I’m now in my 11th year of running Raymond Jones Images, my photography business based in North Wales, working with clients across Chester, Wrexham, Cheshire and further afield.
Eleven years! Sometimes I wonder where the time has gone. I’m still here, still picking up my camera and, perhaps most importantly, still have the same passion for photography that I had when I started.
But it hasn’t always been easy. There have been challenges, disappointments, uncertainty and moments when I’ve questioned what the future might hold.
Looking back, though, I wouldn’t change much. Those experiences have taught me some valuable lessons, not just about running a photography business, but about life itself.
Taking a risk and leaving security behind
When I decided to become a full-time photographer, some people told me I’d never survive.
“It’s not secure. You’ll never make a living from it.”
And to be fair, giving up a regular wage was frightening. I was leaving the security of employment behind, although I’d already built up a successful sideline photographing weddings.
But there was something much more important behind my decision.
I’d been working in a toxic environment, and after losing my dad, my priorities began to change. My mum was now on her own, and I wanted the freedom to spend more time with her.
Becoming self-employed gave me that opportunity.
We would go out to cafés together most days, enjoying a coffee, something to eat and simply spending time together. She absolutely loved it, and so did I.
My mum is no longer with us, but those memories mean the world to me. I’m so grateful I made that decision when I did.
Sometimes the biggest reward of running your own business has nothing to do with money. It’s having the freedom to spend time with the people who matter most.
Learning to distance myself from negativity
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that you don’t have to surround yourself with people who constantly tell you what you can’t do.
I’ve encountered negativity over the years, including people who doubted whether I’d ever make a success of photography.
But I knew what I was capable of, even if others didn’t.
These days, I try to spend my time around people who encourage me, challenge me and make me want to become better.
I’ve also learnt to stop comparing myself with others. There will always be another photographer with more expensive equipment, a bigger following or a busier diary.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re happier or more successful.
Run your own race and stop worrying about everyone else’s.
Surviving the uncertainty of COVID
Like many photographers, COVID was one of the most challenging periods of my business life.
Weddings were postponed, work disappeared and nobody really knew when things would return to normal.
For me, the hardest part was the uncertainty.
I’d worked hard to build my photography business, and suddenly so much of what happened next was completely outside my control.
I managed to get through it by being careful with money and keeping my spending down, but that didn’t make the experience any less stressful.
It taught me that running a business isn’t just about enjoying the good times. It’s about learning to cope when things don’t go according to plan.
And sometimes, simply getting through a difficult period is an achievement in itself.
Photography has changed, and so have I
When I first became self-employed, wedding photography was a huge part of my business.
I still love photographing weddings and enjoy doing around ten each year, but over time my work has developed in different directions.
Today, I specialise in business portraits, corporate headshots and food photography, working with businesses, professionals, restaurants and hospitality venues across North Wales and Cheshire.
I’ve discovered that I can build a rewarding business around different areas of photography without losing the enjoyment that attracted me to it in the first place.
The photography industry has changed enormously over the years, and it continues to evolve. New technology, changing client expectations and now artificial intelligence are all influencing how we work.
But one thing hasn’t changed for me.
I still love creating photographs.
Discovering the enjoyment of teaching others
Something rather unexpected has happened recently.
I’ve discovered that I really enjoy teaching people photography and video.
After years of working behind the camera, I’m now finding enormous satisfaction in sharing what I’ve learnt with others.
There’s a completely different buzz that comes from showing someone how to improve a photograph, understand lighting or create a better video.
I’ve also been challenging myself through public speaking, something that once felt well outside my comfort zone.
And the more I push myself, the more confident I become.
It’s made me realise that personal growth doesn’t stop when you reach a certain age or spend a particular number of years in business.
There’s always something new to discover, another skill to develop or another challenge to take on.
Confidence grows when you step outside your comfort zone, not when you stay safely inside it.
Learning what really matters
As I’ve got older, I’ve become a much more positive person.
That doesn’t mean I never worry or have difficult days. Of course I do. Running your own business brings plenty of challenges, and there are still times when things don’t work out as I’d hoped.
But I’ve learnt not to spend so much energy dwelling on negativity or worrying about things I can’t control.
I’ve learnt that it’s fine to say no, to change direction, to make mistakes and to try something completely new.
I’ve also learnt that success isn’t always measured by money, awards or how busy your diary happens to be.
Sometimes it’s having the freedom to enjoy an afternoon with your mum. Sometimes it’s helping someone else learn a new skill. And sometimes it’s simply waking up in the morning and still feeling excited about the work you do.
Eleven years later, I’m still looking forward
If I could go back eleven years and offer myself one piece of advice, it would be very simple.
Take a risk. Life’s boring without them.
Of course, not every risk pays off. You have to think things through, make sensible decisions and accept that there will be difficult moments along the way.
But I would rather have tried something and learnt from the experience than spend my life wondering what might have happened.
Eleven years on, I’m still passionate about photography, still meeting wonderful people, still learning and still pushing myself to try new things.
And perhaps that’s what keeps me going.
I don’t know exactly what the next eleven years will bring, but I’m looking forward to finding out.
I used to spend too much time looking at the mud. These days, I’d much rather look at the stars.
Ray
