‘You shouldn’t lose sight of what made you start the business’
Taking our Q&A this week is Danny Thompson, of Danny Thompson Photography, a Professional Photographer from Southowram.
WHY DID you start your business in the first place? Having worked as an NVQ assessor for ten years I had begun to feel the drain of the job and lost my passion for working in that sector. A few major events in my personal life, including my wife requiring extensive hospital treatment for an eating disorder, showed me how important it was to follow your heart and do something you love. Life’s too short to be thinking about ‘what could have been’.
What is your business motto? Work hard, be yourself and believe. You shouldn’t lose sight of what made you start the business in the first place.
What advice would you give to anyone starting their own business? You should never give up. There will be some months when you find yourself time rich and money poor, but don’t get disheartened. Hard work and passion always pay off in the end, people see that and that’s what makes your business a success.
What was the biggest challenge you faced starting your business? I’m the main earner in our household, so losing that steady income was a concern for a time in the early days of the business.
What do you enjoy most about being self-employed?
I love seeing the time and effort I’ve invested in the business pay off, and to be able to help others. Getting great reviews and happy clients is a testament to the work that you do, and it’s motivating.
What do you enjoy least about being self-employed?
You never switch off from the job when you’re self-employed. There’s always something else that needs doing and your to-do list never seems empty.
When you’re done shooting and editing there’s always emails and accounts to do as well!
What achievement in your career are you most proud of? Being recommended to others by customers. It feels like a huge achievement that people are happy to refer others to me. I must be doing something right!
Where do you see your business in the next five years? I want to continue to focus on the processes of the business and make it a well-oiled machine! I’d like to establish a reputation for both wedding and commercial photography, as well as expand the size of the business and create jobs locally.