Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Donna Sweetin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Donna, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
Empathy is an emotion I haven’t consciously thought about too much. I think it’s part of your DNA, or if it’s not, it’s something you can develop. I was blessed to have a mom who regularly displayed care and empathy for others. She welcomed every stray animal, and every troubled kid into our home, without hesitation. She had grown up in a home without any maternal empathy, so I think that experience made her even more empathetic to the plight of others. I saw empathy modeled, and so I believe it became a natural part of my own personality.
I am a photographer now, but I started out my career working as a social worker. I worked with individuals who were in crisis, which required much empathy. I worked with people with physical ailments, mental health issues and family issues. While I had great training, certainly being able to put myself in someone else’s shoes, was a major part of the work I did. I continued on, working in schools, private offices, and organizations that were ultimately all about helping people. I worked with special needs students, individuals who needed resources for their health challenges, and seniors struggling with life changes. I learned so much! I quickly realized that when you are motivated to empathize and truly care about people, you can impact others within almost any profession you choose. And that was exciting.
Eventually I started my photography business, and the experiences I previously had, working with people of all ages, backgrounds and life situations, made all the difference. Those experiences led me to be comfortable taking on many distinctly different types of photography work …working with teens, families, babies, weddings, events, non-profits and even product work. I think clients can really feel if you care about them, apart from the service you are providing for them. Empathy and care add to the experience for clients and ultimately the end product in my opinion. Some of my most meaningful sessions have included end of life celebrations, maternity sessions with potentially serious outcomes and nonprofits serving families with children with lifelong health challenges. Those sessions and events are challenging and emotional, but all the more important because of the meaning behind them.
I truly love that I get to be the person who clients trust to document the important seasons of life for them…the happy times and even the hard times. Empathy flows from the heart, and life and business are so much more meaningful when we can empathize with one another!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I specialize in photography that highlights the important times in people’s lives. Headshots for a new business, babies and little ones and their growing families, weddings and vow renewals, non profit events, milestone birthdays and graduations. My work is inspired by the relationships I have with my clients, which spans many years and exciting life changes!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the things that helped me most in building my business, were good communication skills, genuine concern for my clients and their experiences, and attention to the smallest of details. My advice to new business owners would be to reach out to other local businesses, join local networking groups and volunteer your services when opportunities arise. The relationships you build will greatly add to your success!
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?
When I started my business, I reached out to find a business mentor. I was fortunate to find another photographer, who had been in business for some time, who was incredibly generous with her talent and time. I did work for her while I built my own clientele. She was a major factor in helping me build the business I envisioned.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sweetinphotography.com
Image Credits
Sweetin Photography
