We recently connected with Leighanne Herr and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Leighanne, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Definitely my dad. He is a successful entrepreneur and I started working for him in his office when I was a teenager. I got to observe the way he ran his company and I didn’t think a whole lot of it at the time but looking back I can see how that greatly shaped the person I am today pertaining to how I work and view business.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I knew from about the time I was 13 I wanted to work in the creative industry. I am a romantic and idealist and would spend a lot of time day dreaming and romanticizing my life (which still holds true to this day). I started to struggle with severe anxiety around this same time and I decided to teach myself photoshop and then began creating conceptual self portraits as a way to make what was going through my mind a bit more tangible and easier to process. I began working full time in the creative industry as a wedding photographer when I was just shy of 18. I was able to completely learn the ins and outs of the wedding industry which helped immensely when I ventured into where I am now; studio/venue ownership. I currently own The Oak Atelier which is a studio that rents out different rooms and sets to photographers and doubles as a space for intimate events. While there are many things I love about this industry I’ve discovered my real passion lies with designing and creating different sets for others to photograph in. I love being inspired by just a photo or an art installation or elements of nature and then creating something unique for others to experience and enjoy. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love and create spaces that will cultivate wonderful memories for people for years to come.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think there are many recipes for success but what was most helpful for me was fully immersing myself in the industry of my interest and starting from the bottom and working my way up. I personally feel like that is the best way to learn. Starting at the bottom with no knowledge and being open to learning, failing and ultimately growing. I know I didn’t particularly feel ‘ready’ or confident when I began this journey but my mindset was one that was highly receptive to the 3 things mentioned above.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Small business ownership comes with a ton of amazing benefits but also a ton of challenges. As a perfectionist I want to please all of my clients and make sure everyone has a great experience. I think one of the most challenging things about being a small business owner and what massively contributes to my personal overwhelm is the fact that, as a human myself, I won’t be able to please everyone. As someone that has poured so much time and energy into what I do accepting that is harder than it sounds. Getting to a point where you can truly accept that there will always be things out of your control which might contribute to a less than stellar experience for your clients is paramount to longevity in this industry. I am still working on adopting this mindset and getting it to stick but as long as I know I am giving 100% effort I am learning to have some grace with myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theoakatelier.com
- Instagram: @theoakatelier
Image Credits
Leighanne Herr
