether it's a beautiful framed wall art piece or.

Christa (14:30.736)
Yeah!

Amy Simkus (14:45.133)
Honestly, what's I think I've talked to you about this before what's really popular with my seniors because they really want a way that they can kind of memorialize this time in their life. They love heirloom albums and the the you know, the the vendors that are out there that are supplying these beautiful custom pieces, you know offer such great options that you know, the seniors get to be a part of that.

process too and it just feels very personal. you know, walking them through that from start to finish with that being the end game, I think makes all the difference in the world.

Christa (15:21.84)
Beautiful and I know you do weddings to Amy and like I equate the senior photographers I coach where it's similar to that where it's not like this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing that you graduate from high school or college like it's a big deal and I love how you said just Really walking them through to that finished product and how you've even seen that Personally and one thing Amy that like I'll tell photographers if maybe they haven't experienced that is like start there start by printing something

Amy Simkus (15:33.259)
Yes.

Christa (15:51.8)
of your family or you and your partner or a dog or something really special from like your life and have it in an album in your home or on the wall. And it's fascinating. Like there's so many studies out Amy too of like how that just builds so much personal value to kids growing up, seeing themselves in print and on the wall and like the difference that makes. Amy, I would love for you to share, like say there's a photographer listening.

And maybe they have built up to that 500 mark and maybe they're similar to where you are, where they are like, what's next, but they are just so fearful of taking a jump, of shifting what they've been doing, even though they, you know, maybe see something isn't working here. Like what would you say to them to encourage them to keep going?

Amy Simkus (16:38.901)
Yeah, I mean, I guess, you know, look at your own long game. How do you want to make a difference for people? And how do you want your business to serve you? How do you want to be remembered as an artist? And I think that, you know, that's your own legacy and you're helping your clients to develop their legacy and put it into print. I think that there's always, you know, a...

Christa (16:43.919)
Hmm.

Christa (16:52.324)
Wow.

Amy Simkus (17:07.051)
I think we should always have a little bit of a pause when we're making an investment that, you know, I mean, you really have to take ownership of what you're choosing to do in your business. You know, I took a leap of faith. I remember I was with my husband and I said, I really want to do this, but it's January and things are slow in Ohio because it's snowing outside and it's cold and nobody's doing pictures right now. But I want to invest in this uncapped.

Christa (17:33.849)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (17:35.789)
program because I think it's going to make a difference. And he just gave me a hug and I remember him saying, you know, you, got to do this. Like you have to like, you have to take this leap. And sometimes it's just really nerve wracking and, it paid off. think I told you, was like, Krista, this paid off in like three months. If that like three sessions, I mean, it really was very, very quick that it made such a difference. And, and again, over time you make it your own.

Christa (17:48.727)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (18:03.881)
And so I was really grateful. Like you walked us through all the steps of here's exactly what you can do and you can start this literally right now. But I have kind of adjusted it a little bit based upon what I'm finding people in my area need, what this age demographic needs. And I love that what you teach can really be customized in every way.

Christa (18:11.564)
Yeah.

Christa (18:15.331)
Yeah!

Christa (18:29.521)
Exactly. Yeah. And when you look at, like you said, the baseline of like, what do I want to create and like the legacy that I want to have after me? Like, I think that's just so beautiful and incredible. Like you said, when you have those fundamentals, you can like take those principles and shift it and have fun with it and not feel all this pressure to always have to book more and more and more, but like, how can I just serve these clients even better? And I think you said you had

You agree your income by how much? Like in that first year going full service?

Amy Simkus (18:58.411)
Yeah, last year I grew my income by $45,000, which was life changing for us. We were in the middle of some home renovations. so, I mean, it got me to a place where it's like, okay, as long as I'm committed to this and not going to hold myself back because I was fearful of how people would receive it, I really have to...

Christa (19:02.605)
Wow.

Yeah!

Christa (19:10.765)
Well.

Christa (19:21.997)
Yeah. Right.

Amy Simkus (19:26.293)
I had to buy into this as this is an investment that is important to people. This is not the same as what I was doing before because there's greater value. people really appreciate that what I'm giving to them is not unfinished. I was the photographer that would, here's a hundred photos and yet your hair's blowing in some of them and your skin's not.

Christa (19:35.352)
Right.

Christa (19:46.241)
Yeah.

Christa (19:53.773)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (19:55.117)
You know, I've really kind of shifted to now I want what I am putting out there and representing my work to really be, you know, something that I'm proud of too. And that people can expect that, you know, consistently. So it really has kind of taken me a little bit to really just, again, be more intentional with what I'm putting out there. You know, what would I be?

Christa (20:07.619)
I love that.

Christa (20:18.955)
Yeah.

Amy Simkus (20:22.413)
proud of, you know, if people chose to put this in their home and it's been a big difference.

Christa (20:28.712)
I love that so much, Amy. And I just wanted to thank you for just taking the time to share this insight, like especially people like me that maybe have younger kids and are figuring out balancing work. You have so much value that you bring and just you sharing this insight has been incredible. I hope anyone listening was able to just take notes of everything possible and how even 10 years into your business, you're allowed to still make changes. You're not tied to what you're doing forever. So Amy,

Amy Simkus (20:57.235)
Yes, it really has inspired me so much. have to say, Krista, I, you know, I, I, I feel like it has taken my business next level, but in a way that kind of represents me more. I'm in the middle of, and I actually just emailed you this morning, but I'm in the middle of a rebranding redo of my website and everything is just going to be focused on how I've made my business unique.

Christa (20:58.134)
Yes!

Christa (21:07.64)
Hmm.

Yeah. Wow.

Amy Simkus (21:24.363)
you know, why do people come to us looking for something different and not cookie cutter? And that has been really, really fun. So I'm excited to roll that out soon too.

Christa (21:24.588)
Yes. That sounds amazing. I'm excited. until then, Amy, if websites undergoing construction, could you share your Instagram that maybe if this inspired someone, they could shoot you a DM thanking you. Where can they find you online?

Amy Simkus (21:48.135)
Absolutely. My Instagram profile is amysimkissphotography. I also have one dedicated to the senior side of things. It's amysimkissphotographyseniors. And it's spelled S-I-M-K-U-S is my last name. yeah, I would welcome anybody who has any questions about the process and what I've learned and how this has kind of transformed my business in my life. I welcome their questions. You've been so helpful, Christa.

Christa (22:00.332)
Perfect.

Christa (22:05.571)
Awesome.

Christa (22:15.72)
well, thank you. Well, you did the work though. And I remember just in weeks, you having these big sales, but like you, did the work and you showed up for yourself. And I also loved hearing like you have obviously a very supportive partner and that really is helpful too. Isn't it? Yeah. Yeah.

Amy Simkus (22:20.15)
You're right.

Amy Simkus (22:32.201)
It is, it is, yes. He has been very, very supportive and, you know, I think, you know, having support through anybody, whether it's your friends or whoever, I think it's really something to be able to make it work for whatever situation you're in. And again, if you are willing to put in the work, you can take your business wherever you want to go. So it's really special, yeah.

Christa (22:49.656)
100%. well, thank you so much, Amy. We're gonna link in the show nuts, your Instagram account. So guys, if this resonated with you, please slide into Amy's DMs, give her a follow, cheer her on. But Amy, thank you again for taking the time. We really appreciate it.

Amy Simkus (23:13.655)
Thank you for having me. Hope you have a great day.