Meet Brooke Ivens

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brooke Ivens. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Brooke, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?

My ability to take risks developed significantly through the journey my husband and I embarked on together. In 2021, we took a major leap by purchasing our first home. The real adventure began when we decided to transform our 600-square-foot detached garage into a dream photography studio. This project consumed our entire life savings, and the renovation took a total of 10 months. We did most of the work ourselves, which was both challenging and rewarding.

The studio represented a huge risk for us. We were constantly afraid that all our efforts and resources would go to waste. However, our determination and passion paid off. The studio not only covered its costs within the first six months of opening but also received significant recognition. It was just nominated as a finalist for the Best New in Business category in the Minnesota Bride 2024 awards. This journey taught us that taking calculated risks, fueled by hard work and dedication, can lead to incredible rewards. We got engaged in the studio after our grand-opening weekend, and later had our intimate wedding ceremony in there just this past April.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a photographer based in the Minneapolis area and have spent the past few years focusing on growing the wedding photography side of my business. Recently, with the newfound success of our photography studio, I find myself at a pivotal moment in my career. Moving forward, my business is shifting more towards studio portrait work and motherhood photography, following families through special milestones, in addition to continuing our rental business and learning to work together with your spouse. What excites me most about this new direction is the opportunity to create a space that people think of when they’re looking for photo studios in the Minneapolis area. Our studio is designed to offer exceptional seasonal installations, providing a reliable and inspiring environment for all types of photography sessions. We’re thrilled about this new journey and the risks it entails, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us. In the future, we aim to expand by opening additional studios around the metro area, continuing to grow and innovate within our field.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I believe the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been my resilience, my knowledge of what was missing from the photography studio industry, and my passion for delivering quality services. For anyone early in their journey, my advice is to network and connect with people in your field. By building relationships, you gain insights, support, and opportunities that can help you grow. Continuously look for ways to expand upon existing offerings and add your unique value to the market.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

My husband, Ian, has been the most helpful person in this process for me. Without him, there would be no studio. Ian has been by my side, cheering me on from the start of my business. Now, being in business together, he has taken on most of the manual labor, making late-night Home Depot runs for quick, timely repairs, and constantly improving things in and around the space.

When we were deep in the renovations and doubt started to creep in, Ian was always there to reassure me and inspire me to take risks and put ourselves out there. His unwavering support and hands-on help have been crucial to overcoming challenges.

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